Models of metal entrance doors with a mirror are extremely popular.
Advantages of installing entrance mirror doors
A steel entrance door has become commonplace in modern apartments. It has many advantages, but its main advantage is safety. Currently, manufacturers are generous with offers regarding the manufacture of different options for the door leaf, including its decorative finish, as well as built-in security locking systems. Color solutions also differ in many options, which is confirmed by photos of entrance doors on specialized websites. However, a demanding client always wants something more. Therefore, thanks to market demands, an original design appeared relatively recently - a metal entrance door with a mirror.
A mirror on the front door can visually enlarge the space and add light to the room
Mirrors in the interior have a purely decorative and practical function. Designers use the technique of installing mirrors in a room to visually expand the space, increase the degree of illumination, etc. Installing a mirror sheet on the front door meets the basic requirements for organizing a hallway and carries an additional functional and decorative load. Among the main advantages of installing a mirror on the door to an apartment are the following:
- A visual increase in the space of a small hallway is created, and the higher the size of the installed mirror, the greater the effect can be achieved. In this case, it is ideal to use a full-length mirror.
- You can increase the illumination of a space without increasing the brightness of the lamps.
- The mirror panel on the door can fully replace the traditionally installed mirror in the hallway, while saving useful space.
- Allows you to eliminate the need for mirrored doors in built-in wardrobes.
- Can become a bright decorative accent in the hallway.
- It visually “lightens” the structure, which is easy to see in the photo: the entrance doors “lose” their massiveness and heaviness.
Important! The soundproofing of the entrance door to the apartment does not change with the installation of a mirror.
Signs and prejudices
An entrance door with a decorative mirror, photos of which demonstrate the beauty and practicality of such a solution, still has some medical restrictions, related primarily to mental disorders.
With a diagnosed paranoid intolerance to mirrors, any additional reflective surface to which the patient is not accustomed can plunge him into horror. Moreover, the mirror sheet is installed directly on the border of the home.
As for the signs associated with mirrors, there is no need to worry about this, since the signs only speak about the inadmissibility of reflection in the mirrors of the front door. Thus, one of the signs says that good luck enters the house through the entrance, and after being reflected in the mirror, it immediately leaves the home.
A mirror installed on the very surface of the front door cannot cause any harm, but, on the contrary, will leave good luck in the house.
Thus, entrance doors with a mirror have more advantages than disadvantages, and the only significant disadvantage is the relatively high cost of the structure compared to a conventional metal entrance door.
Steel doors to an apartment with a mirror: design flaws
Entrance iron doors to an apartment must, first of all, fulfill their main function. Therefore, along with decorative properties, it is necessary to jointly consider the practicality of embedding a mirror and the safety of the structure as a whole for all residents.
A door with a mirror will cost more than the same design without it
No matter how attractive the photos of entrance doors with a mirror inside are, the price of such a design, due to the increased labor intensity of its production, will be higher than the cost of its traditional counterparts. The differences are especially noticeable when choosing mirrors with special properties: matte or semi-matte coating, Venetian glass, engraved, etched, etc. The increase in price is also affected by the surface area occupied by the mirror. When an additional mirror element is used in a door design, the load on the hinges increases significantly, and therefore new requirements for fittings arise.
High-quality components are not cheap. The locking devices required to maintain security will be non-standard - so-called invisible locks, which do not have a keyhole to protect the mirror from possible scratches with the key. There are also difficulties regarding the installation of the peephole: you will have to abandon its location in the middle of the front door. Manufacturers can offer photos or diagrams of installation options that are most optimal, but it is possible that the overview will be somewhat limited.
The disadvantages include the difficulty of caring for the mirror unit and the difficulties associated with replacing it. Caring is quite a responsible job. Keeping a front door with a built-in mirror clean is not easy, but having the appropriate cleaning products can solve this problem. To replace the glass, the door is completely dismantled, since its disassembly is possible only in a specialized workshop. Therefore, before installing the structure, evaluate the possibility of its safe operation.
For people with mental or nervous disorders, an entrance door with a mirror installed in it can provoke depressive or pathological conditions. Psychologists advise against such placement of mirrors if there are such residents in the apartment. The health of the household should take precedence over the desire to improve the decor in the hallway.
The mirror on the door needs frequent systematic care
Helpful advice! If you are organizing the interior of a house, adhering to the principles of Feng Shui, then entrance doors with a built-in mirror are ideal for this, because they reflect not the entrance to the home, but the interior environment.
Production Features
Entrance doors with mirrors are produced using the same technologies as all others. The difference lies in the need to fasten glass surfaces. It should be durable and light. Mirrors are fixed to the canvas using:
- Assembly adhesive.
- Fastening elements.
Glue is used in cases of small-sized mirror inserts. The adhesive should not contain chemical impurities that could damage the amalgam. Sometimes double-sided tape is used, which increases the shock-absorbing properties of the canvas. When closing sharply, the shock load on it is reduced.
To fix large mirror surfaces, a mechanical method is required. Frames, self-tapping screws, screws, etc. are used to hold the mirror along the edges or the entire perimeter.
The door finish can be of two types:
- Only the inside.
- On both sides of the canvas. Typically, a small area of mirror surface is used. Inserts are often installed on the outside of the door. This option, although beautiful, requires protection from vandals.
In addition, they come with built-in and overhead glass.
How to choose entrance doors with mirror inserts
Despite a number of negative aspects, the front door with a mirror receives positive reviews from apartment owners who have decided to take this step. Everyone emphasizes the convenience of the design, excellent heat and sound insulation, as well as fairly quiet door closing. In most cases, workshops install closers to soften the movement and protect the mirror from vibrations.
Which entrance door is best suited for a particular home is decided only by the apartment owners. They always have the choice of color, decorative overlays, other visual solutions, as well as the price segment. The door is installed in its place for a long time, so you should know a few rules that can ensure its trouble-free operation.
The main function of the front door is protection. Therefore, first of all, it is important to evaluate not the decorative properties of the structure, but the thickness of the canvas, the presence of stiffeners and the principles of installation of the block frame (with or without pins). Particular attention should be paid to hinges: it is better to choose internal or hidden ones. At the same time, metal doors with a mirror will have more weight than similar models without mirror inserts, which requires the use of reinforced hinges designed for a higher load.
When buying a mirror door, first of all you need to pay attention to the hinges - they must be reinforced
It is worth stipulating in advance the specifics of installing the peephole - its location or its complete absence with replacement with a video surveillance system. In addition, it is necessary to resolve the issue of the number of locks and latches, as well as the mechanism of their action. Any lock can be mounted on the door, but preference is given to reliable mechanisms, since access to them is difficult due to the installed mirror insert. You can choose a hidden lock without a keyhole, for which the key is an electronic remote control or a magnetic card.
Helpful advice! It is recommended to equip steel doors with a mirror with closers or opening limiters. This will protect the unit from vibration and extend its service life.
The door handle is selected according to the design, but you should rely on the choice of high-quality materials and models from reliable well-known manufacturers. All plastic options are not considered at all; they, like lightweight designs, should be excluded.
No matter how much the future owner would like to maximize the mirror area, its dimensions are determined by the dimensions of the door, taking into account a perimeter offset of at least 20 cm. These conditions are dictated by the installation features, ease of use of the door handle and locks. If you enhance the safety of using a mirror by gluing a transparent protective film, then you should prefer high quality glass, otherwise the reflection will be distorted. The protective film can protect the mirror from cracking, and will also prevent fragments from scattering in the event of a strong impact.
Handles must be of high quality and match the design of the door and room
How to install a mirror on the front door with your own hands
Inspired by picturesque photos of iron doors with a mirror, many craftsmen may decide to do the installation themselves. Technically, the process is simple; for this you need to have a minimum of equipment:
- the mirror itself is of the required size and proper quality;
- mounting adhesive intended for gluing mirrors, with a composition that prevents damage to the amalgam;
- a narrow decorative frame of a suitable size, which will simultaneously serve as a protective function for the edges of the mirror;
- fasteners for fixing the frame;
- gasket under the mirror to dampen vibration.
When installing a large mirror, it is recommended to remove the door from its hinges and place it on a flat, hard surface. However, at home, most often craftsmen do not remove the door, but first apply markings on it and install it directly on the vertical door leaf. This is explained simply: removing and re-hanging a metal door is not as easy as it might seem at first glance, since difficulties arise, which include adjusting the hinges of the door frame and ensuring the safety of all locking mechanisms. However, only a small mirror sheet can be attached in this way; in other cases, the door must be dismantled.
Before installing the mirror, it is recommended to remove the entrance door and place it horizontally
A completely safe way to organize a mirror surface on a door is not by installing glass, but by gluing a reflective film. In this case, the mirror simulation is performed flawlessly. You should also inquire in specialized stores about the availability of mirror plexiglass, which is characterized by undeniable advantages in terms of safety (impossible to break), significantly lighter weight, easy processing and fastening, as well as excellent moisture resistance.
Features of installing a mirror on the front door
Before you go to the store to buy mounting accessories, you should inspect the front door and decide whether it is possible to install a mirror on it at all. There are a number of points, without taking into account there is a risk of subsidence or skew of the block.
The first thing you should pay attention to is the hinges. They are the weak link when the load increases. If the front door is made with high quality and the selected fittings are worthy of it, then it is not a fact that the structure is able to withstand the additional weight of the mirror.
Manufacturers calculate the load of the door leaf only for the selected model. An increase in the weight of the internal part (due to the mirror) can lead to rapid wear of the hinges or their breakage. Internal anti-vandal canopies are especially sensitive to overloads. It is possible that the hinges will not deteriorate their performance immediately, but their service life will nevertheless be reduced by 40-60% with an increase in the hanging mass of only 10-15% due to the weight of the mirror. Replacing hinges is an expensive repair job, so it is worth assessing the degree of financial risk.
A mirror for mounting on a door must be tempered, up to 3 mm thick
The second point is the mirror. High-quality tempered glass is selected, the thickness of which should not exceed 3 mm. This is a rather thin surface that should be securely fixed and not create obstacles when opening/closing, when turning the handle and key in the keyhole. The entrance door to an apartment with a mirror must have free movement. If there is a possibility of hitting a cabinet, corner or other obstacle in the hallway, then a safety stop is installed. To strengthen the glass on the back side, it is recommended to cover it with film or regular tape.
You should also consider the location of the peephole. If it is supposed to be placed in the mirror area, then you need to drill a hole of the appropriate diameter in the glass and install it.
Entrance door with a mirror inside: fixation methods
There are several ways to attach a mirror to the front door:
- using special glue;
- using frames and mounting accessories;
- through powerful magnets.
Helpful advice! The more massive the mirror being installed, the more reliable its mounting should be.
You can fix the mirror on the front door using special glue
The most popular type of installation involves the use of glue. However, you should be careful about purchasing high-quality material that has an appropriate composition, intended exclusively for mirrors and at the same time suitable for the surface of the front door. Before gluing, the top layer of the door and the back side of the mirror are degreased, allowed to dry, and then a layer of glue is applied.
Nowadays it is not difficult to find fasteners that are not only durable, but also match the decor. The installation of the mirror in the frame must be done with high quality. It is recommended to lay a seal (rubber is possible) between the installed retaining profile and the mirror. Its task is to compensate for vibration caused by opening and closing doors and reduce the likelihood of chips along the edges of the glass. Typically, such installation is carried out in conjunction with the use of glue.
If the inner surface of the door is made without the use of MDF or other lining and contains only metal, then it is possible to install the mirror on powerful flat magnets. This method is quite affordable financially. You can buy magnets without any problems, but you need to fix them on the door and mirror with special glue. The only disadvantage of this design is the resulting gap, which can be filled with a shock-absorbing gasket or covered with a decorative frame.
One of the optimal mounting methods is to install the mirror on flat powerful magnets
On the Internet you can find tips on installing mirror panels on the door using double-sided tape. Experts do not recommend this method due to its extreme unreliability and the high probability of glass falling out when the door is used repeatedly. Also, double-sided tape loses its fixing properties over time, especially when the room temperature rises in the hot season.
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