3. Doors
There are some very important factors to consider when selecting non-standard door types (bi-fold, sliding stacker, panel lift, operable wall ect.). You must think about what door you like aesthetically and how it needs to function.
Most non-standard doors are "bottom hung" which means the door bears its weight onto the floor structure. This the most economical door unit. Bottom hung units can be purchased in many styles of doors but these units come fitted with an unsightly chunky sill that you will need to step over.
The other choice is a top hung unit which loads from the top of the door (the head). These can be purchased without a sill howver you will still need a guide for this door to operate. A tradesman (carpenter) will need to take a template of the sill which is passed on to a say a stone supplier for sill manufacture.
Top hung doors allow an almost level transition from an one space to another. Although top hung units are much neater in the sill detail it will mean a good size beam will need to be installed above the door to take the weight of the door, otherwise the door will deflect and will not function. Some situations don't allow space for a head beam above a door so there will need to be a great deal of thought put into the door selection process.
Service doors are front and rear entry doors. They need to be solid enough to prevent unwanted entry, foul weather and sometimes fire. For this reason swing doors are generally used. Solid timber doors are the most commonly used. Glass can be used very effectively but it should be double glazed, toughened or laminated for security and saftey. It's worth spending some money on the front door because of its prominence.
Most external door frames are made from solid timber and come in two separate pieces, the frame and the leaf, these need to be installed by a professional carpenter. Some doors are delivered pre-hung; ready for installation.
There are a variety of door types:
- Swinging. These are the most trouble free and secure. Double doors are possible.
- Slider. These are most often premade and come with sliding insect screens. Safety glass is required in French and patio doors.
- By-pass slider. Slides outside the face of wall. These require an expensive track. The door needs to purpose built bigger than the opening.
- Cavity slider. These need to be built into the house during construction. Rectifying track failure can be difficult.
- Bi-fold. These concertina-like doors fold back on each other and stack against one wall. They are great for large openings but more expensive than other door types. Like a bi-fold window, it is possible to fit pull down insect screens, however that defeats the "bringing-the-outside-in" feel which is their greatest attraction.
Internal doors are generally hollow core. These doors are cheap, have very poor sound insulation, are not weatherproof and should not be used on external walls.