Internal doors can completely transform your home, whether you’re replacing your current doors or adding new into a new build – they can create a completely different feel to your home without needing to redecorate the whole house. When looking at internal doors, there are a number of different things to consider. From size and functionality to style and insulation performance, there are so many options, that it can be overwhelming.
Here at Door Superstore, we’ve created a guide to some of the things you should consider when choosing your doors, to help make your decisions a little easier.
Table of contents
- Do you need a fire-rated door?
- Which type of internal door is best for you?
- Would an internal glazed door suit your home?
- Have you considered different colours for your internal door?
- Which finishing option works best for you?
- Don’t forget internal door hardware and accessories
Do you need a fire rated door?
The first thing to consider is if you need a fire rated door. Fire rated doors have been manufactured to act as a barrier, preventing the spread of fire for at least 30 minutes – FD30 rated fire doors give at least 30 minutes of fire protection, whilst FD60 fire doors give at least 60 minutes of fire protection.
For new build properties, fire doors must be installed where an integral garage can be accessed from a 2-storey house, or where any room leads to a stairway in 3-storey (or more) houses – these criteria would consider a loft conversion to be a storey. For more information on when fire doors are required, check out our guide to how fire doors work.
Fire doors can also be installed when they aren’t required by building regulations – they are thicker than regular doors, meaning that they are often of higher quality, and provide good soundproofing. Take a look at our post on the other benefits of fire doors.
Which type of internal door is best for you?
Doors are made from a range of different materials, with different structures, and each has its own benefits. They also come in many different sizes.
Solid wooden internal doors
Manufacturers use a single piece of timber to make solid wooden doors. Thanks to their extreme strength and timelessness, they have been popular for centuries. You can even trim solid wood doors to fit bespoke measurements and doorways because of their solid construction.
Choose from solid wooden internal doors made from wood such as pine, oak and walnut to give your home a classic and high-quality finish.
Engineered core internal doors
Internal doors with engineered cores, also known as solid-core doors, are doors that have a solid core, with a fine grade surface veneer attached to each side of the core. They are sturdy and quite heavy and give the appearance of a solid wooden door without the high price tag.
Moulded internal doors
Manufacturers use wooden bi-products that are pressed together to form a moulded door. Often less expensive than solid wooden doors, they come in a range of sizes and shapes.
Flush internal doors
Flush doors typically have a completely smooth surface, giving them a minimalist feature. They normally have an engineered core with a hollow frame, covered with a plywood or MDF surface. They are much more lightweight, but cannot be trimmed to size. However, they are a great budget-friendly alternative to solid wood. Flush doors come in a range of styles, with features such as panels, grooves and stains. They can add a great finishing touch to both traditional and contemporary homes.
Panelled internal doors
Panelled internal doors have a number of different panels instead of a single piece of wood. Popular in homes and buildings throughout the UK, panel doors have a structure that provides stability and durability, as well as variety – you can choose from 2, 4 or 6 panelled internal doors for your home.
Would an internal glazed door suit your home?
Internal glazed doors can be the perfect way to brighten up a room or hallway. They let natural light flow through the house even when you close the doors. Choose from internal glazed doors with full glazing, half glazing or glazing panels depending on the amount of light you want to flow through your home, and you can also choose from clear, obscure or frosted depending on the levels of privacy you require.
Alternatively, opt for an unglazed door and fit the glazing yourself, which will allow you to add your own personal touch to your internal doors. If you’re looking to create a feature, stained glass is a nice way to bring a unique touch to your door.
Have you considered different colours for your internal door?
Internal doors come in a range of different colours, and choosing a colour you may not have previously considered could completely transform a room. Along with traditional internal doors in simple wooden or white finishes, other colours such as ash grey, light grey, dark walnut and more are becoming increasingly popular.
Which finishing option works best for you?
Doors come in a number of different finishes. Which one you choose will depend on your time constraints, skills, and desire to add a personal touch.
Fully finished doors have been completely finished, with stains or paint and protection, so that they are ready for you to install or hang.
Therefore, you do not need to prime, paint, stain, or leave the door to dry before hanging. This will save you time and money on labour costs.
Primed internal doors have been treated and primed but have not been painted, so this will need to be done before hanging.
This way, you can customise your door with paint or wood stain. It also eliminates the time-consuming process of priming the door yourself.
The other alternative is to opt for an unfinished internal door. Often less expensive, unfinished internal doors provide you with the chance to completely customise your door. Add the primer, wood stain or paint before hanging, and you can also choose an unglazed unfinished door for complete customisation.
Don’t forget internal door hardware and accessories
To fully transform a room by replacing the internal doors, don’t forget the door accessories and hardware! Picking the right door handles, door knobs or door frames can add a new dimension to the room as well as the door.
Door latches are not often supplied with new doors. So, remember to purchase latches for your internal doors, as well as door handles and knobs. We’ve got a range of different latches to choose from, including bathroom latches, mortice latches and a number of fire rated latches for use on fire rated doors.
Was this guide useful?
Mentioned in this project guide:
