How and which one to choose an entrance door: we select the best option for the apartment. Choosing the best entrance doors How to choose the entrance door to an apartment

Evgeniy Sedov

When your hands grow from the right place, life is more fun :)

Content

Long gone are the days when a person’s status and financial situation were judged by the front door to his apartment. The more massive it is, the richer its owners. In modern life it is protection and personal safety. The question of how to choose a metal entrance door will not confuse you, thanks to our recommendations.

When choosing an entrance structure for your home, pay attention to:

Appearance of the product.
Heat and sound insulation characteristics.
Protection, locks.

In order for the selected entrance structure to be reliable and serve for a long time, it must perform its main functions efficiently. There are only 4 of them:

Protection from uninvited guests (prevention of robberies).
Access control to your home (using a peephole and video surveillance).
Insulation from noise and preventing heat loss from the house.
Aesthetics ( appearance should evoke positive emotions).

Choosing the appearance of the door

There are two types of doors: wooden and metal. You can choose the appearance of the latter yourself. This can be powder-coated or painted canvas, covered with artificial leather, clapboard cladding, or decorated with MDF panels.

The powder coating consists of polymer and metal, is applied in a special chamber, forms a reliable protective layer and has a pleasant appearance. The manufacturing plant has prepared stamps for external door coverings and offers a wide range of color design. For decoration, molding is actively used - convex parts that make up a certain pattern or pattern. You can also galvanize the surface of the entrance structure (apply a layer of gold or silver as decoration).

Upholstery with vinyl leatherette, upholstery with veneer or “lining” is offered less and less. These methods already belong to the “retro” style.

MDF panels provide the opportunity to create a unique design model.

The choice of the appearance of your front door depends on individual preferences and tastes. Advice: consider all the characteristics, do not rely only on the appearance of your purchase.

PVC entrance and interior doors - where to buy and how to choose, review of models with characteristics and prices
Electromechanical lock - overview of models and price. How to choose a mortise or overhead electromechanical lock
Door handles for interior doors - how to choose mortise or overhead handles based on material and design

The metal structure you choose will be strong and durable if you know what it is made of. Here short description her devices:

Front and rear steel sheet. Better one-piece, without seams. The joints of the seams can be easily bent with a crowbar and damaged with one blow with a heavy object; thickness 2-4 mm - this will be acceptable for an ordinary city apartment. Thicker steel will have to be opened with an autogenous gun; robbers are unlikely to do this in the urban jungle.
Platbands. Close the gap between the door and the door frame.
Internal narthexes close the same gap when closed door, protect from exposure to crowbars and crowbars.
A frame onto which steel sheets are attached.
Stiffening ribs provide stability and strength of the structure.
Polyurethane foam provides thermal insulation.
Soundproofing materials - cotton wool, polystyrene foam, foam rubber.
The seal prevents the penetration of odors.
Hinges and pins do not allow the door to be removed; their number depends on the weight of the structure; to prevent abrasion, the hinges must be equipped with bearings.
Vertical and horizontal crossbars hold the entire structure, spacers prevent deformation.
Lock.
Peephole.
Pen.

You can use this list as a checklist so that you don’t lose sight of any product characteristics when purchasing. A good example door device look at the photo below.

Thermal and sound insulation

Soundproofing and thermal insulation properties front door - important criteria. When choosing a product, pay attention to the following points:

How warm and quiet your home will be will depend on the quality of the materials filling it. inner space front door. For this purpose, mineral or basalt wool and polyurethane foam are used. These components do not ignite, absorb noise, do not release heat and do not allow cold to pass through.
Decorative panels from MDF boards or plywood, and flashings are better protection from noise.
For an input structure to achieve the effect you expect from it, it must be installed correctly. Cracks and distortions are not allowed, which deprive you of heat and allow noise and cold to pass through. To be on the safe side, you need to use silicone seals.
It is important to eliminate the empty space between the doorway and the door frame using polyurethane foam.

Locks

Reliability and security are ensured by special locks for metal doors. You need to choose several types of shutters. The lock must match the selected door model, its weight, design, location and material from which it is made.

According to the type of fastening, locks are divided into mortise, overhead and padlocks.
According to the type of mechanism, they are divided into lever, cylinder and code.

A lever lock is a set of plates that move thanks to protrusions on the key bit. This lock has a latch operated by a handle and presses the door itself tightly against the seal. If the lock is installed correctly, the door closes smoothly without pressing the handle.

The cylinder lock is characterized by its small size. There are pins inside it that can only be turned with the appropriate key. The insert part of the cylinder is easy to replace, and it is better to reinforce the outer part with an armor plate, which will protect it from being knocked out.

The leaders in the production of highly secret locks are:

Mul-T-Lock Company, producing the best cylindrical and padlocks, machines and machines for cutting keys.
The German concern Ikon is a manufacturer of locks for entrance, balcony and window systems.
The Chinese company Masterlock offers low prices, acceptable quality, decent appearance of mortise and padded aluminum u-shaped locks.

Using different locking systems for your front door will make things more difficult for burglars. Even better if they are from different manufacturers. The optimal option is 2 locks: the main one is level, the additional one is cylinder.

A high degree of protection against burglary is ensured through the use of new developments in the production of keys. For example, laser keys have special recesses that set the code for opening the lock. And keys with a punched card have special recesses that provide a large number of combinations of locking systems.

Choose a lock with a latch; it cannot be opened with a master key or knocked out with a sledgehammer; it does not jam and does not allow the door to be opened with a key from the outside. Give preference to a bolt, latch or lock - these mechanisms will give you additional confidence in the reliability of your design.

Installation of a metal entrance door

Knowing how to choose a metal entrance door, you can understand the features of its installation. To avoid unpleasant situations associated with the inability to get into the house, entrust the installation of this complex design specialist.

Recommendation: it will be good if the installation of the entrance structure is carried out by employees of the same company from which you bought it. If the door is found to be defective, they will not be able to relieve themselves of responsibility, arguing that the installers are to blame!

Basic installation rules:

You cannot install a heavy metal structure if the wall thickness is less than 15 cm and it is made of crumbling material. It is better to prepare a special frame that will ensure the stability of the entire door block.
The doorway is not enlarged using impact methods to avoid damage load-bearing beams, use only an angle grinder with special discs.
The measurer must carry out preparatory work, take measurements, select the desired door size, give recommendations on preparing the doorway, dismantling the old structure.
Be sure to level the floor in the area of the doorway using a screed.
After this, secure the door frame using the anchor method. In this case, the anchors act as reliable fasteners.
The voids are filled polyurethane foam, after it dries, plaster is applied.

Manufacturers

Manufacturers of entrance doors are conventionally divided into domestic and imported. Both have their pros and cons.

Representatives of domestic brands offer low-quality products made from inexpensive materials. Here consumers are more satisfied with the price.
Import suppliers offer better quality door products. But there is a big disadvantage - their doors do not always correspond to the size of our openings. As a rule, they are always wider than necessary, which entails additional costs.

Having drawn up a purchase budget, you need to decide on the choice of the manufacturer of the entrance doors. Here is a short list of leading companies:

The Italian concern “Dierre” is for those with refined taste and connoisseurs of true beauty. The company's owners do not save money on introducing the latest technologies into production.

"Gardesa" comes from Italy - eliminates defects, uses spot welding, an automated production system. Gardesa products are quality, comfort, safety.

The Israeli company “Magen” offers affordable prices and acceptable quality. Today, all the company’s technological capacities have been transferred to Russia. A distinctive feature is the use of Mul-t-Lock locking systems.

Superlock is a company located in Israel. It is characterized by a high level of protection for its products, elegance, and special developments in the field of shutter mechanisms. Superlock systems developed by Israeli technologists are actively used by manufacturers of entrance doors in other countries.
“Forpost” is a Moscow company that offers a special system for locking entrance doors at 12 points at once; the models are suitable for use in Russian conditions.

The Torex plant produces high-quality steel doors with anti-vandal coating. Uses special Italian and Japanese equipment, which has no analogues in Russia.
Russian company"Guardian" - offers entrance doors of any price category. The company's stores are located in 135 cities of Russia.

Choose front door into an apartment is not an easy task and raises many questions. You need to know what qualities a design should have and what to look for when choosing. The front door is the keeper of the hearth, preventing noise, cold and uninvited guests from entering the home. It should also look presentable, as it acts as the calling card of the apartment.

Requirements for the entrance door to the apartment

Any premises, residential or industrial, greet the visitor with the front door. Choosing an internal opening door for an apartment is not difficult now. However, manufacturers offer a wide selection of products, the differences between which are in materials, dimensions, colors and styles.

Many people are unable to make an informed choice due to the large variety. This is especially true for those who buy entrance doors to an apartment for the first time. To avoid errors, you should take into account the requirements for any input structures:

General reliability parameter. Entrance doors perform many functions, but the main one is to protect your home. For this reason, the chosen design must be durable and high quality, capable of protecting against intruders.
It must be possible to inspect the external area. It is better if the entrance door to the apartment is equipped with at least a small peephole. This will allow you to see the situation outside your home or on a flight of stairs.
Noise and heat insulation. The product prevents noise and cold from entering the house, increasing living comfort.
Appearance. It is better to choose a beautiful entrance door to the apartment so that its style fits into the interior of the home.

Before you go to the store to buy, you need to consider other points:

Price of the canvas. It all depends on the quality of the design. If you choose a door for summer cottage or in an old abandoned apartment, it is not necessary that it be highly durable. Cheaper analogues will also work. But if the product is installed in a new building apartment or a residential country house, then more expensive variations can be considered.
Opening dimensions. The canvas should easily “fit” into the doorway. Therefore, before purchasing, you should take all measurements in advance.
Selection of accessories. We are talking about locks, hinges, eyes, handles and so on. This takes into account the type of construction and your own preferences. Of course, it is better to choose the appropriate fittings for a good entrance door to your apartment, suitable in quality and style.
Availability of certificates and guarantees. This is an important point during the purchase, ensuring that all installation and operation issues are resolved.

Types of entrance doors

The construction market offers a wide range of entrance structures; designer canvases and technical models are also produced. They are classified depending on the material used in their manufacture.

Metal entrance door

This is the most popular type. Manufactured using special technology from durable materials. There are models that are additionally coated with an anti-corrosion compound, which allows the blades to be used in different climatic conditions, extending their service life.

The thickness of the metal sheets also matters: for European entrance doors it is 1 mm, for Chinese ones - from 0.5 to 1 mm, for domestic ones - from 1.5 to 3 mm. The strength characteristics of the entrance structure depend on the thickness of the metal. European models have standardized sizes, while our manufacturers also produce non-classical options.

The customer can choose the design and format of insulation.

Before choosing a metal door for your apartment, you need to familiarize yourself with the classification by level of complexity:

Economy class. These are simple and affordable products made from single-sheet steel 1 mm thick. For decoration, only painting is used, without insulation or sound insulation. A separate variety - metal sheets into the apartment, assembled from two sheets (each 1 mm thick). For such products, finishing, heat and sound insulation filler is provided.
Middle class. These are products made from two sheets, each 1.5 mm thick. The finishing can be any and depends on the customer’s preferences.
Elite class. Entrance doors with reinforced construction, with sheet thickness up to 2 mm. They are finished with natural or artificial materials, covered with wood and veneer.

The following materials are used as finishing: thermal film, polymer or powder paint, plastic or wooden lining, vinyl leather, auto enamel, varnish, MDF linings and other materials.

Important! In order for the selected metal entrance door to successfully perform its functions, it is important to install it correctly.

Wooden entrance door

Not long ago, wood was used as the main material for the production of entrance structures. Now the user has a choice, where each product differs in its performance properties. However, wooden panels are considered luxurious and practical classics. Thanks to innovative technologies, their functions and properties have been improved by an order of magnitude compared to the first models, and as a result they last longer.

Wooden products are no longer as popular as they used to be, this is due to the fact that the market offers a large selection of artificial materials. But some customers prefer natural solid wood. Considering the structural features, we can distinguish three types of wooden entrance doors:

Shield ones. To assemble these products, boards up to 4 cm thick are used. The frame is assembled from solid wood elements glued together. Some manufacturers supplement such entrance doors with an aluminum frame, which not only retains heat, but also extends the life of the product.
Paneled. In terms of design, they are similar to panel ones. They weigh an order of magnitude less, which makes transportation and installation easier.
Whole. This option is now the most common. For production, a solid solid wood is taken.

What materials are wooden entrance doors made from:

Oak. This is a highly durable and durable breed that can last for several decades. Interesting feature– oak hardens over time, which makes the canvas even more stable. The result is the most expensive entrance doors to the apartment.
Ash. Similar to oak, a durable and practical material. A popular option due to the variety of colors.
Beech. It is better to install such a door to an apartment in a multi-story building. Beech does not tolerate moisture well, so it is not used for country houses.
Pine. Key advantage – affordable price. Pine - soft material, so canvases from it are made especially for apartments.

Wooden doors to apartments are preferred by those customers who prefer environmental friendliness and a natural appearance.

Entrance door to an apartment with a mirror

This type is gradually gaining popularity. Many customers prefer just such entrance doors to their apartments, explaining their choice by the small size of the hallway. Nowadays a mirror can be mounted in both wooden and metal products.

An entrance door with a mirror looks organically in any interior, often acting as a key decorative element. The design is interesting for its decorative effect, but can also perform other functions:

Practicality. When leaving the apartment, you can always look in the mirror and evaluate your appearance. Of course, for this you need to correctly place the lighting sources so that the light falls on the person.
Visually increases the space. The light, when reflected, creates the illusion of a large corridor.

Important! To ensure the desired effect, you must carefully choose the shape and size of the mirror you install. This will highlight the style of the apartment and decorate the interior.

The mirrors themselves are practical products. Indeed, in a small hallway it is sometimes difficult to place a separate large mirror. But the door panels are just the right size.

Width of the entrance door to the apartment

Standard dimensions are determined by GOST standards, regardless of the material of construction. The main parameters are as follows:

Height. The standard parameter is in the range from 2070 mm to 2370 mm. To determine the specific value, the total height of the ceiling and the width of the door leaf are taken into account.
Width. The minimum parameter is 910 mm. For single-leaf – 1010 mm, one-and-a-half – 1310, 1510 and 1550 mm, double-leaf – 1910 and 1950 mm.
Thickness. There are no strict regulations regarding this value, since everything depends on the material of the canvas for the apartment. The thickness should be sufficient for the front door to perform its main functions.

Important! For entrance structures standard size more than for interior ones. This is done so that a person carrying a load can freely pass through the opening.

How to choose metal entrance doors for an apartment

Most common metal constructions. Most often chosen steel door to an apartment that provides adequate housing protection. There are both global and domestic manufacturers on the market producing products different styles and sizes.

Metal has long been used to make entrance doors to apartments. This is the most durable material, providing protection against hacking. For this reason, it is popular for both residential and production premises. Choosing iron door into the apartment, you should pay attention to the base material. The following metals are used to make products:

Aluminum. Such products vary in texture and shades. Aluminum is a metal that is easy to process, so making entrance doors from it is somewhat easier.
Steel. This metal is more reliable and durable. In addition to the main function, such entrance panels are equipped with noise and heat insulation. They are more expensive than their aluminum counterparts, but they are also better in quality.

When choosing a product for an apartment, pay attention to the thickness of the base layer - the thicker it is, the better the structure will protect the home. Only two materials are used as a base, but the products differ from each other due to the decorative layer. Used as decoration:

PVC panels. Caring for this coating is quite simple.
MDF. In addition to being environmentally friendly, this material provides good sound insulation. The most preferred option for office premises.
Powder coating. Budget exterior finishing.
Panels made from natural wood. Expensive, but environmentally friendly and visually attractive option.

To increase the mechanical characteristics of the entrance door to an apartment, manufacturers equip products with stiffeners. These elements provide protection against deformation and increase burglary resistance. The more stiffening ribs, the more stable the structure will be. It is worth understanding that due to an increase in the number of these elements, the weight increases, which means that the hinges will experience increased loads and fail faster.

What color should you choose for the entrance door to your apartment?

When choosing a color, you need to take into account the general style of home decoration, the color of the flooring material, walls, and main furniture. Correct tips to help you choose the color of the entrance door to your apartment:

The best solution is to choose neutral shade, which will not be combined with anything. White, black, gray or beige options look good.
It is optimal if the color of the canvas matches the shade of the window frames.
Doors decorated with drawings, stained glass or stickers look good. The slope is made on design decoration, so compatibility is relegated to the background.

Important! These tips are suitable both for choosing the entrance panel to the apartment and for interior partitions.

Rating of metal apartment entrance doors

The most popular designs are from the following brands:

Outpost. This manufacturer produces products at affordable prices. The company is originally from Russia, but production is organized in China, which allowed it to optimize costs. The manufacturing process is controlled, so the products differ good quality, immutability technical parameters and appearance.
Torex. The company has been producing apartment entrance doors for over 25 years. Thanks to solid practical experience, the fabrics produced have good consumer properties, without overpayment. The range includes fireproof options.
Elbor. The year the enterprise began operating was 1976. Not long ago, a comprehensive modernization of the company was carried out, which made it possible to increase production capacity.
Guardian. A distinctive feature of the products of this company is high price, but the consumer properties correspond to the premium class. For the manufacture of entrance doors to the apartment, strict international and domestic standards are taken into account.
Became. This is a group of companies that produces entrance canvases for individual orders. A special feature of the products is additional concreting, thanks to which the box is attached much more reliably, while maintaining tightness.

Is not full list companies engaged in the production of entrance doors for apartments.

Where should the entrance door to the apartment open?

In this matter, there is a main requirement - in case emergency the design should not create obstacles during the evacuation of people. If we consider the practical side, then several points are taken into account:

when opening inward, you will have to stop in front of the door and step back to open it;
the canvas that opens outward is characterized by burglary resistance, since it is much more difficult to knock it out;
if the product opens inward, it will not be possible to install an additional door, which will not only retain heat in the apartment, but also reduce the noise level;
If the room has a small hallway, it is better to choose the option of opening to the outside.

In case of apartment buildings, also take into account the following points:

when swinging externally, the door leaf should not interfere with the opening of a neighbor’s door;
if the apartments open onto a common vestibule, then the vestibule door is opened outward, and the entrance door is opened inward;
if during opening the door touches something, for example, a counter, then it is supplemented with an opening limiter.

For the most part, where the canvas will open is the decision of the apartment owner.

Conclusion

Choosing an entrance door to an apartment is not a problem, since there are many offers: metal, wooden crafts or designs with mirrors. The main thing is that the door provides adequate protection for the apartment and at the same time matches the interior of the room. You can take into account the rating of the entrance metal doors to the apartment, but it is equally important to install the door correctly.

The front door is not just a “calling card” of the owners: it protects the apartment from burglary, cold, drafts and external noise. The strength and durability of the parts should ensure that the door will not warp over time, it will not jam, and the lock will work properly for many years.

You may encounter the problem of choosing a new entrance door when moving to another apartment, during a major renovation, or after the door has been opened for some reason. First of all, you should decide on the material on which the reliability of the door will depend.

Metal entrance doors vs wooden

If your apartment is located in a common vestibule with neighbors, you can also install a wooden entrance door; a metal door is enough for one per vestibule. But for this you need to be confident in your neighbors as in yourself. In addition, it cannot be 100% ruled out that complete strangers will not enter the vestibule. A wooden front door is perceived by intruders almost as an invitation to the apartment: it can be easily opened or removed from its hinges without unnecessary noise if there is a complex lock. Therefore, a high-quality metal door is the best choice than wood. The exception is doors made of solid wood of noble species, but they are usually purchased for private homes.

Construction of a metal entrance door: design details

In fact, what is important is the design of the entire door block, which consists of a fixed part (frame) and a movable part (the door leaf, the door itself). The box is secured in doorway, loops are installed on it, and the canvas is hung on the loops. No matter how reliable the canvas itself may be, if it hangs on poor-quality hinges and the frame moves away from the opening, such a door block will not protect your apartment; it will be easy to tear it out of the wall completely. Let's look at what you need to pay attention to when choosing a door block.

Box. It is a four-sided metal frame welded from a durable steel profile. The frame provides a cavity for locking tongues and anti-burglary pins (bolts). If the thickness of the frame is less than the thickness of the wall, additional extensions are required - strips that compensate for the difference. Therefore, before purchasing a door block, it is necessary to take careful measurements and take into account the fact that manufacturers different countries Boxes are produced according to different standards. It is much easier to select a Russian door frame for Russian buildings.
Thickness of the metal sheet. Depends on the thickness of the metal sheets, the thickness of the stiffeners and the type of finish. Painting with enamel has virtually no effect on the thickness of the canvas; wood cladding or soft cladding can add 10–25 mm. The average thickness of a reliable metal door is 60–90 mm. A door with a thickness of 40–50 mm is inferior in terms of sound insulation; in addition, only the most primitive lock can be installed in it.
External and internal steel sheets. Their thickness should be at least 1.2 mm, optimally 1.5–2 mm (the door is reliable, but not too heavy).

Note!
Inexpensive doors may have a thinner inner steel sheet.

However, the door can be subjected to mechanical loads not only outside- especially if the apartment is being renovated, children are playing, or furniture is being rearranged.

Stiffening rib. This internal elements, increasing the strength of the door leaf without greatly weighing the structure. They also prevent the canvas from being pressed away from the box during burglary attempts. The most reliable door leaves are those with four stiffening ribs - two vertical and two horizontal.
Insulation. The cavities between the steel sheets in the door leaf are filled with insulation, which also provides sound insulation. Insulation materials - corrugated cardboard, polystyrene foam, polystyrene foam, polyurethane, mineral wool. The most modern insulation materials used by most manufacturers in mid- and premium-class models are polystyrene foam and mineral wool. To achieve better heat and sound insulation properties, a combination of several layers of insulation is also used, including the addition of foil, cork layers, isolon and other materials. A sealing contour is placed at the junction of the door frame and the door frame, and the gaps between the door frame and the opening are filled with foam. Additionally, you can insulate the door using external soft upholstery, but it can be easily damaged, so now they give preference to anti-vandal coatings, focusing on the quality of the internal insulation.
Number and type of locks. Since burglary technologies are constantly improving, it is recommended to choose a door with at least two locks of different types (level and cylindrical): this will make it more difficult for intruders to open it. If you have to choose one lock, use a lever lock - it is more reliable. The cost of locks depends on their complexity and should correspond to the cost and reliability of the door: there is no point in installing cheap locks on an expensive door, and vice versa.

This is interesting!
The first lever lock was invented in 1818 in Great Britain. Mechanical locks of this type are still considered the most reliable. However, this required their first demonstration hack, which was carried out by a talented locksmith and received a prize of 1000 pounds sterling. After this, the inventor took into account weak sides lock and improved the design.

Loops. The strength and reliability of the hinges are very important so that the door does not warp over time in the doorway. In order to further protect the door from burglary, we use hidden hinges, which cannot be accessed from the outside.
Pins (crossbars). In modern models of metal doors, when they are closed with a lock, steel bolts extend into the door frame, further protecting the door from burglary.

Of course, a door block in which all these nuances are thought out, plus an important decorative component, cannot be cheap. The metal entrance door is a part of your apartment that you will have to invest in to ensure it lasts for many years. However, there are available offers that will resolve the issue without overpaying.

Manufacturers of entrance doors and price gradient

Now on the market there are entrance doors from European, Russian and Chinese manufacturers. The products of domestic manufacturers are in the highest demand, and there are objective reasons for this.

If we talk about Chinese-made entrance doors, the products in the lower price segment (3,500 - 8,000 rubles) do not stand up to criticism, since the door leaf is made from a sheet no more than 0.8 mm thick and can literally be opened with a can opener. Insulation in such doors is either absent or does not absorb noise well, usually corrugated cardboard. An inexpensive Chinese door, therefore, can only be considered as a temporary option. The middle price segment (8,000 - 12,000 rubles) is also not very attractive, simply because the price includes delivery from China. The most durable and reliable chinese doors in price and quality comparable to Russian economy class doors (10,000 - 20,000 rubles). If your needs are higher, you don’t have to look at Chinese products. The average price segment for Russian doors is 20,000–40,000 rubles.

Doors from European manufacturers - for example, Italian and Finnish - are manufactured using modern technologies and only from quality materials. However, their cost is quite high (minimum 24,000 rubles, average price - from 40,000); they are often supplied to order, which increases the time from payment to installation. At the same time, Italian technologies have been successfully implemented in many domestic productions, and it makes no sense to overpay for a European brand.

An important nuance is the guarantee. As a rule, there is no warranty for Chinese doors; there is no one in Russia to provide warranty service for doors made in Europe. But if you purchase a door from a reputable domestic manufacturer, he will honor the warranty for at least five years.

As for the decorative component, you should first of all pay attention to the quality of the fittings and cladding. If the paint starts to peel off and decorative panels- warp, aesthetics will come to naught. This is primarily the problem with Chinese doors. Italian manufacturers are often chosen precisely because of the attractive appearance of their products, but it is always worth asking if Russian factories have analogues. As a rule, you can find a similar option at a more attractive price.

In terms of price-quality ratio, entrance doors from domestic manufacturers have long been competitive with imported ones. At the same time, they can be delivered to the customer faster and without unnecessary transportation costs. If desired, you can choose locks and fittings from both Russian and European production for your front door.

Where can I buy entrance doors to my apartment?

We turned to a representative of the Russian factory “Dveri Bravo” for comment, and this is what he told us:

“You can buy an entrance door in a construction hypermarket, in the market, or in a specialized showroom. A very convenient option is to purchase through an online store, where you can see the entire assortment at once and sort it according to the desired parameters. The optimal solution would be the official online store of the manufacturer, where they offer competitive prices and genuine products. All you have to do is choose a manufacturer who makes door blocks conscientiously.

For example, our factory “Doors Bravo” produces entrance steel doors under the BRAVO brands (medium price category) and GROFF (premium class). All products comply with current GOSTs, a guarantee is provided, exchanges and returns are made in accordance with the law. When placing an order in the official store of the factory, you can also use the services of professional door installation. The retail network of the Bravo factory in Moscow is the Dzerzhinsky warehouse store at 16 km of the Moscow Ring Road, the Tagansky showrooms on Marksistskaya Street and Volokolamsky on Volokolamsk Highway. Online store address - . When choosing doors, pay attention to discounts and promotions: we always have products of the day that are sold at the lowest price.”

P.S."Doors Bravo" is one of the leaders in the Russian market of door structures.

For many owners of a city apartment or country house, choosing the right metal entrance door is considered an urgent issue. In this article we will talk about how to choose the design in question, we will find out what the base and finishing can be, as well as insulation and fittings for the product.

What to look for when choosing

When going to the store to purchase an entrance door, you need to pay attention to the following details:

Protective functions of the structure. The product must be protected against burglary by thieves. In this regard, the door must have high levels of reliability and strength.
Duration of operation. The longer the product lasts, the better for the consumer. It should be noted that some manufacturers provide a one-year warranty on their products.
Door filler material. The thermal conductivity and soundproofing properties of the structure depend on its properties.
When choosing outdoor doors, many consumers pay Special attention on the appearance of the product, but this selection criterion is not always correct. The door leaf should not contain materials harmful to human health. In addition, the door should not creak during operation.

Another nuance in the selection of the design in question is the choice by country of manufacturer. As you know, on the domestic construction market there are not only Russian, but also Chinese models, as well as goods that come to us from Europe. Each of them has its own advantages and disadvantages.

Thus, products made in China are relatively cheap, but they do not have good protective qualities. European products are much more expensive than their domestic counterparts, but such doors are manufactured in accordance with European standards. This is why the door leaf does not always fit into our openings, so the best option would be to choose a domestic model.

Now let’s take a look at the expert advice on choosing steel entrance doors to your apartment:

To avoid drafts, it is better to choose tubular-type insulation rather than products made in the form of the Ш symbol, as in a refrigerator and other household appliances;
The door leaf is sealed on both sides with metal bent, welded or solid sheets with a thickness of at least 1.5 millimeters;
It is necessary to install several stiffening ribs inside the structure to increase the strength of the product. In total, the door has from 2 to 5 transverse ribs.
Entrance doors must have at least two locks, which will increase protective functions products will prevent thieves from entering the apartment;

To prevent the canvas from bending from the frame, install a molding made in the form of a T symbol;
Standard door hinges usually last up to 7 years. For smooth operation of the structure during opening and closing, hinges on bearings are used. Hidden products do not allow the entrance structure to be removed even after cutting off the hinges, but such results should be achieved only after installing anti-removal pins.
The best finishing option is considered to be a surface coated with powder paint, which is characterized by high resistance to various atmospheric influences.

Door base and frame

The frame of the entrance door consists of a metal closed U-shaped profile. On the frame of the product in question using spot welding sheet steel of a certain thickness is fixed. Stiffening ribs are used to strengthen the structure. U quality products two ribs are fixed vertically, three more - horizontally. Depending on the location of the lock, the middle stiffening element may have a monolithic structure or be divided into two independent parts at the lock site.

On the construction market you can find a huge number of types door frames. The most popular options for manufacturing such a design are products from profile pipe, a metal corner or a steel sheet bent to a certain shape. According to experts, the best material To obtain a high-quality and reliable foundation, it is considered to be the use of a profile pipe with a wall thickness of 3 to 5 millimeters.

It is not recommended to buy boxes made from bent sheet or corner, as such elements are subject to bending and twisting during operation. At the same time, the base made of a profile pipe has improved stability and ease of installation. Such a part can be easily fixed in the wall opening even with your own hands, without the help of specialists.

If we talk about bases made of bent sheets, then such products have good thermal and sound insulation properties, but have limited strength compared to analogues made from profile pipes. The thickness of the door leaf is determined by the width of the frame. So for apartments this parameter should correspond to a size of 50-70 millimeters.

If the front door is installed in a country house, then the thickness of the base can increase to 100 millimeters. This increase in parameters helps improve reliability and safety, as well as the heat and sound insulation properties of the product. The increased mass will make the canvas more dangerous, so it is better to choose a frame in favor of standard options.

Insulation

Insulated doors protect an apartment or private house from drafts and extraneous sounds coming from the entrance or street and prevent heat from escaping. Many property owners wonder how to insulate a metal front door, because each such material has its own strengths and weaknesses. Next, we will describe the most popular types of insulation for door structures.

First, let's look at polystyrene foam. Sheets of such thermal insulation material have good insulating properties, do not absorb moisture, and are not subject to deformation. Expanded polystyrene has negative qualities, this is the possibility of cold penetration through the formed gaps, as well as a low degree of fire safety.

Such products are well suited for insulating door panels installed in an apartment. If the entrance structure is installed in a country house, then polystyrene foam will not be suitable as insulation due to the possibility of freezing. To eliminate the problem, the gaps formed between the laid sheets are filled with polyurethane foam.

The second type of insulation, foam rubber, has good heat-insulating and sound-proofing properties. The main disadvantage of the material in question is the possibility of structural damage during operation. In this regard, foam rubber is not recommended for installation on the entrance doors of country buildings.

Another popular product for insulating the structures in question is mineral wool. These products come to construction stores in the form of rolls or mats. To insulate the door, it is better to use the latter option, since slab thermal insulation has improved strength indicators. The material in question is non-combustible and has a low cost. The main disadvantage of mineral wool is the ability to absorb moisture, so such products need careful waterproofing before installation.

Door hinges

The parts in question are used to attach the door leaf to the frame. With the help of hinges, doors can perform their basic functions, open and close, but when choosing these elements, you need to pay attention to their type and use. Let's look at this issue in more detail.

The following types of loops can be used for installation of entrance groups:

Universal. Such products differ from analogues in their increased service life and make it possible to open the door in both directions (left and right). Universal hinges cannot be removed when moving large furniture; in order to remove the door it is necessary to completely unscrew such a product.
Removable or detachable hinges are considered easier to use. With their help, you can remove the canvas even without unscrewing.
Screw-in hinges allow the door to be opened in any direction; they are used to operate structures with protrusions at the end.
Bar hinges allow you to open outward and inward at the same time, with the ability to rotate the blade 180 degrees. Such elements are reliably hidden in the opening and are adjusted at three points.

When choosing hinges, special attention must be paid to the quality of the product. You should only trust trusted manufacturers. The dimensions of the product are also of particular importance. Thus, a height of 7.5 centimeters is used for entrance groups weighing 10...25 kilograms. For standard entrance doors weighing 25-40 kilograms, you need to select hinges that are at least 10 centimeters in height.

External and internal door decoration

The designs under consideration may have Various types external and internal finishing. It depends on the personal preferences of the customer, the style of the living room and neighboring rooms, and design options for the facade of the building. For many models, the interior and exterior finishes are different, although in some cases the surface of the products is made in the same color range.

The most popular finishing options are:

painting;
use of laminated fiberboard on the inside of the door;
powder coating on the surface;
lining.

The main requirement for external finishing is resistance to aggressive factors. In this regard, even a cheap Chinese product should look armored or bulletproof. If two entrance doors are installed on the frame, then internal structure It is advisable to make it wooden.

For finishing inner surface The canvas most often uses wood products, such as veneer, solid wood or lining. In some cases, the frame can be covered with laminated fiberboard boards. The factory front door is usually painted metal surface on both sides.

Accessories

When choosing doors for your home, you need to pay special attention to the product’s fittings (locks and handles). On modern market There are a huge number of models and types of locks, which differ in the method of locking (cylinder or lever), as well as the installation method. The latest models should be divided into mounted, mortise and internal.

When choosing a lock, try to purchase more expensive products, since cheap analogues are unlikely to withstand the pressure of a thief. On the modern market there are mainly Chinese products, although truly high-quality products can be purchased from Ukrainian or domestic manufacturers. In addition, European products have good performance indicators.

Door handles can be stationary or push-pull. So the latest models lock the entrance structure with a simple press. Such models will not protect the house from possible burglary. In this regard, it is necessary to install stationary handles on the door away from the place where the lock is attached.

Seals

So small but important details entrance doors as seals are used to prevent drafts from penetrating into the middle of the room. Such elements protect the house from extraneous sounds and heat loss, and contribute to a tighter fit of the canvas to the frame. In practice, several different insulation materials are used; below we will describe the most common types.

Rubber products have different cross-sectional profiles. The fact is that the door leaf can have a certain groove shape, for which you need to select a sealing gasket. Rubber seals are characterized by high durability and strength, and low cost.

Silicone-based sealants are considered the safest for humans from an environmental point of view. It is recommended to install such materials on the doors of children's institutions and educational institutions. Another positive quality of silicone sealant is its reasonable cost.

Magnetic seals can be considered the most convenient. These products appeared on the modern construction market relatively recently, but have already aroused increasing interest among consumers. Magnets are introduced into the structure of the elastic base; they improve the degree of adhesion of the door leaf to the frame due to the bonds between the substance and the metal.

Features of fire doors

The design of fire doors is slightly different from conventional entrances. Such products can be sliding, folding and sliding. This design includes special products, which interfere with the combustion process. In addition to improved fire-preventing properties, DP have good frost resistance and explosion hazard characteristics, and they are also considered shock-resistant and burglary-resistant.

The surface finish of the door structure is treated with special powder paint. The main element here is metal sheets with a thickness of 2 millimeters. Mineral wool is used here as a heat insulator. Expanded polystyrene, foam or cellular cardboard are not suitable for fire-rated doors.

An integral part of the structure under consideration is considered to be a threshold, which protects the premises from the effects of smoke and carbon monoxide generated during a fire, and prevents the penetration of drafts and insects. Automatic thresholds are used for glass fire doors, since they cannot be built into the design of the product. Another mandatory element of such a door is an automatic closer.

The theater begins with a coat rack, and the house begins with the front door. The TAM.BY team is launching a new special project “Door Reception”. In it we will tell you how entrance doors are made, tell you which models are highly durable and reliable, and explain how to properly care for certain types of doors.

We’ll start by figuring out how to choose a high-quality front door. Alexander Petrovich, deputy director for development of the Steel Line company, the No. 1 manufacturer of entrance metal doors*, helped us with this.

The first factor to consider when choosing an entrance structure is where it will be installed. Doors for an apartment and a house differ significantly in technical specifications. They are being charged different requirements and are produced using different technologies.

How to choose an entrance door for an apartment?

A high-quality apartment door should have the following characteristics:

— reliable sound insulation: you should not hear the elevator opening or neighbors talking in the entrance;

— burglary resistance: the door must be strong so that it cannot be opened;

— tightness: a tightly closing door will protect you from cold drafts, as well as odors from the entrance;

— durability: it is important that the locks work properly, the coating of the handles does not wear off, the finish is not damaged, and also that the door closes softly and quietly all the time while you are using it;

— modern design : the front door is one of the elements of the interior, so it should be harmoniously combined with the decoration, furniture, and interior doors.

Each of these parameters is influenced by various factors that must be taken into account when choosing an entrance door.

Noise insulation

The noise insulation index for an apartment door must be at least 32 dB. This indicator is influenced by the thickness of the MDF panels, the number of sealing contours, the accuracy of the construction and the type of filler.

Metal transmits sounds much better than MDF. Therefore, panels should be installed on both sides of the door. The minimum thickness of MDF that will provide good sound insulation, - 10 mm. But panels with a thickness of 16 mm cope even better with this task.

The more sealing contours there are on the input structure, the more reliably it protects against extraneous sounds. A quality door should have at least two of them. But even ten sealing contours will not provide adequate sound insulation if there are gaps between the door leaf and the frame. Therefore, be sure to pay attention to the accuracy of the construction.

As for the filler, best option- mineral wool. Its thickness must be at least 50 mm. You need to remember one feature of this material: due to vibration, mineral wool settles over time and allows noise to pass through. To avoid this, the filler must be fixed along the entire height of the door leaf.

Burglary resistance

Burglar resistance determines the reliability of the entrance structure. She is influenced various characteristics door leaf, frame, locks.

The first step is to estimate the thickness of the steel: optimal indicator fluctuates between 1.0-1.5 mm. Structures assembled using the spot welding method are stronger than those made using manual electric arc welding. The seams in the latter turn out to be fragile and over time the door may become deformed. But the most reliable structures are made using bending technology. This means that the canvas and the box are made from a single sheet of steel, bending it using high-precision equipment. The more bends, the stronger the geometry of the structure. The principle of automobile crash tests applies here: the more stiffening ribs a car body has, the more reliable it is.

Resistance to burglary also depends on the precision of the entrance structure. If there are gaps in it, an attacker can use a crowbar to reach the edge of the canvas and bend it.

It is important that the door is equipped with anti-shear bars and steel plates in the lock area. You also need a mortise armor plate on cylinder lock. Unlike the invoice, the mortise armor plate is installed in the body of the lock, so it cannot be knocked down.

Also pay attention to the burglary resistance class of the locks: it must be at least third. Fourth class locks are even more secure. Products from Russian, Turkish and Italian production have proven themselves best. It is worth buying locks from trusted brands that have been on the market for a long time.

Tightness

If the door is sealed, it will reliably protect against drafts and foreign odors from the entrance. The precision of manufacturing the entrance structure largely determines its tightness: the smaller the gaps, the better. You also need a durable seal that does not wrinkle over time and does not require complex maintenance.

Pay attention to the tight fit of the door leaf to the frame. It is best to purchase designs with a rebate regulator. Thanks to it, you will be able to adjust the tightness of the door leaf and be sure that the door closes hermetically throughout its entire service life.

It is important that the lever lock has a cover with spring-loaded curtains. When closed, they cover the hole for the lock and do not allow air to escape from the entrance, which cannot be said about curtains without springs.

Durability

The service life of the entrance structure largely depends on the quality of the hinges. If something happens to the locks or handle, they are easy to replace. But if the hinges fail, you will have to buy a new door.

To ensure that the hinges last as long as possible, they need to be lubricated periodically. It is inconvenient to remove a heavy door leaf every time, so it is better if the hinges have special holes for lubrication.

The design of the hinges is also important. Over time, the house shrinks, which can cause the geometry of the opening to change. In this case, the hinges on the support bearing work unevenly and quickly wear down. Hinges with a steel sphere at the base are considered much more reliable. They are self-centering and continue to work evenly in any position.

The door to the apartment should not rust. Quality is responsible for this polymer coating. Before purchasing, pay attention to whether there are inclusions, hairs, crumbs or other changes on the surface. If you find them, you have a short-lived coating. Most likely, the door was painted manually in violation of technology. The first signs of rust will appear on the canvas within a year.

How to choose an entrance door for your home?

The door of a house, unlike an apartment, goes directly onto the street, and not into the entrance. Therefore, the input structure must provide good thermal insulation. It should not freeze and allow cold air to pass through even at very low temperatures.

Another one important characteristic– weather resistance. The door of the house is used in different climatic conditions: it is affected by Sun rays, frost, rain and snow. Therefore, the entrance structure must be made of weather-resistant materials.

Steel door

The main advantage of a steel door is high level burglary resistance. Other characteristics vary depending on the quality of the input structure.

When choosing a steel door for your home, pay attention to the sealing system. Mineral wool not suitable for outdoor structures, as it absorbs moisture and loses its heat-shielding properties. It is important that the door has a thermal break: this will protect it from freezing.

Before purchasing a door, check with the seller whether there is a layer of insulation between the door leaf stiffeners and the interior trim. If it is not there, then the canvas will freeze along the ribs. Ice dams form where the metal parts that protrude into the interior of the house (called moldings) come into contact with the outer sheet of steel.

Remember that no matter how good a door is in terms of thermal insulation, it will not perform its function if it is not installed correctly. For any street structure, “warm installation” must be performed.

To prevent the door from rusting in high humidity outside, it must undergo a special anti-corrosion treatment. The threshold and joints of the box elements are considered the most vulnerable areas: this is where corrosion begins. The first rusty stains can be seen already six months to a year after installing the door.

Choose doors whose vulnerable elements are treated with a zinc-containing solution. Even more reliable designs made of galvanized or of stainless steel. They are not afraid of atmospheric influences.

Door panels must be made of heat and moisture resistant MDF. This coating has a greenish tint. It is treated with a special compound and is resistant to moisture.

Aluminum doors

Photo stroy-podskazka.ru

Aluminum doors and galvanized steel doors are a durable and strong option for your home and office. Such structures are not afraid of changes in temperature and humidity, are fireproof, are not subject to corrosion and distortion, and provide a high level of sound insulation. Also aluminum doors They retain heat well, but they must have a thermal break.

The advantages of aluminum door structures include the fact that they do not require complex maintenance. It is enough to lubricate locks, hinges and other moving elements with machine oil or grease once every six months.

Aluminum entrance doors have only one significant drawback– their high cost. In addition, they are inferior in burglary resistance to steel structures.

PVC doors

Photo sp-kazan.com

Plastic entrance structures are rarely installed in residential buildings. They are more suitable for office and industrial premises. However, PVC entrance structures provide good heat and sound insulation. In addition, they are resistant to any weather conditions.

Plastic doors are characterized by low burglary resistance, so installing them in the house is not recommended. In addition, the small variety of finishes is unlikely to allow you to choose an option that fits perfectly into the interior.

Wooden doors

Photo md-eksperiment.org

Entrance doors made of natural wood are suitable for those who love classics and elegance. But this is far from the most practical option for the home.

Wooden doors are environmentally friendly and beautiful. In addition, unlike metal, wood is not susceptible to corrosion. However, doors made of natural wood have a number of disadvantages. They have low fire-fighting properties. But the problem can be solved by treating the door leaf with special means. Another disadvantage of wooden doors is their instability to external influences.

Due to fluctuations in humidity and temperature, the door leaf may swell or, conversely, shrink. This means that the structure will not close well. In addition, temperature and humidity affect the coating of a wooden door: it can crack and wear out. If these defects are not corrected in time, moisture may enter the wooden canvas and cause it to rot.

Proper care of your wooden door will help you avoid many problems. Remember that wooden doors do not withstand changes in temperature and humidity, so you should not place heaters, humidifiers, or air conditioners next to them.

If the covering of a wooden door is very worn out or scratches appear on it, it should be completely renewed. But it is better to entrust this work to professionals.

“Steel Line” has been creating exit doors for more than 20 years. We are known in 14 countries around the world. We antagonize the high quality of our animals and put our heart and soul into the stage of creativity. We thank our buyers for the title of creators of the No. 1 fashionable metal animals in Belarus*.

*based on the “Choice of the Year” competition