Type of doors Pros and cons of veneered doors Accessories Installation of doors Glazing Maintenance of door

Type of doors

Classification of wood doors

There are several classifications of wood internal doors according to the following features::

  • material of coating;
  • internal filling;
  • glass fixing method;
  • opening method;
  • number of door wings;
  • door leaf filling method.

Here you will find the detailed description of each classification to get to know existing types of doors. It will help you to be clear about what type you need.

Types of doors according to materials of coating

1. Veneered doors

Base of veneered door is made from low-priced species of natural wood (for example, pine wood) coated with thin fine wood veneer.

Advanced technologies provide the thickness of veneer within 0.4-1.0 mm. Thin veneer is glued to door leaf evenly and smoothly. Perfect coating creates impression that door is fully made from fine wood. This very type of door coating is used by Varadoor company.

2. Laminated

Base of laminated door is made from low-priced species of natural wood (mostly pine wood) coated with laminate. Laminate is a plastic film painted and decorated to imitate various species of wood. Any material can be the base for laminate. This film is cheaper than veneer because it is less wear resistant. Furthermore, veneer is a natural and environmentally sound material unlike laminate.

Types of doors according to internal filling

1. From wood mass

Doors produced from wood mass represent the classics of the genre. These doors may be produced from fine wood (cherry wood, oak-wood, ash-wood, beech) or low-priced wood (for example, pine wood). Doors made from wood mass are the most expensive.

2. Framed doors

Framed door consists of frame (made from wood block) covered with MDF plates from both sides. Pressboard cells are placed inside the door. They fill cavities so the door can “breath” and it becomes considerably easy.

3. Dimensional

Door leaf of dimensional door consists of integral large glass and dimensional products enframing the glass on the right and left sides.

Types of doors according to glass fixing method

1. Plated moulding

Glass is fixed by means of special wood rack called moulding. This rack enframes the glass and door panel.

2. Insert into door leaf

Glass is inserted and glued into groove provided in door leaf.

Types of doors according to opening method

1. Swinging

Swinging doors are the most common type of doors used in dwelling premises. These doors can be opened either to one side or to both sides. It should be noted that when you choose a swinging door you will have to leave free space for opening.

2. Sliding

Sliding doors can consist of one door leaf or two wings. Door leaves move along the wall or sliding into cavity in the wall.

These doors can be fixed on lower or top rail or on both rails. Varadoor doors are available in both swinging and sliding versions. The choice depends on fixing accessories.

Types of doors according to number of wings

Doors divide into single-wing (single-leaf) and double-wing (double-leaf) doors. Width of door aperture determines the number of wings. As a rule double-wing or double-leaf doors require installation of additional locking element - stop plate or lift latch.

You can order any model of Varadoor door either in single-wing or double-wing version.

Types of doors according to filling of door leaf

1. Deaf

Construction of these doors is fully made from wood and there is no inserts of glass.

Deaf doors are mainly installed in bedroom and bathroom.

2. Glazed

Construction of these doors includes inserts of glass. Insert of glass can be decorated in various ways. These doors are often installed in kitchen and living room. They visually extend the room and transmit light well.

Each Varadoor door is available either in deaf or glazed version.

Pros and cons of veneered doors

Pros and cons of veneered doors Doors made from natural wood are valued at all times. They are characterized with high reliability, ecological friendliness, high quality and perfect exterior. However, processing of natural wood and further manufacturing of door require implementation of complicated technological processes that lead to high price of such doors. That’s why veneered internal doors are very popular among customers because it is an excellent option of price/quality ratio.

Types of veneered doors

Made from artificial veneer

Artificial veneer is a special paper with pattern of door texture applied to its surface and treated with melamine resins. Externally such coating is very similar to natural wood, but service life and ecological properties are much inferior to natural material.

Made from natural veneer

Natural veneer is produced from thin cut-off of wood 0.4-1 mm in thickness and 15cm in length. Natural veneer is more robust and durable than artificial, that's why Varadoor company uses natural type of veneer.

Advantages of veneered doors

  • democratic price and excellent quality;
  • reliability and environmental friendliness;
  • resistance to variations of temperature and humidity;
  • use of veneer allows to produce doors of various colours and tints;
  • veneer of natural door has unique pattern that’s why the texture is not repeated on doors;
  • in case of mechanical damage these doors are easily repairable.

The only disadvantage

of veneered doors is that texture of coating is non-uniform. However, if professional and qualitative approach is applied to production, then this problem is avoided.

Accessories

Accessories are the parts of no little importance because they add completeness to exterior of the door. They can place an emphasis on designer’s solution or, on the contrary, disturb the style due to unfitness to concept.

ФEven though door can not operate without accessories they are related only to auxiliary parts. However the importance of accessories should not be undervalued.

Door handles

Special attention is usually paid to selection of door handles. This is because operation of door as well as its exterior depends on door handles. Two types of door handles are available – push handles and pull (fixed) handles.

Fixed handles

Fixed handle can not be driven, turned or pressed. This handle is not connected with door latch, but it is designed for convenient opening. Such handle is mounted directly to door leaf.

Push handles

Push handle is installed when door is equipped with knob latch mechanism. Door is opened and closed by pushing the handle that drives the lock catch (knob latch mechanism). There is a type of push handles called knob handle (doorknobs). They have round operating mechanism, i.e. the knob must be turned to change the position of knob latch.

Door hinges

Door hinges are fastening accessories that secure the door to door casing (frame). Plated, screw-in and concealed types of door hinges are available.

Screw-in hinges

Screw-in hinges are the drive-in type of hinges consisting of two threaded-pin parts. One part of hinge is screwed into door leaf, the other part is screwed into door casing. Models of door hinges with different number of pins are used depending on door weight.

Plated hinges

СThese hinges are attached to door leaf and casing and fastened with wood screws. Right, left and match-all plated hinges are available.

Concealed hinges

Concealed hinges are invisible in closed position of door. These hinges are tapped into door leaf. The advantage is that the door with concealed hinges can open to 180°.

Lift latches

Door lift latches are latches that fix the door leaf. Built-in and tapped-in types of latches are available.

Built-in latches

This is the most cost-effective type. Built-in latches are installed without drilling or milling operations into special groove in door leaf.

Tapped-in latches

This is the most common type. They are often installed in internal doors. These devices are installed in process of door manufacturing.

Door closers

Door closer is installed to door if smooth closing is needed. This device closes the door automatically and prolongs the life cycle of door hinges.

Stoppers

Stoppers are the devices installed to door to protect door leaf from hitting the wall.

Our company does not manufacture accessories, however accessories made by any manufacturer can fit to Varadoor doors.

Installation of doors

Installation of internal door is complicated process that requires certain skills and carefulness. Operation of door directly depends on way it is installed. There are some factors to be observed when installing the door, irrespective of whether the door is installed by yourself or by workman.

Preparation to installation
When accepting the door, check if all parts and constitutive elements are present as well as inspect the condition of door and door casing. There must be no defects.

Old door must be demounted carefully without damaging the walls.

Working area must be prepared in such a way to provide convenient horizontal positioning of door.

Assembly of door casing
Installation process begins with assembly and mounting of door casing.

It is important to measure dimensions of door aperture correctly and match it to sizes of door casing. Leave 10 mm gap at lower part.

When mounting the casing the upper plate and vertical supports are interfaced. They are perforated in the following places: vertical supports – in the centre of support, the upper plate – in four places within 6 mm from edge.

It is important to install the door exactly perpendicular to floor because it affects the frame ledge of door. In case of incorrect installation the door will either swing open or close time after time.

Corners of casing must be exactly right-angled, otherwise the door can even extend beyond clearance limits of door aperture.

Installation of door

The door is hinged after door casing is assembled and fixed. Pay special attention to selection of door hinges and buy them only from proven sires.

Varadoor recommends to use two loose joint hinges to remove the door without unscrewing of hinges if necessary. Furthermore, these hinges are usually fitted with bearings that ease the stroke of door and extend its service life.

When installing the door leave 1.5 mm gaps between door leaf and door casing lengthwise to open/close the door easily. Temperature and humidity variations can cause extension of door, that’s why the gaps should be no less than 1.5 mm in width.

After hinging check if door closes evenly. If it closes evenly, proceed to next step - acoustic insulation.

Acoustic insulation
Sealing foam is applied between door aperture and door casing to provide acoustic and thermal insulation. Before this work the door is covered with film to protect it from dirt. Door aperture is dampened with water for better contact. Then fine layer of sealing foam is applied throughout the perimeter. Normal amount: 1 gallon per door.

Sealing foam is kept for 12-24 hours (to dry up) for fixing, then excessive parts are removed.

Installation of plat-bands
Plat-bands are matched along the length before installation. Parts of plat-bands are attached to place they will be mounted to. Then plat-bands are lined out and sawed off at 45 degrees. Varadoor recommends the following sequence: left part, upper part, right part.

Then plat-bands are fixed with glue or finishing nails.

Plat-bands hide all probable defects of door installation and considerably improve the appearance of door casing and add completeness to its contruction.

In this article we have described basic stages of door installation work. Pay attention to process of installation because service life of door directly depends on quality of its installation. Correctly installed door is installed for a full due.

Glazing

When glass is inserted into mass of door it becomes life-like. All our models are available in glazed version.We emphasize the beauty of door by virtue of multiple-layered glass – triplex or various glass treatment techniques: glass fusing, stained glass, glass painting, engraving and sandblasting.

Varadoor company has the subdivision specialized in processing of glass. We perform any type of glassworks on our own plant – from glass cutting to glass painting – and use only high-grade glass.

Shape glass cutting

Varadoor uses Italian (Bavelloni) automated cutting table for linear and shape glass cutting. This machine allows to load a sheet without interruption of cutting cycle. It provides complex and high-precision cutting of any shape: from square to ellipse under minimum size discrepancy of 0.02 mm per meter. This is a high-precision machine.

Machine consists of three elements:

1) pyramid stocker which allows to work with four types of glass;

2) self-loading cutting table;

3) table for glass breaking with unloading levers.

Supplied glass is loaded to pyramid stocker. Manipulator takes glass sheets and lays them down to cutting table. The process is computer-assisted to prevent glass from scratches or breakage in unloading operation. Varadoor company tends to keep every sheet of glass. When sheet has obtained the required shape it is smoothly moved on air cushion from cutting table to operator. Operator cuts off excessive sections, then sheet is loaded to stand..

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Facet

Varadoor uses special equipment for facetting of glass. Facet is a thin inclined cut-off on front face of glass. Optionally facet is available in matted or simple type, straight or shaped, with required angle of inclination. Facet width is 10 to 60 mm. Facetted glass edge is often used in interiors of various styles. Facetting is rather simple procedure, however it adds perfection to glass and fits well into any design.

Fusing

Fusing is a technique for sintering or melting of glass. Glass seems to be common solid material but it becomes flexible and pliable if brought to certain temperature. As a result glass takes any shape, contour and acquires relief.

Special furnace for glass fusing under 800°С is used. Workman stacks the cutoff workpieces in straight rows. The glass is stewed for two hours under forced heat evenly distributed above working surface.

Layers of glass fuse into one another up to uniform mass. This allows to achieve glass squares spangled with multi-colour grains, beads, buttons, leaves and this is only quite a few examples of fusing operations we make. When you look at some products you can not believe that this is only glass.

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Triplex

Triplex is a multiple-layer glass. There is a special film between layers of glass. Film is available in any colour. To protect triplex from dust it is assembled on special table in completely clean room.

After washing and seasoning each layer is sent to colander, a special glass-pressing furnace which splices glass layers under temperature..

Glass is a basic material for triplex. However, anything can be added to it. Fabric, metal plates and even polymers can be pressed between layers - everything one can wish for.

Triplex glass is not only beautiful but also extremely tough. It is quite hard to break it, and shivers of glass will not fly apart because they will be restrained with the film.

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Stained glass

Stained glass is a decoration technique by means of pieces of coloured glass. A long time ago stained glass was used only for decoration of palaces and temples. Nowadays we can afford to decorate our houses with stained glass.

There are several techniques of stained glasswork. We make it with self-adhesive stained glass film. Designer creates a figure on basic glass according to pattern. (Figures on white or black glass are the most magnific). He cuts out the pieces of self-adhesive film and fix them on respective details. Designer passes a roller over the surface of figure to prevent forming of air bells. Then excessive parts of film are cut off and border lines of details are separated with special bone. Golden or silver lead-like film is glued to them as in classical stained glasswork. Thus a fabulous composition is obtained.

Stained glasswork with film is cheaper than brazed glasswork, while the visual effect is not a penny the worse than traditional stained glasswork. It can be used for decoration of doors, windows, ceilings and partition-walls.

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Glass painting

Glass painting technique is actually hack like gold-work. It requires not only designer’s mentality but also great patience and proficiency.

Outline of future figure is countoured on basic glass. It is performed on special equipment by preprogrammed layout of future figure. Then designer manually fills the contour with special water-glass paints of different colours according to selected pattern. This allows to get a real picture on glass instead of canvas.

Anything can be drawn, even flowers of Garden of Eden or samurai. Any picture acquires the other life on glass. This technique allows to create very fresh, colourful images that will never wash out or lose the colour.

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Engraving

Engraving is technique for application of captions, images, clear corners and lines onto glass by means of special equipment – engraver or laser. Engraver harrows the image and laser melts the glass.

In our production we use engraver. The process is fully automated – program is set to controller of equipment and image is processed according to programmed pattern. Operator only controls the process.

Instrument rotates up to 3500 rotations per hour. Water is discharged into work area continuously to prevent overheating of glass and instrument. This provides optimum temperature conditions.

Nowadays engraving technique allows to make very distinct and clear image that will never be damaged with cleansing agents and lose its freshness in course of time.

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Sandblasting

Glass sandblasting is an application of image by virtue of high-silica sand. Surface of glass is pretreated: glass is covered with self-adhesive film. Sections which must be untouched are isolated, and contours of future image are opened.

Then glass is placed into special equipment where it is fixed by suction cups to prevent any excess motion and scratches. Under strong compressed air blast the particles of high-silica sand either matt the whole surface or make figures on sections glass uncovered with self-adhesive film.

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Maintenance of door

Proper maintenance of door is required not only to keep external beauty of the door but also to prolong its service life.

Door maintenance products
Internal wood door requires careful handling. Use special wood maintenance products to keep good look of your door. Nowadays there is a wide variety of cleaning agents available on the market. However, pay attention to the content: there must be no acids, alkalies and solvents because they deteriorate safety varnish of wood.

Door can be cleaned even without special means. At home you can make simple cleansing agent: mix mains water with alcohol in 90% to 10% ratio respectively and damp a rag in it. Remove residual liquid from the surface with dry rag after cleaning. If you clean varnished doors, apply polish additionally.

If you have no cleansing agents, wipe the dust from door surface with simple wet rag. Then wipe the surface with dry rag to remove residual liquid and to prevent forming of flows. Pay special attention to lower part of door unit. This part especially suffers from wet cleaning.

If you have glazed doors, start cleaning from glass. Wipe the glass with wet rag, then with dry rag. Then proceed to cleaning of door leaf.

Remember: even room is clean you should apply polish to door at least once a year, then your door will shine and look like the new one.

Maintenance tips
Wood is alive material, so observe some usage conditions if you want to keep features of your door.

  • Isolate the door from moisture.

Ambient humidity should be kept within 40-60%.

  • Avoid mechanical damages

If you found scratches on surface of door, you can eliminate it yourself. Damp the scratch with wet rag, then sandpaper it with fine abrasive cloth and polish with wax. Defect will be invisible and crack will not enlarge.

If you plan to repair the apartment, cover the doors with fabric or film to prevent them from dust and material debris.

Do not place heater units near wood door. Excessive heat may cause extension of wood and distortion of the door.

Every 2-3 years take some preventive treatment: grease and readjust door hinges and locks.

If you take due care of your doors and observe even common recommendations, then your doors will serve to you for more than one decade.