Changing your doors can create a big difference to the appearance of your home and choosing the right doors and door furniture for your interior will create a lasting impression on you and your guests. Doors are touched and seen up close many times throughout the day so choosing the lowest priced replacements isn’t always the best option, try to find doors that will match as closely as possible with your homes interior décor and styles.

Out with the old in with the new

Updating your doors throughout your home or within certain rooms not only changes there appearance but gives you a chance to lighten up dark spaces like a hallway or small office by selecting a glazed or window door. Or you could give your home a little character replacing cheap blank doors with brightly coloured contemporary ones.

Always keep in mind though, that whist changing your door furniture is usually a simple improvement, swapping the doors themselves isn’t always as straightforward. You may find that you need to add further door hinges to take the weight of new doors or adjust the size of the opening by adding wooden strips to the frame. Door stops may also need re-positioning to allow for differing door widths and swing arc. If that wasn’t enough to consider you may find that your existing door frames don’t match todays standard sizes or even worse they may not be entirely straight which is a problem particularly seen in older houses and properties meaning your new frames will need trimming of planing to fit. All of this does need to be given some thought while of course does add to the overall cost of fitting new doors. If you decide to replace the doors then there are four basic types.

Before you jump in and get it wrong you will need to check whether the new doors need to comply with fire regulations. If they do this will narrow your choice somewhat while put up the price, but don’t let that deter you, you can still find a good range of well-priced and attractively stylish doors.

Panel Doors

Highstreet DIY stores usually stock a selection of panel doors with different patterns and variations of 4 panel doors. You should be able to find a door matching with the other doors in your home or if replacing all doors then one’s that suit your budget and interior. Panel doors are generally supplied with either soft or hardwood frames and the panels can be cut down to fit within existing frames.

The advantages of panel doors is the possibility to match them with existing doors and door features while they are easy to cut down to fit awkward frames. Disadvantages of panel doors is that hardwood or unusual patterns can be difficult to find and expensive.

Moulded Doors

Moulded type doors duplicate panel doors but cost considerably less. The surface of moulded doors can be manufactured from numerous materials including wood, plastic and fibreboard all of which are available with either a wood effect or coloured finish. Moulded doors usually have a honeycomb corrugated cardboard centre which keeps the doors light while also provides a strong internal filling.

Along with the cost saving the other benefit of fitting moulded doors is that they come ready finished, meaning you do not have to paint or varnish them. The downside is that they can appear inferior in both look and feel when compared with panel doors.

Flush Doors

Similar to moulded doors, flush doors are made from a honeycomb cardboard centre which is placed between either hardwood or plywood sheets. The edging of the doors and areas where hinges and door handles are added are strengthened with a wooden block structure. Heavier weight and stronger models of flush doors are also available with fibreboard centres.

The biggest advantage of flush doors is the price while they are a popular type of door that is well stocked by DIY stores and door specialists. Another positive point which is worth a mention is that due to their weight they are easy to handle which makes hanging them somewhat easier then solid wood doors. The main disadvantage of these type of doors is that they can’t be cut down while also due to wooden block structures added for strengthening to the hinge and door handle fitting areas, flush doors can only be hung one way.

Fire Doors

It’s quite normal to find that loft and garage entrances are required by building regulations to be fitted with fire resistant doors. In recent times it has also become common to find fire resistant doors fitted throughout new builds in an attempt to reduce the risk of fires spreading. Fire resistant doors are thicker than normal doors. Available in a selection of finishes including flush and moulded, fire resistant doors have a dense centre which means they carry extra weight and usually require strong framing and heavy duty hinges.

The obvious advantage of fitting fire resistant doors is that as the name suggests they are fire resistant and reduce the chance of fires spreading from room to room. Another benefit is that due to their thickness and dense centre they reduce sound transfer. The downside to these doors is that styles and designs are somewhat limited when compared with that of moulded or panel doors while they are also more expensive to buy and fit, usually needing the help of a carpenter.

Conclusion

While replacing your doors can make a wonderful difference to the style and appearance of your home interior it’s not a job to be taken lightly. Before you start thinking of the numerous choices available consider whether a simple transformation of your existing doors using new door handles and if needed a coat of paint or varnish would be an option.