Choosing a street door to a private house. Characteristics of the correct choice of entrance doors, properties of the door leaf and frame for a private house. Design features of a good door leaf

– the face of the house and the basis of its protection. We hope everyone understands well how much the safety, thermal insulation and perception of the appearance of a private home depend on the door chosen. Unscrupulous companies often try to sell us a Chinese door of dubious quality under the guise of a reliable product, tempting us with discounts and loud advertising. That is why you need to know for yourself how to choose the right entrance door to a cottage, country house or private house, what is important to consider and what details to pay attention to.

No. 1. What are the requirements for the exit door?

Let's start by declaring the variables, or more precisely, let's state the characteristics that a really good front door should meet:

No. 2. Door leaf material

Today we don't have much choice. Entrance doors are often made of the following materials:

• metal;
• tree;
• metal-plastic.

Steel door– a classic, an example of strength and aesthetics. Today, such doors are found in more than 70% of private homes. Wood and MDF overlays, powder painting Other methods of finishing the canvas allow us to talk about decent variety. Recently, metal sheets have been considered a strong competitor metal-plastic doors. Looking ahead, we note that they are distinguished by better thermal insulation and a slightly lower price, but are not inferior in reliability to metal doors. Wooden doors are used less and less. Today this is an outdated option, which has a lot of disadvantages, and if such a canvas can be used in an apartment, then in a cottage it is unlikely, except in rare cases.

No. 3. Metal entrance doors

Many people prefer to buy entrance doors to a cottage, country house or apartment made of metal. Such designs have a number of undeniable advantages:

So popular that the range is growing day by day. Close to really quality samples We sell doors that can be damaged with a regular can opener. They are made in China and can be sold both at very tempting prices (which at least slightly justifies their quality) and at the average market price. How can you recognize a truly high-quality door and not fall for the tricks of cunning manufacturers and sellers?

It is necessary to evaluate a metal door according to a number of indicators:

Metal door design

The door consists of a frame to which the inner and outer sheets are attached door leaf. Between the canvases there are stiffening ribs, in the cavities between which insulation is laid. The design is illustrated in the figure.

Metal sheets can be produced made of hot and cold rolled steel. The first option will be cheaper, but this material is more susceptible to corrosion. Cold-rolled steel for the front door in a cottage will be an advantageous option: it is less susceptible to precipitation and more durable.

Steel sheets must have a thickness 1.2-2 mm, or better yet, even more, otherwise the canvas can be damaged without much effort with a sharp knife. Some experts advise installing doors with a steel sheet thickness of about 4 mm in country houses. Please note that only the outer sheet can be metal (then the inner panel is made of MDF, for example) or both sheets. The second option is preferable, since this way the door leaf will be more durable. In some doors, between the outer and inner steel sheet there is additional layer of steel. From a reliability point of view this is perfect option, but it will also cost accordingly.

However, even if only the outer part of the door is made of steel, the door leaf can still remain reliable. The main thing that The castle area has been reinforced additional sheet of steel or armor plate.

Door frame, to which the sheets and stiffeners will be attached, can be made of solid profile pipe, the ends of which will be connected with only one seam. This is ideal. If four sections of profile are used to create the base, which are welded together, the result is a less strong, but still satisfactory structure. The worst thing is when each side of the frame is welded from a couple or more pieces. In this case, there are too many seams, and each seam reduces the degree of protection of the fabric.

Stiffening rib strengthen and strengthen the structure. They can be:

• vertical. They resist torsional loads well and will not allow the corners of the canvas to bend;
• horizontal. They protect against pushing and do not allow the door leaf to be pressed away from the frame;
• combined. Such doors have vertical, horizontal, and sometimes inclined stiffeners, so they can withstand any load perfectly.

The more stiffeners there are, the better. The minimum is two vertical and one horizontal. Ribs are usually made from rectangular pipe or corner. It's classic and reliable option. There are doors where the ribs are made of a profile of complex configuration. This approach allows you to create an equally durable fabric while reducing the weight of the structure.

Fills the voids between the stiffeners insulation, which increases thermal insulation and allows you to get rid of unpleasant sound hollow door. Usually, and are used for this purpose - both options are quite effective. Foam rubber, padding polyester, paper and pressed cardboard are not very suitable for thermal insulation of the front door.

There should be located along the contour of the door leaf seal, which ensures a tight fit of the door to the door frame, protects against noise, drafts and odors from the street. If the seal is of high quality and installed correctly, one circuit will be sufficient, so samples with two, three or more circuits should be treated with caution. It is best if the seal is made of rubber. In this case, silicone and polyurethane behave somewhat worse, and the option with foam rubber and plastic should not even be considered.

Hinges and door frame

If the door leaf cannot be hacked, a thief may try to cut off the hinges. Therefore, it is important to consider the front door as a complex complex structure, where every element is important.

Loops can be of the following types:

Number of loops depends on many factors: the weight and dimensions of the door, the thickness of the metal, external and internal decoration. Minimum Required– 3 loops. There cannot be less even in the lightest designs. If the canvas turns out to be heavy enough, you can take hinges with support bearings, which will facilitate the process of opening and closing.

The door frame also affects strength and reliability. It must be made of a U-shaped profile with a thickness of at least 3-5 mm.

Door leaf finishing

The door finishing material should be combined with the interior (when it comes to the outside of the door) and the interior of the hallway or vestibule, but this is not the main thing. Exterior finishing must be resistant to various weather influences and be wear-resistant. On inner part such strict requirements do not apply.

For interior decoration and outside metal entrance doors use the following materials:

There are other finishing methods, such as handmade painting, laminating with PVC film or using plastic panels , but in in this case I don't want to recommend them. They don’t look respectable, and they don’t perform very well in operation.

Note also that the metal sheet may have glass insert. It decorates the door, but makes it more vulnerable, so the glass is armored or protected. Forged grilles look great, especially if they are supported by other forged elements in the design of the porch and area.

Thermal insulation of a metal door

Perhaps the only disadvantage of metal entrance doors is their ability to freeze and become covered with ice. High-quality thermal insulation (in the form of a layer of insulation inside the door) can practically neutralize this problem, but sometimes additional measures may be necessary. To get rid of freezing of a metal door, you can use the following tricks:

No. 4. Wooden entrance doors

Safety metal models no doubt. Durable material, high burglary protection, resistance to fire and mechanical damage - all these advantages have made them a worthy competitor in the market. Can wooden entry doors outperform metal ones? To understand this, you need to understand the main advantages of wood products:

• strength. Entrance models are made as wear-resistant as possible, so they are often made of oak. The material is quite difficult to damage;
• long service life. Wood itself is considered a durable base. Thanks to the correct surface treatment and given that ongoing care the canvas can last at least 50 years;
• environmental friendliness. Wood is a safe and hypoallergenic material. It has virtually no analogues;
• visual appeal. The classic shade of oak or pine looks very beautiful on entrance doors and harmonizes with any facade. In this regard, metal sheets will have to be chosen more carefully;
• resistance to corrosion. Wood does not rust (unlike metal). Thanks to this, periodic surface treatment with various anti-corrosion agents will not be required;
• sound insulation. Sufficient thickness of the door provides protection from extraneous sounds even in the absence of filler;
• low thermal conductivity. A wooden door will not become covered with condensation or frost.

On the other hand, wood afraid of precipitation, sudden temperature changes, fire and pests, so it will have to be constantly processed - without them, even a door made of laminated timber will not last long. In addition, if the sash suddenly begins to move, repairs are almost impossible. These disadvantages can cancel out all the advantages wooden doors, so today they are placed very rarely. If nothing but wood fits the facade, it is better to take a metal door with a wooden overlay. The best place for a purely wooden door it will be south side of the house. Naturally, the porch must be reliable.

No. 5. Metal-plastic entrance doors

Only metal-plastic doors can compete with metal doors. They have such advantages:

• excellent heat and sound insulation properties. The canvas does not allow external noise to pass through, prevents the entry of cold and does not freeze;
• good strength qualities. In terms of reliability and safety, such doors, contrary to prejudice, are not inferior to metal ones;
• resistance to negative environmental factors;
• variety of appearance;
• ease of care;
• low cost. Such doors will cost on average 10-15% cheaper than metal ones.

By structure metal-plastic doors resemble those known to everyone: the production principle is the same, but the design is different. The profile for such a door has at least five chambers and is reinforced with steel. It is not made of ordinary glass, but of armored or triplex. The glazing area can be of any size, but for safety reasons it is better that it occupies only a third of the door leaf.

No. 6. Burglar resistance of the entrance door

Large manufacturers certify steel doors according to burglary resistance class. There are 13 such classes in total: doors from classes 1 to 4 are used in everyday life, the rest are armored doors for banks and safes:

No. 7. Entrance door lock

A durable door leaf will protect you from crude burglary methods, and from intelligent ones. The following types of locks are installed on the front door:

• level locks– the most durable and reliable. The degree of protection depends on the number of levers. There can be from 1 to 10. A good lock has 6 or more levers, and their number can be judged even by the number of steps on the key (one must be subtracted from their number to get the desired value). Lever locks of a crab design are suitable for the front door; when locked, their bolts move out in different directions: it will be more difficult for a thief to find and cut them. Locks with a manganese insert, which will protect the mechanism from drilling, also perform well;
• cylinder lock works on the basis of cylinders located at a certain height. It is difficult to open it with a master key - it is much easier to knock it out, so it is better to protect the mechanism with an armor plate or special balls that will resist the drill. It is better not to use it as a stand-alone lock - only in combination with a lever lock;
• electronic locks, which are opened using a digital code, fingerprint or card, are reliable, modern, but expensive, so they have not yet become widespread;
• combined Several mechanisms are combined in one lock.

Better for the front door put a couple of locks. Level and cylinder are an ideal pair, but it is better to place them at some distance from each other, 25-30 cm will be enough. Choose locks 3 and 4 safety classes and trust products from renowned manufacturers.

We did not mention, but it goes without saying, that before contacting a company that makes and installs doors, you need to know the dimensions of the doorway. If it is very wide, perhaps one leaf is not enough - it will be more convenient to install the door with two or one and a half leaves. Please note that ordering a custom size canvas will cost more. Also do not forget about the accessories (handle, etc.), which must also be of high quality.

The choice of entrance door is not the best simple task, which not every homeowner can cope with, but not only the safety of the property, but also the health of the people living in the house will depend on the decision made. Therefore, the choice of an entrance door must be approached with full responsibility.

Criteria for choosing an entrance door for a house

The main functions of the front door are to ensure the safety and security of the property in the house. Therefore, when choosing an entrance door suitable for country house or townhouse, you should take into account the many requirements that the product must meet.

Otherwise, the door leaf will not only not be able to ensure the safety of property, but its service life will be several times lower than that of branded analogues. This is unacceptable, especially if you are purchasing a door that is comparable in cost to products from well-known brands.

Metal entrance doors provide a high level of reliability, especially compared to wooden counterparts

The basic requirements that any entrance door must meet include the following:

In fact, these are the main criteria, taking into account which you can choose a high-quality and durable product. If desired, the list can be expanded to include the manufacturer’s company, price segment and type of door, but for most ordinary buyers this is enough. If necessary, you can always read people's reviews. They are easy to find on the Internet on specialized sites.

Design features of the door leaf

A frame metal door is the most commonly used type of door leaf, which is installed in private houses and country buildings of various configurations. The power frame structure provides rigidity and reliability to the door leaf, and the possibility of installing several technological layers provides additional performance qualities.

Any metal door has vertical or horizontal stiffeners

Before purchasing a door, we strongly recommend that you study the structure of the door leaf, as well as the materials and components used in its manufacture and assembly. This will allow a more professional assessment of the doors being sold, which is especially important for small towns where the choice of products and retail outlets is extremely limited.

Wooden and metal-plastic doors are less reliable than their metal analogues, therefore it is irrational to consider them as an entrance door. It makes sense to use wooden doors only as a street door when styling to match the facade of a building is required. In this case, the second door, for example, located in the vestibule, must be a metal door.

Metal-plastic door leaves are best used as doors on the second and subsequent floors of the building. For example, to access an open or closed terrace.

Frame and cladding materials

Structurally, a metal entrance door consists of a supporting frame and casing, which is attached on both sides and is used to protect insulating materials and locking mechanisms. And the sheathing also serves as a surface for application and fastening decorative materials: paints, panels, mirrors.

For the manufacture of metal entrance doors, profile pipes 40x25, 40x40, 40x50 mm and sheet steel are used, which is obtained during the hot or cold rolling method. Profile pipe trimmed at required sizes into blanks of appropriate length, which are welded into a single frame. Sometimes a steel angle or channel is used to create a frame.

General arrangement of a metal entrance door from the budget segment

To strengthen the structure of the door leaf, stiffeners are used, which are vertical and horizontal elements welded at a certain pitch. In some door models, the ribs are welded both vertically and horizontally, and at an angle, which prevents the door leaf from being bent when forced into the door.

Hot rolled steel sheets are more affordable and have a darker color. Cold-rolled steel alloy is light-colored and similar to regular galvanized sheet, but its cost is noticeably higher. For the production of cheap doors, only hot-rolled steel is used, which makes the products more susceptible to corrosion.

Doors from the middle and luxury segments use only cold-rolled alloys, which is the optimal solution in terms of price-quality ratio. Products, especially after appropriate treatment with paint or spraying, withstand moisture and low temperatures.

To determine what kind of steel was used in the manufacture of the door, you need to find markings in the instructions for compliance with GOST. Cold-rolled steel corresponds to document No. 19903, and hot-rolled steel – No. 19904.

The main elements in the design of a metal entrance door include locking system, loops and surveillance

The thickness of the door trim is regulated in accordance with regulatory documents. In the Russian Federation, this is GOST 31173–2003, according to which the thickness of the front cladding of a metal door should not be less than 1.5 mm.

Taking this into account, we can distinguish the following classification of metal doors according to the thickness of the skin:

• 0.8–1.5 mm - products made in China or in handicraft production. They do not belong to the class of entrance doors, although the manufacturer labels this product as such. In fact, doors with lining up to 1.5 mm are suitable for outbuildings or country houses where, apart from furniture, dishes and garden tools, nothing more valuable is stored;
• 1.6–2.5 mm - typical entrance doors with casing made of hot-rolled sheet metal. They are used as doors leading from an apartment to an entrance room, corridor or vestibule for several apartments. Door leaves with 2.5 mm thick cladding can already be considered as a second entrance door to a private house, leading directly to the living space or hallway;
• 2.6–4 mm is the optimal cladding thickness for street entrance doors intended for use in private houses, cottages, mansions, etc. For houses where people do not live permanently, it is better to install doors with the maximum possible thickness. Especially if the building is not located in a suburban cooperative, but away from other houses.

The greater the thickness of the supporting frame and cladding products, the greater the weight and cost of the door leaf. Moreover, the point is not only in the final volume of material used, but also in the assembly technology, which is necessary to create a reinforced door frame. In addition, a heavy door requires the use of high-quality and more expensive hinges. The standard weight of a metal entrance door varies from 50–70 kg depending on the manufacturer.

Door frame, vestibules and platbands

The reliability of an entrance door depends not only on the rigidity, strength and massiveness of the door leaf, but also on the door frame, the quality of which directly affects burglary resistance.

The door frame may have different shapes depending on the materials from which it is made, as well as the design of the mounted door

The door frame can be made from the following products:

• steel corner - size from 50x50 mm. The wall thickness of the product is at least 3 mm. A door frame made from a corner is the simplest and smallest, but when installing doors in an apartment, it is practically not used due to its unreliability. This option is best used for utility buildings;
• profile pipe - with a cross section of 40x25, 40x40, 50x25 mm and more. The more massive the door, the stronger the pipe required to make the frame. Unlike the first option, a pipe frame allows for full insulation, which increases the sound and heat insulation qualities of the door. More often this box is used in cases where it is necessary to save as much as possible on door installation;
• bent steel profile - a bent-welded box made of a special profile made on sheet bending machines. The thickness of the walls of a bent profile most often does not exceed 1.5 mm, since increasing the thickness of the sheet significantly complicates the bending technology. Most often, this type of frame is used when installing entrance doors to an apartment, where it is possible to expand doorway.

Some types of entrance doors can be equipped with rebates, which are most often characteristic interior doors. The manufacture of the vestibules is carried out at the stage of attaching the front cladding in the form of a sheet of metal. To create a rebate, the size of the trim is increased so that a “rebate” is formed around the perimeter of the door, covering the joint between the door leaf and the frame.

For the manufacture of door frames the following materials are used: solid wood, MDF, PVC, metal. The specific type of platbands is selected strictly at the request of the home owner. It is ideal if the extensions and platbands match the color or contrast with it. The material of manufacture does not play a special role, but for street doors it is better to choose products made of metal or PVC - they are more durable.

Types of insulation used

The void in the frame of the front door between the casing must be filled with some kind of insulating material. Doors from Chinese manufacturers use pressed cardboard or corrugated cardboard, which does not have outstanding characteristics, which makes these doors completely unsuitable for use in houses located near a busy highway.

To insulate budget metal doors, mineral wool is used in slabs 5 cm thick

Branded doors from quality manufacturers use the following types of sound and heat insulating materials:

• felt (0.047 W/ (m*K)) – natural insulation made from wool. It has excellent thermal insulation qualities, but is very hygroscopic, which requires the use of additional layers of reflective insulation;
• mineral wool (0.048 W/ (m*K)) is a traditional type of insulating material used both for insulating facades and walls of houses, and for insulating entrance doors. Like felt, mineral wool absorbs moisture, vapor and condensation well, which does not have the best effect on the durability of the front door;
• expanded polystyrene (0.047 W/ (m*K)) is a modern and modernized analogue of foam plastic, used for insulating various surfaces. It has a low thermal conductivity coefficient, does not absorb moisture, does not rot, which makes it one of the best materials for insulating door panels;
• polyurethane foam (0.035 W/ (m*K)) is a synthetic sound and heat insulating material characterized by high insulating qualities. Perfectly fills free space, practically without forming “cold bridges”, does not absorb moisture, does not rot, does not burn. Is optimal material for insulating doors.

When listing materials, the thermal conductivity coefficient was indicated in parentheses. In addition, as vapor barrier material Insulation based on foamed polystyrene with a reflective foil surface is used. The material is laid over the main insulation on both sides of the door.

It not only helps to increase the insulating qualities of the door leaf, but also significantly extends the service life of the insulation inside the door, preventing moisture from penetrating directly into the material.

Which loops are best to use?

Hinges are one of the important elements of fittings, the quality of which determines not only the durability of the door leaf, but also the comfort of daily use of the door. Creaking, extraneous noise when opening, door sagging, problems with closing - all this is a direct consequence of incorrectly selected and installed hinges.

Loop concealment is greatly increased final cost front door

According to GOST 5088–2005, metal entrance doors must be equipped with one of the following types loops:

• simple hinges without bearings are not used for installing entrance doors to apartments and private houses due to their high wear resistance. In addition, over time, the door begins to creak and sag. Typically used to install doors in Technical buildings and buildings of a similar type;
• hinges with internal ball support - a classic version of door hinges, consisting of two frame “wings”. Between the steel fingers of the “wings” there is a ball that acts as a support. This element makes it easier to open and close the door leaf, as it reduces friction between the hinge fingers;
• hinges with a bearing - inside the hinge cylinder there is a radial support bearing, which minimizes the friction of the hinge fingers when moving the door leaf. As a result, wear of the hinges is almost completely eliminated, even with a lack of lubrication inside the structure.

Based on the installation method, hinges are divided into external and hidden. Both types are used to install entrance doors, but door leaves equipped with hidden door hinges are much more expensive. Due to the design of the hidden hinges and their fit into the door frame, there are several disadvantages that will have to be taken into account when installing the door.

For example, doors with hidden hinges reduce the doorway by about 5–7 cm. The standard door opening angle is 90°, so difficulties may arise when bringing large and bulky objects into the house. Internal loops have a shoulder. During opening, a force moment is created, which, if the door leaf is moved carelessly, can lead to deformation of the door frame.

External hinges are practically free of drawbacks. The only thing is that they are located outside at the top and bottom of the door. This allows an attacker to easily access them. However, most metal doors from branded manufacturers have hinges made of high-strength steel, which makes them much more difficult to cut with a grinder or other power tool.

Features of locking mechanisms

Locks for metal doors are distinguished by a variety of designs, but when choosing a suitable locking mechanism, you should focus strictly on its workmanship, declared service life, strength and reliability in accordance with regulatory documents.

The manufacturer of the lock is not particularly important. The main thing is to remember that the quality of the lock directly determines its cost. The higher the burglary resistance class, the higher the cost of the lock. This is true for all locks from well-known brands.

Guardian mortise lock 21.12 T with protection against burglary and drilling

The resistance class of a lock to burglary is determined according to the following principle:

• Class 1 - burglary time ≈ 5 m;
• Class 2 - burglary time from 5 to 15 m;
• Class 3 - burglary time more than 15 m;
• Class 4 - burglary time more than 30 m.

The stability class is determined according to GOST 5089–2003 and GOST 5089–2011. For example, the simplest lock from the leader in the production of metal doors in the Russian Federation, the Guardian company, has class 2 resistance. Most of the products from this manufacturer are class 4.

Second important point when choosing a lock, it means secrecy. Many sellers deliberately mislead buyers that a lock, even with low security, is almost impossible to crack.

In fact, the secrecy of a lock is a collective concept that includes both the number of combinations, protection against burglary using a master key, reliability, and the probability of a key match. You should only choose locks with high security. This will provide an additional guarantee that the product will not fail at the right time.

The last thing to consider when choosing a lock is the installation method and the type of locking mechanism. According to the installation method, locks for metal doors are divided into mortise and overhead. The first ones are easy to install, but are less resistant to burglary, since an attacker can get to the lock by cutting off the door trim.

The Guardian rim lock 20.05 has class 4 burglary resistance and a 5-year warranty

Overhead locks are more reliable, but require a strong door frame and reinforcement of its attachment point. After installation, the lock is located on the side of the apartment, which makes access to it impossible, but due to its installation technology, they are not used as often as mortise locks.

Types of locking mechanisms are divided into lever and cylinder. From the consumer's point of view, there is no fundamental difference. Both types of locks must be manufactured in accordance with GOST, which guarantees their high burglary resistance. For example, the same Guardian company has locks with both types of locking mechanisms.

Video: how to choose a lock for the front door

External control elements

External control elements mean the presence of special products and devices that allow monitoring the territory or area near the front door. This will allow you to verify the identity of the people to whom the owner of the home opens the door.

A video peephole for the front door is the optimal solution, especially if it is equipped with a Wi-Fi module for image transmission

The basic devices that should be installed on the front door of a private house include the following:

• door peephole - this can be either a regular optical peephole or modern electronic peepholes with a separate display, Wi-Fi module and special application to a smartphone. The second devices are more preferable, but their cost is an order of magnitude higher;
• surveillance camera - one or more video surveillance devices installed in front of the door or in the immediate vicinity of the porch of the house. This, as mentioned above, allows you to identify the identities of people and their number when they want to get into your house or come to visit.

If you use a regular peephole when installing the front door, it is strongly recommended to buy a product with armored safety glass. Otherwise, the peephole will sooner or later be broken.

When choosing external surveillance cameras, it is not necessary to use professional equipment, which is used to protect warehouses, specialized buildings and government agencies. If there is Internet in the house, then you can use several IP cameras that will record what is happening directly to the computer’s hard drive. It's simpler, more convenient and cheaper. In addition, you can install them yourself using just the user manual that comes with the kit.

How the door frame and front door are attached

Installation of a metal entrance door is carried out according to the technology provided regulatory documents and the manufacturer. Typically, most door manufacturers have their own installation instructions, which are attached to the door leaf with all additional elements.

The door frame of the entrance door is mounted in a pre-prepared doorway

To carry out the work, you will need to prepare an angle grinder with a metal disc, a small sledgehammer, a hammer with a comfortable handle, a drill with a set of drills, a screwdriver with a set of bits, a level, a square and a pencil. And you will also need polyurethane foam, fasteners and personal protective equipment. Installation work should be carried out by two people.

The general installation technology consists of the following steps:

1. The old door leaf is removed and the door frame is dismantled using a grinder with a metal disc. If necessary, use a sledgehammer.
2. The doorway is cleaned of dirt, old plaster, and protruding sections of brick. If the size of the opening is insufficient, then it is expanded with a handy tool and a grinder with a disc for concrete.

   The door frame is fastened to the wall of the doorway using steel rods

3. The new door frame is installed in the doorway and aligned with a plumb line or level. For fixation in the opening, small spacer wedges made of wooden blocks are used.
4. From the hinge side, mounting holes are drilled at the top, bottom and in the middle of the rack. For this, an electric drill with a Pobedit drill is used. The hole depth is at least 150 mm.
5. The door leaf is fastened with fastening plates and pins, which are supplied in the kit. After this, you need to hang the door and check the correct operation of the lock and the tightness of the closure.

   The installation of a metal entrance door should only be carried out with a partner, since the weight of the door leaf can reach 70–80 kg

6. Next, the door leaf is removed and holes are prepared for fasteners at the bottom and top of the door. Fastening the box and checking the clamping density is done in the same way.
7. To fill the gap between the opening and the frame, polyurethane foam, thermal insulation materials and cement mortar are used. The slopes are plastered with an overlap onto the box.

While the plaster is drying, be careful not to slam the door too hard. After drying, you can clean the door frame from plaster deposits and carry out additional finishing. It should be noted that doors that are heavy may have some nuances in installation technology. Therefore, if you are going to install the door yourself, then carefully read the attached instructions before carrying out the work.

The choice of an entrance door should be considered based on the criteria that were discussed at the beginning of the material. First of all, the door is selected based on reliability and size. The concept of reliability includes both the materials used to manufacture the door leaf and its design, compliance with required standards, burglary resistance, etc.

Torex entrance doors are reliable, characterized by high performance and excellent appearance

Based on this, metal entrance doors can be divided into the following segments:

• economy - price from 6 to 12 thousand rubles. Many companies have product lines in this price segment. Among the popular brands we should note the doors Stealth, Harmony, Triumph, Valberg, etc.;
• average - price from 12 to 20 thousand rubles. In this group, the choice of manufacturers is no less than in the budget segment. Among the trusted manufacturers we can note products from Titan, Bravo, Maestro, Forpost, etc.;
• premium - price from 20 thousand rubles or more. In fact, the premium segment is completely unlimited in price. Doors even for 40 thousand rubles are very different in quality from products for 70 thousand rubles. Among the manufacturers we can note the already mentioned company Guardian, Torex, Jaguar, Dierre, Persona and many others.

If you choose a door without unnecessary frills with a long service life, we recommend that you consider purchasing a product from Torex. This is very quality doors for a reasonable price. Before purchasing, read all available reviews for the selected door leaf on the Internet. This will allow you to avoid purchasing doors with a factory defect, which may appear during operation, but such cases are extremely rare.

Photo gallery: various options for entrance doors from various manufacturers

Guardian metal entrance doors
Entrance steel doors Torex
Budget entrance doors Bravo
Premium entrance doors Jaguar
Entrance doors under the Titan brand

Video: review of the TOREX Super Omega 10 entrance door after installation

The topic of choosing doors is very extensive and requires careful consideration. Before buying, it is better not to rush - you need to carefully and thoroughly study all possible information and draw the right conclusions. This will help you avoid running into unscrupulous sellers offering goods that do not meet your criteria.

Entrance doors serve to protect the house from temperature changes, noise and unauthorized entry of unauthorized persons. In addition, they are a kind business card home, so the owner usually pays special attention to the appearance of the entrance to the building. For the manufacture of modern door panels, various materials with high strength, minimal thermal expansion and durable fittings are used; all that remains is to choose the size, type of insulation and appearance door leaf. Let's consider the types, characteristics, pros and cons of entrance doors, as well as the installation sequence and methods of repairing door leaves for a private home.

Material for making entrance doors for a private house

Retail chains offer a large selection of materials from which door leaves are made. When ordering doors for a private home, you must select suitable material for each specific consumer. Manufacturers give their products certain properties that allow them to operate in conditions of low temperatures, high humidity and street noise. The door leaf and frame have certain parameters, which are as follows:

• the burglary resistance of the door frame, leaves, hinges and locking elements is divided into six EU classes 15, 30, 50, 80, 120 and 180, where the numbers indicate the time required for burglary;
• according to the stability of resistance to shock, static and dynamic loads, doors are classified from M1 to M3;
• the fire resistance of the door group is indicated in the product passport and has the values ​​EI-30, EI-60 and EI-90, where the numbers indicate the time of resistance to an open flame;
• according to their thermal insulation properties, doors are divided into three classes and the highest first class involves the installation of a three-circuit seal and the installation of high-quality insulation;
• door leaves must provide sound insulation from 20 dB (1st class) to 32 dB or more (3rd class);
• requirements for resistance and durability of paint and varnish coatings on entrance doors for ferrous and non-ferrous metals of groups 1 and 2.

To produce doors for a private home, components are used that provide aesthetic appeal and high consumer properties. The difficulty of choosing lies in the need to combine all the requirements for door leaves with the preferences of the home owner. For example, a wooden house made of timber requires the installation of solid pine doors, but this design does not provide burglary resistance. Metal structure at the entrance to the building does not provide adequate thermal insulation, but at the same time it is strong and durable. Therefore, combined solutions are used in the selection of canvas components, which make it possible to minimize the disadvantages of certain types of products. According to the main types of materials used in the manufacture of door panels, entrance doors are classified as follows:

1. Wooden doors are made from solid wood or stacked planks and, if necessary, reinforced with metal sheets. The canvas is coated with weather-resistant paint and fire-retardant impregnation, has good heat-insulating properties and a noble appearance.

   Wooden doors give the entrance a cozy appearance, protect against noise and temperature changes, but are not resistant to burglary and moisture.

2. Plastic doors, reinforced metal frame, equipped with reliable fittings and locks various types. Such products have noise-insulating properties, good heat protection and are not afraid of moisture. The door leaf has built-in crossbars that increase burglary resistance, and a reinforced steel or aluminum frame provides resistance to static and dynamic loads. The plastic coating does not require special care or painting; doors of this type last a long time, maintaining their original appearance.

   Plastic doors are not afraid of weather conditions, ultraviolet radiation and have reliable protection against vandals

3. Metal doors are the most popular in private housing construction; they have a durable frame and are made of steel sheets with a thickness of 2 to 5 mm, painted with polymer paint, which gives the product high consumer properties. In the manufacture of products, high-security locks, reliable, durable hinges and additional bolts are used. The insulation is made with polyurethane foam, and the internal decorative finishing prevents the formation of condensation.

   Steel doors are the most durable, but have poor thermal protection

It is important that the door is made of metal sheets with a thickness of at least 2 mm with a closed frame and combined stiffening ribs, and is also equipped with three ball or bearing hinges.

Types of entrance doors

When choosing products, you need to take into account the characteristics, pros and cons of each type of door and minimize the disadvantages. Let's look at a few of the most popular types.

Insulated street doors

To improve the thermal insulation properties of a street door, insulation materials are used, located between the stiffening ribs and the outer and inner sheets of the door leaf. For this, mineral wool, polystyrene foam and polyurethane foam materials are used. The interior decoration is made of MDF or plastic panels, which prevents the formation of condensation. To increase thermal insulation, modern designs use triple rubber seal contours and a thermal break, which allows for maximum insulation of the outer, cold part of the door from the inside.

The use of thermal break in the design of the entrance door significantly improves the thermal insulation properties of the product

Insulated entrance doors of a private house have the following advantages:

• high resistance to burglary;
• resistance to shock, dynamic and static loads;
• reducing the risk of frost and condensation, as well as freezing of the door block due to thermal break of the leaf and frame.

The disadvantages include the high price of the product.

With large temperature differences, one entrance door is often not enough and cold bridges lead to the formation of condensation and frost on the inner surface door leaf. An unheated vestibule from 0.3 to 1.5 m long and a second entrance door mounted on an independent frame will allow you to get rid of the freezing effect. In this case, the first structure can be insulated metal, and the second is made of wood or plastic. This arrangement eliminates sudden temperature changes and improves sound insulation in the living room.

Double entrance doors with an unheated vestibule eliminate freezing and street noise

When ordering a double door, you should pay attention to the following circumstances:

• the outer door must be insulated, with two sealing contours and burglar-resistant;
• the length of the unheated vestibule must exceed 30 cm to create a temperature buffer space;
• The inner door must have at least one rubber seal loop to prevent warm air from entering the vestibule.

The advantage of double entrance doors is thermal insulation and sound absorption, but the disadvantages are the loss of usable space and significant cost.

There is an opinion, confirmed by practice, that installing an insulated metal door does not prevent the formation of condensation, frost and even ice crust under significant temperature differences. IN winter conditions the difference between street and home temperatures can reach 60° or more. No insulation will provide thermal protection because metal is an ideal conductor. This situation leads to overexpenditure of funds spent on heating the home. Arranging an insulated, unheated vestibule with a distance between doors of up to 1.5 m will help reduce the difference between outside and home temperatures. Losses of useful space are compensated by the absence of freezing and heat loss. The author of the article encountered such a problem and was forced to endure the winter, but before the next season he installed an insulated vestibule 2 meters long. There was a place to store shovels and brooms for clearing paths after winter snowstorms.

Sliding entrance doors

Sliding entrance doors for a private home are glazed or solid closed doors that slide apart in different directions or fold like an accordion. Tempered glass or durable glass composite is used for glazing. An insulated plastic or aluminum profile with rubber seals allows you to reliably conserve heat and protects from noise. Fashionable modern design saves interior space and gives the entrance to the house a unique look. The cassette sliding and locking mechanism ensures reliable fixation of the doors when closed.

Design sliding door ensures a reliable fit of the door to the opening, and the locking mechanism securely fixes the door leaf in the frame

Distinctive features of sliding doors are their modern appearance, reliable closing mechanism and heat and sound insulating properties. A wide variety of materials and different area glazing. The undoubted advantage is ease of maintenance and durability, but the disadvantages include high cost and increased requirements for cleanliness of the guides in winter.

According to the author of this article, in snowy climates middle zone doors of this type must be mounted with a threshold height of at least 10 cm and on a closed frame to ensure structural rigidity. It is also advisable to install an automatic thermal curtain, since when the sliding door is opened, significant masses of cold air penetrate into the opening, which adversely affects the thermal conditions of the living space.

Entrance double doors

For convenience, when moving furniture or large cargo into a living space, double doors are often used, which consist of two equal or unequal sized panels, united by one frame. One of the doors has strong latches and opens if necessary, while the second one performs the functions of a regular door. The design allows the use of double seals between the sashes, which provides the necessary noise insulation and heat protection.

Double doors provide free access to the building and make it possible to bring in large furniture or household appliances

This arrangement is used for non-standard openings and allows you to almost double the usable area of ​​the doors.

Arched entrance groups are used to maintain a single architectural ensemble of the entire building or to emphasize it historical roots. In the manufacture of this type of door, various materials can be used, and the difference from other products lies in the shape of the frame and door leaf.

An arched door emphasizes the overall architectural concept of the designer

Arched entrance doors can be either single or double leaf, often in arched doorway a rectangular door is built in, and a fixed transom of a semicircular shape is placed above it.

Aluminum entrance doors

Entrance doors made of aluminum profiles are made in an insulated version from sandwich panels and, if necessary, double glazing is installed on them, which eliminates the formation of cold bridges. The presence of three or more insulated chambers, as well as a double seal, provide thermal break and resistance to low temperatures, plus reliable noise insulation. The thickness of the door is 50 mm and the frame is 70 mm, making it possible to install crossbars around the entire perimeter, and double-glazed windows are made of impact-resistant materials and secure locks make aluminum structures burglar-resistant.

Lightweight and durable aluminum doors last a long time and do not require special care

The popularity of this type of entrance door is growing year by year; even in harsh climates, they have proven themselves only on the positive side. Aluminum door blocks are fire resistant, durable, resistant to moisture and ultraviolet radiation In addition, they do not require maintenance and are guaranteed to last at least 25 years. The author recommends paying attention to this relatively new line of practical and lightweight doors for a private home.

Swing doors

Hinged doors consist of two identical leaves, opening in one direction and mounted in one closed frame. Each of the panels opens independently and is equipped with locking mechanisms and latches.

Hinged doors have two leaves, each of which performs the same functions

The advantage of this design is its elegant appearance and large opening. IN swing doors Sometimes pendulum hinges are used to allow the doors to open in both directions. Convenient and modern swing products also have a drawback, which includes low burglary resistance.

The most traditional entrance doors for country buildings are made of wood. Products of this type are environmentally friendly, organically combined with wooden walls and protect well from noise and freezing. Wooden sheets are produced using insulating inserts and are also impregnated with fire-fighting and antiseptic compounds.

For a house made of logs or timber, the most suitable type of door is the wooden one, which gives the entrance to the home a cozy and warm look.

The main disadvantages of wooden doors are:

• low moisture resistance and tendency to swell in wet weather;
• tendency to warping and low resistance to dynamic and static loads;
• low resistance to burglary.

For these reasons, wood is used in the form of decorative overlays on door leaves made of more durable materials.

It is important to remember that even with a fire-retardant coating, wooden doors resist open fire for no more than 15 minutes, and therefore are not a serious barrier to fire.

Video: which entrance doors are better to choose

Dimensions of entrance doors for a private house

The dimensions of doors for a private building are laid down at the building design level because the designer correlates the dimensions of the entrance group with overall dimensions the entire structure. For each building, the size of the doorway may be different, so it is necessary to order individual products for free access to the building or use standard sizes, and cover the rest with transoms and side inserts.

Typical dimensions for entrance doors are a height of 2000 mm and a width of 900 mm. These dimensions provide minimal comfort and are the most popular. At the same time, GOST 31173–2003 for metal doors determines the size of entrance panels to be no more than 2200 mm in height and 1200 mm in width. These dimensions refer to the single-leaf type without taking into account the dimensions of the frame and installation gaps.

Modern manufacturers of entrance doors, taking into account the wishes of customers, produce door frames of several standard sizes:

1. The height of a standard box is 2070 or 2370 mm, therefore, taking into account the installation gap, the opening height should be 2090 mm or 2390 mm, respectively. If the opening is much higher, then fixed transoms or insulated inserts are used.
2. The width of entrance doors depends on the size of the opening and the number of leaves, but the most common values ​​are 870, 970, 1270 and 1470 mm; a width of 1870 mm is typical for a double door frame. A number of manufacturers manufacture products according to custom sizes, but it takes longer. It is important to remember that the installation gap must be at least 2 cm from the door frame to the opening, and the height of the threshold, taking into account snowy winters, must not be less than 10 cm from the porch floor.
3. The thickness of the door determines the degree of thermal insulation and noise absorption, as well as the strength characteristics of the door leaf. Considering the dimensions of the metal sheet, frame and interior decoration, the minimum thickness of the metal door will be 55 mm. Other types of door leaves have similar indicators. It should be noted that the thickness of entrance doors can significantly exceed the minimum values ​​and reach up to 100 mm or more; this parameter depends on the wishes of the customer and the requirements for strength, sound insulation and heat-insulating properties of the product.

Entrance door installation

Self-installation of the front door of a private home involves a certain sequence of actions and requires experience construction work. Before ordering doors, it is necessary to level the doorway and measure the height and width in at least two places. You should obtain wall thickness values ​​at four points to determine the parameters of the door frame. In this case, it is necessary to use a tape measure, a building level and a square so that the measurement results are as accurate as possible.

Before ordering an entrance door, it is necessary to measure the opening taking into account the installation gap

Then, using the table, we determine the standard size of the door, taking into account the size of the frame and the installation gap of 20 mm. For example, a doorway has dimensions of 1315x2110 mm, then the door frame should have dimensions of 1270x2070 mm, according to the table - this is type 21.13.

Table: types of entrance doors with frame and leaf sizes

After selecting the door table values You should verify the quality of the product using the exhibition samples and place an order. Most famous manufacturers installation is included in the price and is carried out by a team of craftsmen, but if this is not provided, then the door can be installed independently. To do this, you need to prepare mounting anchor bolts with a diameter of 10 mm according to the number of mounting holes, mounting foam, a hammer drill and building level. Installation of the entrance doors of a private house is carried out in the following order:

1. Using wooden or plastic wedges, the door frame is leveled and the mounting holes are marked on the opening through the eyes.
2. Using a hammer drill, holes are drilled for the anchor bolts that secure the door frame.

   The position of the door frame is regularly checked with a building level

3. The anchor bolts are tightened using wrenches and the position of the box is again controlled by level.

   If additional adjustment is necessary, the anchor bolts are loosened and the box is installed in the desired position using wedges

4. The door is hung on the hinges and its alignment and free movement, as well as the operation of the locking mechanisms, are checked.
5. The gaps between the opening and the door frame are carefully sealed with cement mortar and foam.

   Sealing gaps with polyurethane foam allows you to get rid of cold bridges

6. At the final stage, platbands and other additional elements are installed.

Based personal experience installation of doors, it is advisable to hire two assistants who will help with unloading and, most importantly, with adjusting and centering the frame at two levels in different planes. This will allow you to achieve a close-to-ideal position of the front door, in which it will not close or open spontaneously. A reasonable distribution of responsibilities reduces the installation time of this element of the entrance group to three hours on a turnkey basis.

Video: installing the front door yourself

Repair and restoration of entrance doors of a country house

During operation, entrance doors are subject to wear and natural aging, so there is a need for repair and restoration of individual parts input block. During diagnostics, you can understand the cause of wear on the door elements and determine the malfunction, which can be corrected on site or only in the factory.

Possible malfunctions of door structures

Major breakdowns during operation have the following causes:

• impact loads on the outer part of the door or elements of interior decoration;
• distortion of the door frame due to shrinkage of the supporting structures of the house;
• failure of hinges or locking mechanisms;
• damage to the heat-insulating layer and noise-insulating gaskets;
• corrosion due to damage to the integrity of the paintwork.

Tools and materials needed for repairs

The following tools or materials may be needed for repair work:

• electric drill and cordless screwdriver;
• set of bits and screwdrivers;
• construction hair dryer and grinder;
• glue, brushes and spray gun;
• chisels, spatulas and scrapers;
• metal brush and sandpaper;
• lubricant

DIY door repair and restoration

After determining the cause of the malfunction, the following operations must be performed to eliminate the defects:

1. Elimination of shock loads on door elements is carried out by eliminating dents or damage; sometimes replacement of decorative overlays is required.
2. When shrinking the walls of a building, it is necessary to remove the leaf from the hinges and, by means of adjustment, eliminate the distortion and restore the geometry of the door frame, in this case the deformation load-bearing walls will not have a significant impact on the door block.

   Lock repairs can be done on your own by replacing locking mechanism

3. The loss of the thermal insulation properties of the door is eliminated by completely or partially replacing the mineral wool. Expanded polystyrene, as a rule, lasts for many years and does not need repair.

   Repair of thermal insulation is carried out by replacing the insulating material

4. Corrosion can be eliminated by removing old paint, cleaning and degreasing the damaged surface and applying new paint suitable color.

The author of the article recommends determining which damages and malfunctions are an insured event and are subject to repair at the expense of the supplier, and which the owner must fix on his own. Often, failure of locking mechanisms or poor-quality painting of doors is a consequence of the manufacturer’s negligence.

Decorating the front door of a private house

The decoration of the front door can be external or internal and may require replacement over the years of service. decorative panels. The need to update the interior decoration may be associated with damage or renovation of the hallway, which will require a change finishing material on a panel of a different color scheme.

Finishing materials for the front door are varied and will satisfy the most demanding client.

The following finishing options are available:

• replacing paintwork with a different one color scheme during repairs;
• decorative inserts or forged metal overlays;
• finishing with solid wood or veneer panels of noble varieties of wood;
• finishing with MDF panels or laminate.

To restore the finishing material it will be necessary to remove door panel from the hinges, dismantle the old coating, clean and degrease the canvas and attach a new coating to the door or paint it.

We talked about the most popular types of entrance doors for a private home and analyzed their characteristics, positive and negative sides. The dimensions of standard boxes produced by manufacturers allow you to install them in various openings with your own hands without significant alterations. Repair, restoration and finishing of door panels can also be done independently using minimum set tools and equipment. Video material will help you choose the right entrance door for your home and install it.

Choosing an entrance door is a rather important moment, since the safety of all the property of the house or apartment, and sometimes the life of the owners, will depend on its design. Today, the assortment of specialized stores is formed by many manufacturers presenting their products, which have a wide range of prices - from the most modest to the very high. Therefore, you can always choose a door that will fully meet the capabilities of the homeowners.

The purpose of the front door is not only to protect the home from intruders, as it should prevent the penetration of external noise and cold air masses. In addition, there are models that can create a reliable barrier even to intense flames during a fire. How to choose a metal entrance door - advice from a professional - they are necessarily given depending on where it will be installed: at the entrance to an apartment or a private house, as well as taking into account many criteria that directly affect the performance of this design.

Criteria for choosing an entrance door

To clarify all the nuances, we turned to the Moscow manufacturer of entrance doors, the ProfMaster company, where more than 80% of orders are individual production "to order", because this is the only way to choose a door without compromising on quality.

There is a list of main points that you need to pay special attention to when purchasing an entrance door:

• Installation location. The door can be installed on the street in a private house or at the entrance to an apartment, that is, protected from direct external influence entrance area. The choice of insulation material and external cladding will depend on this.
• Level of protection. Several aspects can be attributed to this criterion:

- the thickness of the metal used to make the door;

— frame design;

— the number of metal layers in the door leaf;

— the number of stiffeners inside the canvas frame;

- number and design of locks and hinges;

— presence of an overview element.

• Insulation material. To prevent the door from letting in cold masses and extraneous noise, it is insulated with mineral wool, polystyrene foam, polyurethane foam or cardboard. Some cheap models may have no insulation at all.
• Number of seals. They can be installed on the door leaf or frame, in one, two or even three rows. For fire-resistant structures, sealing contours made of special materials are used.
• Door weight. A high-quality product must be heavy, as it has reliable stiffening ribs and is made of high-quality, fairly thick metal sheet.
• A design solution that will harmoniously fit the door into the overall design of the facade if the door is installed in a private house.
• Fireproof qualities of materials, if you plan to purchase a door that has protection against the spread of flame.
• Vandal-proof coating is especially necessary if there are animals in the house that can scratch the door lining, or in an apartment where there is no combination lock at the entrance to the entrance.
• The door must have a quality certificate or product passport, which will indicate all its characteristics.

Assessment of the main characteristics of doors

The price of such products is quite high, but you can be sure of the safety that they will fully provide. Therefore, recently more and more apartment residents and house owners prefer this particular door option.

So, the design of the entrance doors must fully meet all the criteria for safety and comfort when opening and closing them, as well as satisfy homeowners in terms of its design. Therefore, when making a choice, you need to make a list of requirements for yourself in advance. door design requirements, and if the model meets them, then this option is ideal for a specific entrance to a building or apartment.