Everyone wants a house that’s attractive both inside and outside, and interior doors are a huge key to making the home appealing once visitors get beyond the entry way door.
But part of getting the right interior door when looking for Alexandria doors is about knowing the materials. This is not quite as simple as it looks – interior doors have come a long way lately, so it is important to know the strengths and weaknesses of each possibility.
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Solid Wood Doors
When it comes to durability and attractiveness, solid wood doors represent the top of the line. They come in a variety of patterns and styles, and their versatility makes it possible to use them as an integral element of home design.
Regardless of style, there are plenty of choices. Here is a partial list of the major wood types used to make interior doors:
- cherry
- maple
- walnut
- juniper
- oak
This list can be further broken down into hard woods (e.g., oak) and soft woods (pine). Harder woods like oak tend to resist denting better than soft woods, but all the woods listed above are strong and durable. They are also good for cutting out noise and providing insulation, and they can easily be stained or finished as well.
There are a couple of weaknesses, though. Solid wood doors do tent to warp and bend when exposed to moisture, so they are probably not the best choice in the bathroom area or other parts of the house where moisture may be present.
Solid Core Doors
These doors are usually similar in appearance to solid wood doors, and the durability is comparable as well. They can be engineered to give the same look and quality as a solid wood door, and they are made to make it relatively easy to add different finishes and textures.
Composition-wise, these doors are usually built with an exterior skin that consists of plywood or some sort of molded composite. The interior is a wood fiber blend, so the basic materials are somewhat different than those of a completely solid door.
But the biggest advantage of these kinds of doors is price. They are cheaper than solid woods doors, and with a little extra work they can be made to look almost as stylish as their more expensive counterparts.
Hollow Core Doors
The third major wood option is hollow core doors. In these doors, wood boards are usually used for the external part of the door, while the interior consists of a honeycomb or grid core of wood material.
The advantages and disadvantages tend to be very simple. Hollow core doors are less expensive and lighter, which makes them easier to handle.
On the other hand, they tend to be less stylish, and some of the low-end options can end up looking cheap. They also do not block noise or insulate as well as the other two types listed above.
Medium Density Fiberboard (MDF)
MDF doors are typically made from recycled wood fibers, and they do represent an even cheaper option.
They also resist warping fairly well, although they lack the true look and feel of a wood grain texture. The lack of texture does make painting easier, so they can be a good fit for certain color schemes
Metal and Glass Doors
After being overlooked for years, metal and glass doors have been making a strong comeback on the home design front.
It’s easy to understand why. The materials are far better than they used to be, which makes it possible to give metal and glass doors a stylish, streamlined look.
They can be more expensive than all the other types save solid wood doors, but as a home design element glass and metal doors can be invaluable in the right setting.
Other Considerations
There are several other considerations that apply to interior door materials, and not all pertain to look and style.
An interior door that leads to a garage or attic, for instance, may have to be made of a fireproof or fire-resistant material, so it is important to know the building codes before making this kind of decision.
The final issue is the mix-and-match factor. Interior door materials are rarely chosen in a vacuum-they are almost always selected as part of an overall home design plan. This means it’s important to consider the other things that play into that, including door types (French, sliding, pocket, panel, etc.), the type of house, demographics of the owners and occupants, and so on.
Any plans should be flexible, but for the best possible choice, contact a home contractor and let them give you the best interior door materials for your situation!
