Entrance doors are one of the most important elements in building a house. They serve as a kind of business card and protect us from harsh weather conditions such as strong winds, rain, or snow, as well as from unwanted guests. It is important to know how to properly prepare for the process of purchasing them.
When should you start thinking about choosing entrance doors?
Before the construction of a house begins, one should already have an idea of what type of doors they would like. This is important because, although doors are installed at the final stage of construction, it is necessary to prepare an appropriate door opening and choose the model of the door leaf.
Current regulations state that exterior doors should have a minimum width of 90 cm and a height of 200 cm in the light of the frame, so that everyone, including people with disabilities, can pass through the door freely.
Of course, the doors can be wider and taller—we can add glazing, side lights, top lights, or both. Such elements will enhance the attractiveness of the doors, and consequently, the entire building as well. Additionally, they will allow much more natural light to enter the house, making it appear larger and more spacious.
How does it look in practice?
The door opening, where the exterior doors will later be installed, should primarily be even and dimensional to ensure everything fits perfectly. It is also advisable to prime the opening. The door opening should be 12-15 cm wider than the door with the frame and approximately 6 cm taller. When determining the height, it would be wise to allocate a few extra centimeters for the flooring.
Once we make a decision regarding the size of our doors, it’s worth considering which direction the doors will open – inwards or outwards.
- Doors that open outwards are much more commonly chosen and have many more advantages, such as: they are more airtight because the wind presses them against the frame – when outdoor temperatures are low, we will have less heat loss,
- they are harder to break into,
- we do not need to allocate extra space in the hallway for the doors to open,
- rain or snow does not flow into the interior of the house,
Additionally, outward-opening doors require a stop to prevent excessive opening, which could damage the house’s façade or the doors themselves. It is also worth considering a roof overhang that will shield the doors and the people entering from rain and snow, as well as prevent the formation of ice in front of the house during winter.
If we want our doors to open inwards, we need to remember to have enough space in the hallway. We should also take care of small details, such as light switches, which should not be located on the same wall where the doors will open, as this could be very inconvenient.
Of course, there is no one universal way to open doors – it is worth choosing the option that will be the most convenient for us.
Choosing Entrance Doors
When all the above elements have been discussed and chosen, it’s time to move on to selecting specific entrance doors.
For entrance doors to look elegant and tidy, they should harmonize with the color scheme of the windows and roof while contrasting with the façade. When choosing doors, it’s also worth considering what style our house is—modern, traditional, rustic, or perhaps industrial. Heavy doors with glazing and sidelights will suit a modern home, while decorative and more massive doors will fit a rustic house.
The material from which the doors are made is also important, and we have the following options:
wooden doors
steel doors
aluminum doors
PVC doors
Thermal insulation and security are also crucial. Before choosing specific doors, it’s definitely a good idea to ask what insulation materials have been used and what the thickness of the doors is.
Entrance doors, besides being elegant and allowing us to enter the house, should protect us from break-ins. It’s worth paying attention to the security class of the doors. The higher the class, the better. In single-family homes, RC2 or RC3 is typically used. Neway door fittings are designed for a break-in resistance class of RC3, depending on the chosen standard. To ensure that a thief will have a hard time getting into our home, we should also ensure that our windows and gate are equally resistant.
