How to choose the entrance door to an apartment according to parameters, popular options

How to choose a metal door

The base of the metal door is made of aluminum or steel. Steel structures are more durable and provide high-quality noise and heat insulation.

Aluminum sheets are lightweight and therefore easy to install. This material allows for many finishing options.

Pay attention to the way the door opens. It is better to choose designs that open on both the left and right sides. Whether you choose external or internal doors depends on your taste preferences.
Take into account the technical characteristics of the model, because it will constantly be under mechanical and temperature influence. To ensure the product retains its appearance longer, choose powder coating or oak paneling.
The level of noise and heat insulation are important criteria. As a rule, a metal door is insulated using mineral wool, polystyrene foam, and corrugated cardboard.

Mineral wool is best suited for the internal filling of the product; it is an environmentally friendly material with high thermal insulation properties. Other materials are cheaper, but can crumble quickly.

The door must have a reliable security system against unauthorized entry. Locks of 1-4 burglary resistance classes are built into metal structures that are used for domestic purposes.

By type, locks are divided into lever locks with increased security and cylinder locks, which are subject to recoding in case the keys are lost. As a rule, modern models are equipped with these two locks.

Pay attention to the quality of the fittings. This includes door hinges, handles, chains, eyes, and other decorative elements. The aesthetics and beauty of these details also testifies to the reliability of the accessories.

Important parameters:

Pay attention to the door hinges. Do not buy products that have fewer than three loops. Consider the opening angle of the structure: 90, 120, 180 degrees. The higher this indicator, the better.
It is better if the model is made of a solid-bent profile.
When choosing a door, check the thickness of the door leaf. The minimum value is 40 mm, but the structure will not be protected.

The thicker the fabric, the more reliable the protection and the higher the thermal insulation characteristics. In severe winters and constant frosts, the optimal option would be a thickness of 80-90 mm.

Pay attention to the thickness of the sheet, the optimal figure is 2-3 mm. Do not purchase products with a steel thickness of less than 0.5 mm; such structures are susceptible to dents and have a short service life.

The thickness of the door frame must be twice as thick to withstand the fastening of the fittings.

The most vulnerable places of the door leaf should be sealed with stiffeners. This improves the performance characteristics of the product and reduces the risk of deformation.
Please note whether the product is equipped with an armor plate; this is a mandatory component of the kit.
Choose models with ball hinges and anti-cuts that are attached to the hinge side.
The tightness of the structure is ensured by a double-circuit seal, which protects against foreign odors, drafts and retains heat well.
The diameter of the locking bolts must be at least 16-18 mm.

The design and decoration of the door depends on your preferences. A popular finishing option is plastic panels, which are wear-resistant and impact-resistant.

Secondary parameters:

With the help of polymer painting, the structure acquires a new color and protective characteristics. Varnishing is a type of coating with a high level of resistance. Wood finishing is the most environmentally friendly and effective way of decoration.

When choosing a color, be guided by your taste, but keep in mind that dark fabrics will retain their presentation longer.
It is advisable that all fittings be made by one manufacturer.
The presence of a manganese plate will prevent the door from being drilled.

No. 5. External and internal finishing of a metal door

The steel sheets of the door leaf need decoration. When choosing interior decoration, you should start only from personal preferences and the nuances of arranging the hallway. Exterior finishing must be resistant to changes in humidity, precipitation and sunlight if the door leads to the street, and withstand mechanical stress if you have pets. In the case where the door leads to a vestibule or entrance, there are no special requirements for its external decor.

The most popular finishing options:

powder coating involves applying special paints to the surface, which, when exposed to high temperatures, form an anti-vandal film. There are many shades and types of coating, so there will be plenty to choose from. The main advantages include excellent performance, resistance to any weather conditions and low price of the coating. Doors that lead from the street to the room, it is recommended to coat it with powder coating on both sides, without using wood and materials made from its fibers, so that changes in humidity and temperature do not force frequent repairs;
solid wood - the most expensive, environmentally friendly and beautiful way to finish a door leaf. Using painting and carving, you can create a real work of art. In addition, the tree will serve as an additional heat insulator;
MDF panels, made from wood chips, have a thickness of 7-20 mm, covered with paint, a film with a pattern or veneer, and a thin cut of valuable wood. Such panels allow you to decorate the door in any way you like, they are not cheap, and the price range depending on the type of decorative coating is decent. Another advantage is good heat and sound insulation qualities;
vinyl leather – once the most popular material for decorative door decoration. Can be of any color, imitates the structure of natural leather well, inexpensive, but not durable enough;
Read also: Kitchen interior styles: review of the best 165 photos of modern design
plastic panels are a budget option for door finishing, there is a wide choice, they are easy to care for, but their durability is low;
lamination with PVC film allows you to give the door any design, imitate leather or wood. The material is cheap, but short-lived, looks rustic;
Painting and varnishing can even be done independently, but the durability of such a finish is low, as is the price.

In principle, the possible finishing options for the door leaf are not limited to these materials. Recently, it has become popular to decorate the interior with a mirror: this expands the space and allows you to save space in the hallway if it is not large.

The best metal door with a thermal break

NORTH is used in harsh winter conditions, withstands temperatures down to -39 degrees, vulnerable areas are reliably sealed with contours. The thickness of the canvas is 80 mm. The design is reliable as it is equipped with 10 locking points.

The average weight of the model is 100 kg. The stylish design and beautiful appearance are ensured by the polymer powder coating of the model. The door is simple to install, easy to maintain, wear-resistant and durable if used correctly.

Characteristics:

weight – 100 kg;
dimensions – 860 by 2050 (960 by 2050) mm;
2 sealing circuits;
10 locking points;
canvas thickness – 80 mm;
polymer powder coating.

Pros:

the structure does not freeze, there is no ice;
reliable protection system against penetration;
multilayer insulation system;
functionality;
thermal resistance;
wear resistance and durability;
average weight, transportability;
high-quality fittings, reliable fastenings;
convenient installation and maintenance of the door.

Minuses:

high price.

Steel thickness

How to choose the entrance door to an apartment so that it lasts as long as possible? When answering this question for the drive, one key aspect is the density of the steel sheet. Here the indicators are in the range of 0.8 - 5 mm. The higher they are, the more solid the strength. True, this increases both the mass and the price tag of the product.

Steel doors with different densities are used in various fields:

I recommend 0.8 – 1 mm for domestic buildings where valuables are not stored,
1-2 mm: office premises,
2-3 mm – standard for apartments
4 mm – private houses.

In some products, the steel sheet is only on the outside. The manufacturer claims that this is enough to obtain a structure with good strength. And the inner panel can be made of MDF.

For safety reasons, it is better to choose an option with a pair of steel sheets. If your budget allows, I recommend purchasing a version reinforced with one more sheet. But it is heavy and not suitable for all situations.

Advice
When examining the doors based on the thickness of the steel, carefully examine the area of the locks. When hacking, a huge load falls on him. This area should be reinforced with another sheet. There is an alternative here - this is an armored plate.

The best metal door with thick leaf

Trio Metal canvas , insulated with mineral wool, thickness – 80 mm. The model is sealed with three contours in places that wear out quickly. Hinges on bearings ensure the door opens 180 degrees, and the peephole provides a wide view.

The design includes 2 locks and a night bolt. For interior decoration, a moisture-resistant PVC coating in the color of bleached oak is used. A product with reliable burglary protection, high heat and sound insulation.

Characteristics:

canvas thickness – 80 mm;
dimensions – 2050 by 880 (980) mm;
the canvas is filled with mineral wool;
three sealing contours;
MDF panel finishing;
door with special powder coating;
fittings (2 locks, night bolt, hinges, peephole, handle).

Pros:

resistance to mechanical damage and atmospheric influences;
high thermal insulation characteristics;
convenient equipment, reliable fittings;
Stylish and high-quality interior and exterior decoration.

Minuses:

weighty and large-sized product.

Door security classes

There are 7 of them in total:

First. These are doors with a material density of 1-1.5 mm. They have primitive locks. They are usually placed in basements and vestibules.
Second. More complicated versions, but also easy to open. The scope of use is similar.
Third. These are doors with thick steel sheets and high-quality locks. Some are used as apartment entrance doors.
Fourth. Optimal version for private homes. They have very dense material, lock combinations and armored inserts.
Fifth - seventh. Versions for banks, office premises where there is cash, important documentation, etc.

The best metal door made in Belarus

Veldoors Chocolate design is available in two sizes. The door opens from both sides. Beautiful design and high-quality finishing using PVC. The simplicity of geometric shapes and dark chocolate color give the design elegance and special charm.

Characteristics:

dimensions – 860 by 2060 (960 by 2050) mm;
2 sealing circuits;
filler – ISOVER mineral wool;
covering – structured MDF panel;
accessories (2 hinges with bearings, 2 locks, night bolt, anti-removal pins).

Pros:

Possibility of opening from the right and left sides;
environmentally friendly insulation;
external and internal finishing of MDF;
compaction of vulnerable areas of the metal sheet;
the main lock is protected by an armor plate;
stylish design;
quality headset.

Minuses:

difficulty in care;
accumulation of dust.

Best metal soundproof door

The design of LEGANZA FORTE ideally combines aesthetic appearance and high quality: sound insulation, insulation. Adjustable hinges prevent the door leaf from sagging. The product has reliable burglary protection, the external finish is powder coated.

Characteristics:

modular layout;
canvas thickness – 60 mm;
5 stiffeners;
double porch;
weight – 85-115 kg;
maximum opening size – 1020 by 2300 mm;
fittings (hinges, locks).

Pros:

anti-corrosion protection;
locks with recoding;
built-in protection against the most popular hacking methods;
high sound and heat insulation;
equipped with adjustable hinges that prevent the fabric from sagging;
convenient and practical design.

Minuses:

large door;
low transportability.

Exterior door trim

Its task is not only to give the door surface an appropriate appearance - the external finish should be as vandal-resistant as possible and withstand the effects of solar ultraviolet radiation and precipitation. For this reason, for outdoor doors you cannot use coatings made of wood materials that can absorb moisture - chipboard, MDF and the like.

Leatherette

At the time steel doors appeared on the market, the use of this material in the form of upholstery was difficult for a trivial reason - leatherette was nailed to wooden doors, and it had to be attached to iron doors in other ways. As a result, leatherette was practically not used with steel structures for some time, with rare exceptions. Now, for lovers of leatherette, there are overlays on the market that make the technology of attaching leatherette as simple as possible:

The steel sheet is cleaned and degreased.
The bases of the overlays are glued onto it in the right places.
Foam rubber or similar material is placed on the door, and leatherette is placed on it.
The upper side of the lining presses the leatherette to the door leaf. At the same time, the free areas of foam rubber stretch the leatherette.
You can stretch a wire between the overlays - craftsmen have come up with many schemes for a variety of designs.

The main disadvantage of leatherette is its poor resistance to mechanical damage, especially from sharp objects.

Paneling

A relatively new type of finishing, which uses panels made of wood or plastic materials up to 20 mm thick. Their main advantages are ease of installation and a wide range of colors and shades, which leatherette materials cannot boast of.

First of all, plastic panels appeared on the domestic market, which were used to decorate Italian and Spanish doors, and with the development of the market, local manufacturers began to produce them. Wooden panels are positioned as elite class products corresponding to the cost - in appearance, such doors are difficult to distinguish from those made of natural oak, alder or pine.

In appearance, decorative panels can have a flat or three-dimensional pattern. In the first case, thin plastic or MDF is used, which are covered with film. For volumetric ones, they take plywood, high-quality MDF or natural solid wood, on which the desired pattern is cut out with a milling cutter, and then the panel is covered with film, varnished and tinted, if it is solid wood.

The disadvantage of the panels is the same as that of leatherette - low vandal resistance. To increase their strength, an additional layer of plastic is sprayed onto the surface, but this does not completely solve the problem, and the cost of this procedure is quite high.

Hammer paint

The surfaces painted with it have a characteristic appearance - it seems that they were painted, the paint was beaten with a hammer, and then varnished, but the drawings turn out to be quite discreet and beautiful. This effect is obtained due to the presence of aluminum powder in the composition.

In addition to its appearance, this paint has a number of advantages that have made it one of the leaders in exterior decoration:

Suitable for any surface.
The structure of the paint masks scratches and unevenness, so it does not require preliminary priming.
The paint adheres well to the surface and dries quickly.
Extensive color range.
Easy to use - sold in finished form, ready for use.

The following types of coloring are distinguished:

Antique.

Velvet.

Crocodile.

Moire.

Shagreen.

The surface covered with hammer paint becomes airtight, resistant to various weather conditions, ultraviolet radiation, aggressive liquids, mechanical stress, vibration and temperature changes, which gives it vandal-resistant properties.

The best apartment metal door

The design of Akron 1 is reliable, wear-resistant, durable. The doors are made of metal sheet 65 mm thick and provide good sound insulation. In vulnerable places they are sealed with special contours.

Reliable protection is provided by fittings: hinges, locks, anti-removal pins. The door has a Guardian 10.11 main lock with a second class of burglary resistance.

Mineral wool is used as a filler; the material is environmentally friendly and safe for health.

Characteristics:

canvas thickness – 65 mm;
filler – mineral wool;
2 sealing circuits;
reinforcement of the canvas in unreliable places;
accessories (locks, anti-removal pins, hinges).

Pros:

burglary resistance;
dense fabric provides excellent sound insulation;
reliable fastening of accessories;
strength and wear resistance;
durability subject to operating rules;
high sound insulation.

Minuses:

difficult to transport.

Domestic or imported?

Metal doors are presented on the market by domestic and foreign brands. Imported doors, if they are not made in China, are always more expensive, since the price includes logistics costs and high labor costs. Many people believe that products from foreign manufacturers are necessarily of better quality than domestic ones, but this is not at all true. For a correct comparison, it is necessary to bring to a single denominator and compare many parameters:

class, type and number of locks;
features of anti-burglary elements and quality of fittings;
blade characteristics (thickness and steel class);
dimensions and weight of the door system;
box design and installation method;
compliance with GOST and international standards;
category of fire safety, burglary resistance and sound insulation;
the presence and quality of decorative elements - aesthetic parameters;
manufacturing technology.

Without going into details, we can state that, other things being equal, a domestic analogue may turn out to be more reliable than an imported one, and certainly will be cheaper.

However, you should know that domestic manufacturers produce doors both in a home-made manner and using modern imported equipment, practically transferring foreign technological lines to Russian soil. Often such companies (for example, ESTA is one of them) position their products as, for example, Italian - and they do this with full right. Accordingly, at lower prices you get all the advantages of an imported door. An additional advantage is the ability to quickly receive a high-quality metal door made to individual sizes.

As a door structure for an apartment, single-leaf metal doors made of steel and/or aluminum are most often used, right- or left-handed, opening into the external or internal space, which is dictated not only by the preferences of the apartment owners, but also by installation possibilities and fire safety requirements.

So, any metal door has the following structural elements: frame, door leaf, door fittings and finishing materials.

Best metal door with MDF finish

Profdoor-MD10 design is heavy and large in size, suitable for decorating entrance and front doors of an apartment. Thanks to the built-in stiffening ribs, the elastic metal sheet becomes reliable and durable.

The door is equipped with a reliable security system, there are lower and upper locks and a peephole. The noise and heat insulation of the model is at the highest level; this design will bring comfort and coziness to the house. MDF finish is used to create a natural effect.

Characteristics:

dimensions – 200 by 80 cm;
weight – 70 kg;
2 pyramidal stiffeners;
MDF finishing;
reinforcement with profile pipe;
noise and thermal insulation of the door vestibule;
accessories (two locks, peephole).

Pros:

the structure is protected from outside penetration;
high-quality insulation of the model;
high sound insulation;
Stiffening ribs ensure wear resistance and reliability of the structure;
MDF finishing brings the model closer to a natural design.

Minuses:

weighty design.

How to order a door in a store correctly

When ordering a door, you need to focus on the size of the entrance opening. The box should fit in it without any problems. It is better if there is a little space left, which will allow the structure to be placed in a strictly vertical position and fixed with mounting foam.

Warranty service

You need to make sure there is a warranty. It makes it possible to demand free elimination of defects discovered during unpacking, acceptance and installation of the product.

The duration of the warranty for the door leaf, lock and fittings may vary. Find out this point in advance so that there are no surprises.

The warranty remains valid if you followed the operating instructions:

lubricate the hinges at least once every six months with a special compound - you can use grease;
insert the key into the hole all the way and carefully turn it;
remove the key from the locking mechanism only after a full 360-degree turn;
did not use corrosive or abrasive substances for washing;
provided protection for the door block from moisture and direct sunlight;
did not repair the door yourself and did not make changes to its design that affected the characteristics of the product;
did not try to slam the door with the bolts extended;
they used only factory keys and did not use handicraft tools;
do not load the lock handle weighing more than 3 kg.

The best metal door for a private home

Wear-resistant Arma Standard-1 is a dense design with two sealing contours. To make the door, a bent metal profile with stiffeners is used. The product is equipped with a cylinder and lever lock, a peephole, and chrome-colored fittings.

Reliable protection against burglary is provided by anti-removal pins. The metal door is powder-painted and resists corrosion and mechanical damage. Although the design is heavy, it opens easily and without unnecessary sound effects.

Characteristics:

canvas dimensions – 880 x 2050 mm;
thickness – 80 mm;
filler – mineral cloth “URSA GEO”;
MDF finishing;
external powder copper coating;
fittings (sealing contours, hinges, pins, night bolt).

Pros:

large thickness of metal sheet;
high level of sound insulation;
high-quality filler, high-quality insulation;
reliable protection against burglary;
Possibility of opening on both sides;
beautiful appearance, stylish design;
convenient equipment.

Minuses:

heavy construction.

Entrance door cost

An important issue that cannot be ignored. First of all, it should be noted that a reliable door can be purchased in installments; any reputable company, including ESTA, will offer you such a payment plan. The cost of a basic set of door structure of the third class of burglary resistance ranges from 35 to 45 thousand rubles, further price increases are due to additional options, improved burglary resistance indicators, and the use of more expensive decorative materials. The maximum “upgrade” increases the base cost of the door by three times or more.

When choosing a metal entrance door, try to imagine the tasks and conditions of its operation as clearly as possible and do not hesitate to ask questions to the sales consultants. We do not make such a purchase very often, so it is important that your choice turns out to be as reasoned as possible, and therefore correct, which ESTA sincerely wishes for you!

The best metal door for technical rooms

2DP-1S are installed in buildings and public places and are made from high-quality and wear-resistant materials.

The door is designed taking into account the latest technologies, equipped with reliable burglary protection and fire resistance. Two types of seals are used. Stylish design and beautiful powder coated finish.

Characteristics:

dimensions – 1400 by 1000 (2350 by 1750) mm;
external finishing with powder-polymer coating;
two contours of rubber seal, thermally expanding seal;
design of the box (with or without a threshold, in the overhead or in the opening);
equipping with fire-fighting mechanisms;
fittings (crossbars, locks).

Pros:

high technical safety;
several design options;
high-quality external finishing, beautiful design;
reliable insulation;
supply of fire safety system.

Minuses:

quite heavy design;
difficulties during transportation.

How to order a door correctly

Even if the store has already attracted a particular entrance door, the final decision will have to be made with the store manager. This is a necessary evil or vice versa if the consultant is competent and competent. In any case, you can and should ask him all your questions, tell him about any doubts about the quality of the door as a whole and its parts that arose during the process of choosing it, and ask him to pre-calculate the cost of installation.

What will the consultant tell you about?

By how a person answers all the questions asked, you can form an opinion not only about him, but also about the company as a whole. People are not born technically savvy - if a salesperson has truly extensive knowledge, answers questions competently and finds answers to objections, it means he has been working in his position for a long time and regularly undergoes training to improve his skills. This speaks of the company’s responsible approach to working with clients, and therefore, with a high degree of probability, to the production process of its products as a whole.

If everything is exactly the opposite - the consultant is in the store just “for show”, may not even know the names of the door components and is lost when asked basic questions about the cost and installation time, then at least the manufacturing company’s implementation is not so good.

Of course, it may be that you have to communicate with a beginner, but serious salespeople first of all teach “students” not to lie about the product, and if he still does not have enough knowledge, then invite a more competent specialist to talk with the client.

The best double leaf metal door

DZ-98 is designed for wide doorways. The weight is distributed approximately equally on both parts of the door leaf, so the load on the hinges is significantly reduced.

The design is strong, wear-resistant and durable. The fittings include two locks and a peephole with a 180-degree view.

Characteristics:

type – front double doors;
dimensions – 2000 by 800 mm;
finishing (powder coating);
equipped with top and bottom lock;
number of loops (2);
insulated with mineral wool;
equipped with a peephole with a 180 degree view.

Pros:

uniform load distribution;
reliable protection against penetration;
wear resistance, durability;
stylish design and good finish;
the structure is insulated;
convenient equipment.

Minuses:

Only suitable for large openings.

Insulation and sound insulation

Without insulation in the interior of the door leaf in a house or apartment it will be cold and noisy. After all, steel conducts heat well and does not retain sound well. Any suitable material is used as insulation: mineral wool, polystyrene foam, expanded polystyrene. The question is which is better to use. It is better to base it on the characteristics of the insulation:

Mineral wool. It can be basalt or fiberglass, it can be of different densities. Basalt mineral wool is good for everyone, but it is afraid of getting wet (condensation due to the temperature difference between inside and outside). When frozen in a wet state, it turns into dust after freezing. If you want to choose a metal entrance door to your house, it is better to install it with a different insulation. The insulation is placed not only in the door leaf, but also in the door frame
Fiberglass mineral wool is not afraid of getting wet, but it is inconvenient to work with - it pricks.

Styrofoam. A good thermal insulation material that is not afraid of moisture, but has poor sound insulation characteristics. Attractive only for the price.

Extruded polystyrene foam. This type of insulation is significantly superior to other materials in terms of thermal insulation characteristics. From this point of view he is ideal. But the sound insulation is also not very good, and the cost is high.

The following conclusions can be drawn from all of the above: the choice of insulation for a door depends on the intended location of its installation. If you are going to choose a metal door for your apartment, you can use mineral wool. It’s still relatively warm in the entrance and the basalt wool shouldn’t freeze. One more point: it is better if they use not porous wool, but hard wool, which is usually sold in mats. It has better thermal insulation characteristics and, due to its elasticity, fills cavities better.

When choosing a steel door for a house or cottage, it is better to refrain from using basalt mineral wool. She will not complete her tasks. In this case, the best option is extruded polystyrene foam. It is also desirable to have two independent insulation contours: one at the outer part of the door, the second at the inner part, and an air gap between them. This design increases the thickness of the door leaf, but the protection from cold and sounds is much better.

Seals for heat preservation in the house and apartment

To preserve heat, it is also important to have seals on the door. They are usually made of rubber in the shape of the letter D. They are attached around the perimeter of the door frame and leaf. This is quite enough for a metal door to an apartment. For a door to a house, it is desirable to have two circuits - protection against the penetration of cold will be more reliable.

The best metal door with internal opening

DS-7 is intended for installation in office and residential premises. The structure is made of one-piece bent door leaf (two metal sheets, 4 stiffeners). The product is equipped with locks of burglary resistance classes 3 and 4.

Wear-resistant design with two sealing contours, insulated with environmentally friendly mineral wool. Stylish design, wide choice for decorative finishing. High-quality fittings will provide reliable protection, comfort and coziness.

Characteristics:

4 stiffening ribs;
dimensions – 2000 by 880 (2100-980) mm;
two seal circuits;
the structure is insulated with mineral wool;
fittings (hinges, peephole, lining, handle).

Pros:

wide range of decorative finishes;
environmental Safety;
high-quality fittings;
insulation with mineral wool;
5 available sizes;
the design is wear-resistant and durable;
burglary protection (class 3 and 4);
durability and reliability.

Minuses:

there are no anti-removal clamps.

Design Features

Before you go to the store, you should get acquainted with the design. Performance properties are determined by the characteristics of the constituent elements.

Design

The door frame, which is considered the frame of the system.
A cloth that closes and opens an opening. Inserted into the box. This is a frame sheathed on both sides with internal stiffeners.
Hinges holding the product to the box.
A seal fixed in one or two circuits.
Locks, handle, other fittings.

The frame for the panel is made of different materials, which determines its strength. The fewer welds there are, the better. The most reliable model is made from a profile pipe, which is connected by one seam. The frame, which is made of welded corners, is not as strong as possible. The canvas should also be solid, without seams. It is made from two types of materials.

Materials

Hot rolled steel. The cheapest and most corrosive material. It can be identified by its dark color, although it is not always noticeable under the decoration.
Cold rolled metal. Durable, resistant to corrosion and any weather conditions. The price is higher than that of analogues.

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