Features of solid wood doors and their choice

Every consumer needs to know the features of solid wood doors. You should understand the classic entrance and interior doors for a private house, with what design methods can be used in addition to painting them. A separate important topic is the difference between doors made of pine, birch and other types of wood.

The use of solid wood doors began many centuries ago. It was a very simple and easy-to-use material. Even today, despite all the technological innovations, wood is used very widely. Especially often, a door leaf made of wood is used by those who are trying to decorate their homes in the most natural way. It goes well with interiors furnished with natural furniture and decorated with the same decorative items.

The undoubted advantage of the production of solid wood doors is that they are guaranteed to be environmentally friendly and safe in medical and sanitary terms.

Moreover, if the main structural elements are damaged, no additional threat can arise. But the advantages of the tree do not end there either. They also include:

• a long period of operation (much longer in the case of high-quality material than when using budget plastics);
• excellent noise retention (incomparable with the same thickness with the same plastic and even more steel, aluminum);
• excellent heat-shielding characteristics (this is important, contrary to popular opinion, not only for entrance, but also for interior designs).

But any decision always has not only positive sides. It is also important to know its main disadvantages.

• For solid wood, such a disadvantage is, first of all, the high price. Even primitive products cannot be cheap, and not all consumers, even in large cities, can afford a really high-quality, extra-class product. Very often, in apartments and houses decorated with the latest technology, doors that imitate natural wood are used.
• Another important property that limits the use of solid wood is its susceptibility to moisture. Of course, there are breeds that can tolerate moisture for a very long time and retain their valuable practical qualities. However, their cost is significantly higher, and they are rare. Many breeds generally have to be delivered from distant countries. The standard mass varieties of the massif suffer from water very much.
• But even if there is money to buy a tree that is resistant to moisture, contact with fire will still be destructive for it. More precisely, there are technologies that make it possible to increase the protection from both water and fire - however, all of them, in one way or another, destroy the main advantage of a tree: its naturalness.
• Suppose for someone all these negative aspects are insignificant. But the need for careful care cannot be ignored. Wood is not plastic or metal, you cannot just brush away dirt and dust from it, and you can firmly calm down on that. More precisely, it is possible, but as a result, without restoration after 6-10 years, the door needs to be replaced. In addition, wood requires careful handling.Sometimes it is enough not the strongest blow, or several blows during operation, so that it also "lost its presentation."
• In terms of weight, wood generally occupies a middle position between PVC and metal. However, what kind of specific breed is used here plays a big role. Since the tree is relatively heavy, reliable, proven hinges must be used with it.
• Another disadvantage is associated with the existence of unscrupulous manufacturers and sellers. They tweak the woody pattern, presenting a relatively inexpensive product as an elite class product - which is what upsets many people.

The cost and quality of a door leaf depends on the type of wood from which it is made.

It is from pine wood that in many cases a budget-class door leaf is made. The softness of this breed makes it easier to handle and produce finished products. The uniformity of the structure allows for an excellent aesthetic appearance. Pine is less prone to warping and other specific deformations than other varieties.

But temperature and humidity fluctuations still strongly affect the characteristics of structures, can lead to their premature wear - therefore, putting a "pine" in the opening of the bathroom and even the kitchen is not a good solution.

This species is stronger than pine and tolerates strong moisture better than it, which makes it an almost indispensable option for "wet" zones. Suffice it to say that Venetian support piles were made just of alder - and they have successfully passed this exam, so to speak, for several centuries. Such an array of natural wood, even if it is constantly illuminated by the bright sun, will not suffer. An excellent solution if light comes directly from a large window into the opening.

A high-quality oak massif can look very diverse and even bizarre, which allows it to fit into absolutely any environment. Daring experimenters can try out the combination of an oak interior door in a modernist setting. There is practically no equal in aesthetics of oak construction! In terms of strength, they are also not - therefore they are often used as entrance doors for a private house. But in apartments, such models are used less often, where stainless steel is generally preferred. It is also worth noting:

• reliability;
• long service life;
• minimal requirements for care;
• an excellent degree of thermal insulation and protection from extraneous sounds, which is important in noisy places.

There are other wood options that are widely used by consumers.

• A conversation about outdoor birch wooden doors should start with the fact that they are relatively durable and homogeneous. This also applies to structures made of glued, and not just a monolithic array. In terms of density and hardness, birch products are solid "middle peasants" in the woody world. Sometimes there are complaints of susceptibility to decay. Fortunately, specialized impregnations solve this problem successfully.

• With a solid budget, you can choose larch designs. This breed is prized for its minimal likelihood of rotting, even in the most difficult conditions. There are cases when larch structures have been serving in a humid environment for about 1000 years and do not lose their valuable parameters even to a small extent. Such a positive property is associated with the abundant resin impregnation.

• Ash models are suitable for both entrance and interior openings. They are very cheap compared to oak, while practically not inferior to them in their aesthetic properties. Textures and color gradations are quite diverse, which expands the design possibilities.Impact resistance is high enough.

• Linden doors can also be used quite successfully. This solution turns out to be a very good option for baths, and partly for apartment bathrooms. Low thermal conductivity allows significant savings on all types of fuel and energy. Linden wood shrinks significantly less than conifers. It is sometimes noted that this material is very loose and susceptible to insect colonization. It is easy to eliminate such a deficiency with the help of varnishes and antiseptics, which are completely safe for the human body and for all animals.

Unpainted and unpainted doors can, of course, fulfill their main function without any problems. And they will be relatively inexpensive. but such a choice is simply boring and hardly able to inspire anyone. Therefore, almost everyone prefers completely different ways to arrange openings in a home or other building. Without a doubt, classic doors remain unrivaled.

They are mainly colored brown, including its various shades. Varying this range and combining it with other interior details allows you to provide the required variety. When choosing a specific color, they are repelled by the colors of the main surfaces and the main decorative products of the room. Along with the classics, doors are often used in which glass is inserted - and they are most appropriate in living rooms, and there you can use very large glass inserts.

There are many firms in the Russian Federation that produce massive doors. Although not all of them offer cheap types of products, their products are fully adapted to domestic operating conditions and the requirements of local consumers. And prices for end customers are still usually more profitable due to lower transport costs (especially if the production is located in the same region). Examples of such brands include:

• Volkhovets;
• Alvero (specialization in Caucasian oak);
• Bryansk factory "Dubrovsky";
• pine doors "Berest".

By tradition, Belarusian designs are also good. Among the manufacturers from Belarus deserve attention:

• BELWOODDOORS;
• "Doors of Belarus";
• Postavy Furniture Center;
• Porte Vista.

Finnish doors have also been praised for the highest quality for many years. This is about:

• Skaala;
• Kaski;
• Lammin;
• CAL.

Most often it makes sense to use models with a slaughtered box. They are ideal for installation in a specific opening size. As a result, installation is significantly accelerated, and there is less risk of harm by improperly drilling a particular hole.

Such products are in the assortment of any major manufacturer. For a bath, it is advisable to take doors with a thermal break so that heat does not leak out and at the same time excessive heating of the surface is excluded.

Of the available options for decorating a wooden door - painting it with enamel, varnish or paint. It is possible to cover the surface with them quickly, relatively inexpensively. And just as easily, the appearance of the structure can be changed. But manufacturers use other methods as well. So, a very attractive solution is lamination - however, it is mainly used not for the array, but for cheaper design solutions.

Also can be used:

• PVC film;
• enamel;
• nano-flex veneer.

Of the non-standard methods of processing solid wood, brushing should be mentioned. It enhances the relief and makes the annual rings easily visible. Treatment by firing or alkali treatment visually ages the surface. A pronounced aesthetic effect is achieved through patination. Sometimes they also resort to heat treatment.

Consider how many examples allow you to see how the door fits into the overall interior.

• This is what a noble dark brown door looks like. The surrounding very light background forms an expressive contrast in relation to it.

• But you can do otherwise - install an interior door with a less pronounced contrast. The result is also quite good, which is clearly visible in this photo.

• And here the emphasis is on the contrast of the dark red door and the light yellow wall. This combination turns out to be pretty good too, according to professional designers.