DOORS

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Choosing doors for your home is an exercise in form and function. You will be walking in and out of these doors every day, so they need to function well and match the style of your home. Your doors can come in a variety of materials, each offering different features. When choosing doors for your home, it is essential to consider how you like to use your space. 

Traditional wood doors feature "stile and rail" construction. Vertical stiles and horizontal rails are joined together with solid wood panels or glass lites to create a single door panel. Today- stile and rail panel pieces are often made up of engineered wood. This method enhances the performance and strength of the door. Manufacturers offer doors in a variety of wood species. 

A steel door slab features a layer of steel on both sides of a core made up of insulating foam and surrounded by a wood perimeter to provide energy efficiency. Steel door slabs are produced in a variety of solid panel styles and different thickness of steel. Steel door slabs can have a section cut out and replaced with a door lite or a decorative glass panel. 

 A hollow metal door is defined as a type of door that consists of an internal metal frame and metal skin, commonly used for security purposes. These doors can be equipped with various types of access controlled locks such as mortise locks, electrified panic hardware, and magnetic locks. Hollow metal doors can have a section cut out for security glass or louver vents.

Fiberglass has recently seen a tremendous increase in popularity in the exterior door market (think of the material boats are made from). A fiberglass composite is used on either side of the door's core. These doors are designed to provide high energy efficiency and low maintenance. They are offered in many different options: stainable, paintable, with woodgrain and smooth panel. Fiberglass resists dings and dents and is more favorable in the California sunshine and heat. 

Molded doors are made of wood by-products and are pressed together in forms. Molded doors come in two forms: hollow core and solid core. Hollow core doors are a lighter weight door with less sound control than a solid core door. A solid core door offers more privacy and a more solid feel. Solid core doors are recommended for the use on all bathroom and bedroom applications. 

MDF doors use an engineered wood product called Medium Density Fiberboard and is suitable for paint grade applications. These doors are considered higher quality than molded doors. They can be produced in pieces for true stile and rail construction, either as an entire MDF door or in combination with wood. As a result, the door's profile is crisper than a molded door and therefor it looks more like a wood door when painted. MDF doors are solid doors and provide high levels of privacy and noise control. 

You may be required to have a fire rated door ( like garage to house). These doors can be made from different materials and are rated by the amount of time they will not combust in the event of a fire. This is to help protect your family and your property in the event of a fire. Ratings vary from 20-90 minutes and beyond. Check with your local building ordinances to find out what you need for your project. Fire-rated doors are more common in commercial than residential buildings. 

Alder- Known for its pronounced grain and uniform texture. This versatile wood species features a fairly straight grain with areas of clusters and small knots. These marks add character and provide a darker texture and color when finished. Alder varies from pale yellow to reddish-brown, and it accepts stains exceptionally well. It is the lightest and least dense wood. Knotty Alder presents a more rustic look.