Choosing doors for toilet and bathroom

Finishing and equipping a bathroom in a living room is not an easy process, even the doors to this room are selected taking into account a number of factors. When buying doors, it is worth considering not only the size of the toilet and bathroom, but also the high humidity. To choose a durable door leaf and the optimal opening mechanism, it is worth carefully studying all the nuances.

In the modern market, the choice of interior entrance structures is huge. Toilet and bathroom doors must be very durable, moisture resistant and aesthetically pleasing at the same time. Therefore, before selecting a door, it is important to study the classifications of doors by opening mechanisms and materials used. According to the manufacturing design, the following types are distinguished.

• The traditional swing door is still popular today. It is easy to install; in case of breakage, the fittings can be quickly replaced. The canvas can be easily removed and inserted into the loop; it can open inward, outward, left or right. Additional advantages are the price and range. Among the minuses, it is worth noting that with the small dimensions of the bathroom, this mechanism will cause inconvenience and take up a large space when opening.

• Sliding or sliding doors. Such a door, on the contrary, saves square meters; when opened, it moves (rolls back) to the side. It has two opening mechanisms - open and closed. When open, the structure slides and remains outside, when closed, the sliding structure opens and disappears into the niche. Such a model is quiet enough, has no threshold, which means it is safer.

• Folding doors have been known since ancient times. They are vertical panels that slide along the top guide rails and fold, so they do not have a threshold. The canvases are connected by textile or leather bands and loops. The folding structure is of two types. A door with one leaf from many sections is called an "accordion", folds like a blind, only horizontally. The canvas with two leaves works like a "book". This type of sash is undoubtedly interesting as a design solution, but buyers note that they do not provide a full sense of privacy. Moreover, due to frequent use, the structure quickly loses its strength.

• Rotary Doors can be opened in different directions by 180 degrees, which reduces the web exit when opening by half. Such a sample is suitable for use by people with disabilities and the elderly.

• Doors for insulating the riser. To hide sewer and water pipes, a cabinet with doors is often installed in the plumbing room. This design combines three advantages at the same time: isolation from sounds, storage of things, ease of opening when checking pipes. For installation, blinds are perfect (they are also called rack doors). Thanks to their lattice construction, they are capable of air ventilation.

Before proceeding to consider the materials in more detail, you should dwell on what characteristics they should meet. The following requirements are highlighted for the doors for the toilet and bathroom.

Taking these points into account will help to make the optimal choice of the door leaf:

• Resistant to water and hot steam;
• High insulating (heat, sound, light) qualities;
• Strength and durability;
• Inability to deform over time;
• Ease of use and maintenance;
• Aesthetic component;
• Environmental friendliness.

Next, you should consider what products are offered on the modern market:

• For the manufacture of classic wooden doors, wood of the highest grade is used, for example, linden, oak, beech, mahogany. The wood must undergo special drying and processing. Before installation, it is advisable to apply water-repellent and disinfectants to the canvas, then varnish. So, as with high humidity and water ingress, the canvas will swell, and due to dampness it can become moldy and deformed. Continuous maintenance will help extend the life of your wooden doors. The advantages of this model are a noble look, excellent insulating qualities, environmental friendliness of the material, and durability. Of the minuses, it is worth noting the price and the need for periodic restoration.

• Unlike wood, glass sheets are not afraid of water and do not change their shape, they are resistant to temperature extremes. Modern models are made of heavy-duty material that isolates the bathroom and toilet well from other rooms. Such glass is resistant to mechanical stress and looks aesthetically pleasing. Among the variety of models, you can find glass sheets with a matte shade, with a relief pattern, transparent, colored, tinted sheets and with various metal, wood and other inserts. The price of doors made of such material is quite high. Glass doors have their own nuances in operation.

• They require constant care: from interaction with water, streaks can remain on the glass, so it must be wiped frequently and thoroughly.
• The weight of the glass sheet is quite large, so the mounting structure must be of very high quality.
• The glass will allow light to pass through.

• Plastic canvases are moisture resistant, lightweight, do not transmit light, have good heat and sound insulation, do not require daily maintenance, so this option can be installed both in the bathroom and in the toilet. PVC doors can be decorated, coated with mortars and imitated for other materials. They can be of any color. Given the predisposition of plastic to deformation, modern manufacturers equip plastic doors with an aluminum base or reinforce them with metal.

In a busy establishment, it is important to have a clean, comfortable and inviting restroom. Doors are constantly exposed to cleaning chemicals and must be able to withstand the load well in use by a massive flow of people.

• Medium Density Fiberboard (MDF) doors. The board is formed from various waste wood. Its fibers, when exposed to temperature, release the substance lingin and stick together. MDF boards can have different finishes.

• They can be treated with varnish and paints;
• Laminated doors are MDF panels covered with acrylic or melamine resin impregnated paper. Such doors are exposed to moisture and deform over time, MDF will begin to swell;
• The veneered models are covered with a thin layer of various types of wood. They have a natural look, imitate "brothers" from the array.But wood is not resistant to moisture, so manufacturers invented doors made of eco-veneer - an artificial polypropylene film with a wood texture. Eco-veneer is more resistant to moisture and abrasion than laminate.

The table below shows the characteristics of the main materials used in the manufacture of doors.

Competent selection and correct installation directly affect the quality and service life of the doors. In order not to be mistaken in this matter, it is important to carefully measure the dimensions and only then acquire the entrance structures. The dimensions of the doors for the toilet and bathroom are slightly different from the generally accepted ones. For example, in houses of the Soviet period, the minimum width of the doors to the bathroom is from 550 to 600 mm, while in modern new buildings it can vary from 700 to 800 mm. If the house is built according to an individual project, then the dimensions may not be standard. If, for example, you plan to install non-standard doors in a sauna or bathhouse, their dimensions will be from 700-900 mm to 1900 mm.

In general, the dimensions of bathroom doors can vary in width from the narrowest design of 400 mm to the widest one with a width of 1000 mm. The standard height of entrance structures is usually around 2000 mm. The following table will help you in the selection, it shows the dimensions of door leaves and openings that correspond to each other.

It is important to figure out how best to take measurements. To measure the height of the opening, you need to measure from floor to ceiling. If there is no floor covering yet, then its thickness, as well as the possible presence of a sill, should be taken into account. On average, this block takes up about 100 mm. To determine the width, the dimensions are measured from one wall of the opening to the other.

Of particular importance when buying a door leaf is the thickness of the wall, because the box should not be much wider, maximum - by 1-1.5 cm. When measuring the thickness, it is worth taking into account the tiled masonry and the presence of a fastening solution.

The installation of the door leaf should be carried out taking into account the ventilation gap in order to reduce the humidity in the room. It is better to place wooden specimens in a large room so that drops of water do not fall on the array. If the room is small, it is better to install glass or plastic. It is worth carefully choosing the fittings for the door, taking into account the upcoming load on the material. After installing the door in the opening, the gaps must be filled with polyurethane foam, covered with putty. At the end, platbands should be installed.

When choosing a color scheme for a bathroom, it is worth remembering that in most houses the toilet and bathroom are located next to each other. Therefore, doors that are the same both in material and color will look more harmonious.In terms of texture, the canvas can be with a relief or smooth, the latter option is convenient in terms of maintenance, it is not so heavily contaminated.

In today's consumer market, classic white and wood imitation are traditionally popular.

If the door is glass, then usually a matte or colored tone is chosen, or the doors are decorated with a stained glass pattern, sprayed on, or simply use glass inserts in other materials.

Among plastic models, multi-colored samples are more common. Blue, green, blue, purple - cold tones also look good in the interior of the bathroom and toilet. However, if the room is decorated in a light style, then it is better to choose the door in pastel colors or combine the original color of the canvas with interior elements: with light walls, with furniture, fittings, the color of towels, and other items.

Options for a more unusual door design are the following solutions.

• Vinyl stencils and stickers. The stencil is used to create various patterns on the canvas. Stickers can be monochromatic, in 3D, stained glass and decorative (imitating various materials). Vinyl accessories tolerate wet cleaning well and can be easily replaced with new ones. Perfect for plastic and glass options. With the help of them, wood species are easily imitated. It is very important that the base of the web is free of dust and debris during gluing.

• To make simple canvases more interesting, use polyurethane products... They are glued to the surface, have various shapes in the form of panels, arcs, platbands, with ornaments and reliefs.

• On wooden canvases carved patterns will look beautiful. For baths and saunas, this option is optimal.

• Decoupage. Pictures from paper and napkins are cut out and folded into one panel, which is then glued to the canvas. Can be decorated with various small items.

• Decorating for hidden doors or chameleon doors... If you process the door leaf to match the color of the room, then a feeling of its invisibility is created, the integrity of the interior is preserved. You can hide the doors using paint, wallpaper, washable or regular wallpaper.

How long the doors last depends not only on the material and design. The quality of ventilation, the area of ​​the room, the frequency of use, the presence of an exhaust hood, the correct installation and maintenance - all these factors must be taken into account when choosing a door. It is better to resolve the issue with ventilation before starting the repair. Condensation is formed due to the different temperatures of the canvas and the hot air in the bathroom.

If the area of ​​the room is large enough, then the door material is not in danger. In a small room, it is better to choose a more moisture-resistant material and coating. Returning to the design features of the doors, the following points can be noted.

• Swing design familiar, easy to install and use, has an affordable price, a large assortment, can be opened on the left or right and in both directions, however, it takes up a lot of space when opening;
• Sliding modelon the contrary, it does not take up much space, for a niche no additional space is required in the room. Quiet in use, however, the sound insulation is insufficient. If two doors are close to each other, for example, a bathroom is next to the kitchen, and the corridor is narrow, then sliding doors from one sheet will be the best solution. If the opening to the bathroom is wide or the toilet and bathroom are combined, then the option of a compartment door of two panels will do.

• Folding structures also do not clutter up the space, however, they do not provide a full sense of privacy, as there will be problems with sound insulation and thermal insulation. But the doors will provide good ventilation.If the toilet and bathroom are combined, then folding structures can be installed inside the bathroom to delimit the space.
• Rotary doors outwardly do not differ from ordinary ones, easily open in different directions, are silent. They can be installed in any openings, and the rubber gaskets guarantee good sound insulation properties. Suitable for narrow spaces.

As for the hardware, its main function is to provide convenient opening and closing of the door, to prevent accidental opening of the curtain. The most economical option is a handle with a built-in lock. The handle has a built-in latch. The handle is installed by drilling two holes on both sides. In addition to the built-in latch, there is also a separate option where the handle and the latch are purchased separately. The latch can be embedded and laid on. With a consignment note, a bolt is installed.

A simplified plumbing mortise lock closes the door and locks with a latch. If the doors are slammed, then they can always be unlocked with a thin wire or hairpin.

Among the well-known Russian manufacturers, according to customer reviews, the following stand out.

• Firm "Dera". Produces paneled doors made of wood, plastic and glass with various types of veneer, film, CPL coatings. Factory products are certified and meet the requirements of GOST;

• Volkhovets company it is distinguished by a rich selection of doors of various designs from solid wood, veneered, combined from glass and veneer;

• Firm "Alexandria doors" specializes in the production of veneered models with a frame made of premium wood. The company's specialists give a three-year guarantee for all products.

• Factory "Sophia" - Russian production with Italian design. The range includes veneered and glass doors of all types of designs: sliding, folding, including hidden doors. For the bathroom and toilet, various models are produced: moisture resistant, deaf and with glass, matte and glossy glass, with and without mirror inserts.

• If we talk about foreign manufacturers, consumers speak well of companies such as Via Plast (Ukraine) and Rehau (Germany)... They produce plastic and metal-plastic models in various colors and shapes.

• Among Finnish manufacturers, the company is noted Jeld Wen (Jite), which produces both interior doors and doors for saunas and baths.

• Fenestra and Matti Ovi (Alavus) produce interior designs from solid wood, laminated and other options.

Several examples of interior design are presented to your attention.

Sliding structure to the bathroom is made of solid wood. On the inside, a mirror is attached to the entire height of the canvas, it visually expands the area. Water sources are installed so that splashes will not fall on the canvas. The material of the canvas is treated with a special varnish and moisture protection agents.

Cream-colored plastic hinged entrance structures to the bathroom and toilet. Their laconic and discreet design fits perfectly into the light interior. The design allows them to be opened in both directions, which is very convenient for use.

The canvas with the rotary mechanism actually looks extremely interesting. Two doors are located next to each other, however, the option with glass inserts was chosen for the kitchen, and smooth solid wood doors to the bathroom.

The next example is an accordion door for a bathroom. Visually, they are perceived as light curtains. The color of the canvas echoes the color of the shell and contrasts with the dark green walls.

As you can see from the picture, the room is quite large. If the first room has a toilet and sink, another door leads to the shower room. The folding door will provide good ventilation for humid air.

Thus, various types of doors were considered. Focusing on your taste and the above recommendations, you can choose the best and high-quality option for your own premises.

For information on how to choose doors for the bathroom and toilet, see the next video.