The answer to the question of what kind of panel doors there are and what they are lies in the special design of the product. The construction term paneling refers to a thin insert of plywood, board or other material into a wooden frame. An example is the interior doors of an apartment. Thanks to the panel, it was possible to transform a classic product into a real work of art with original shapes.
What are panel doors?
Before answering the question, you need to define the concept of panel. This is a construction term, it refers to plywood or a thin board inserted into a frame. Taking this algorithm as a basis, they began to produce paneled doors from wood.
What parts are they made from? The photo perfectly demonstrates all the components. First of all, it is a wooden frame, which is made from solid timber, but it is also possible to use glued timber. Such wood, as a rule, is carefully selected and well dried. It consists of 4 parts combined in such a way that an ordinary frame is obtained. There are grooves on the inside, into which the panel is inserted.
Most often, its lower section of the frame is much wider than the side and transverse parts; it acts as a platform for the entire structure.
There are 2 ways to attach panels:
- they are placed in the grooves intended for them.
- They are fastened with decorative beads, some of them overlap the surface of the door. This is done so that the panel can be easily changed if the glass breaks or the appearance becomes boring.
For greater strength and durability, the bottom of some models intended for outdoor use is lined with metal, stainless steel or aluminum. In more expensive specimens you can find brass and bronze plates. This precaution helps protect the bottom covering from mechanical stress.
Kinds
wooden are especially popular for various reasons . They have a rigid frame, but are complicated by panel inserts that add additional beauty and presentation to the door.
The classic type of paneled doors can be called swing doors . They are mounted on the box stand using two or three pairs of hinges; when closed, they fit tightly into the grooves and are convenient for use in rooms that are quite spacious. The advantage of swing doors is their simplicity, reliability and the ability to install locks and latches. You can decorate such doors with any type of panels, from lightweight to voluminous or weighted with overlay patterns.
Another type is sliding doors. They can have either one or two leaves, are installed on rollers and move along the upper and lower guides along the wall; this type of door is convenient in small rooms. This type includes cassette, radius and cascade doors. Most often, such structures are decorated with inserts made of stained glass or frosted glass, flat panels or inserts made of bamboo or veneered MDF.
The main thing is not to make the structure heavier, which is held vertically only by being fixed in the guides.
Paneled wooden doors can also be folding. These are so-called accordion doors, consisting of several narrow leaves connected to each other by hinges. They are attached to the door frame with hinges, and when opened, the doors move to one side. There are no locks on these doors. Very often they are made light and openwork, with thin panels made of wood or glass.
A rare and unusual variety are swinging panel doors. They can have one or two leaves, are attached to the door frame using awnings, and can swing open in both directions. Such options look very attractive due to the method of opening, so it is not customary to decorate them with complex panels.
Variety of panel doors
Depending on the material they are made of, they are divided into 3 types:
- Panels made of soft wood, most often pine or birch.
- For some, more valuable types are taken: teak, walnut, oak, hornbeam. The panels in them are fastened according to the tongue-and-groove principle , and therefore they are more durable.
- There are also combined ones, for their production wood derivatives are used: chipboard, dense fibreboards or plywood. They are laminated on top and covered with veneer of different types of wood. The space inside the frame is sometimes left hollow or filled with honeycomb. The cost of such doors is low, which makes them widely available to buyers of different income levels.
The latter type includes doors into which glass of various types and configurations is inserted. The appearance of modern panels is very diverse, the diversity of design solutions is amazing: they can be of different shapes and sizes, embossed, carved, painted, glass is sometimes designed in the form of stained glass or drawings, and there are transparent or frosted ones. The panel is the main decoration of the doors; with them they look unusually beautiful and rich.
Design options
Since the variety of materials used is almost unlimited, it is not surprising that a product such as a paneled door can be made in any style and design. This allows you to choose the optimal model for any interior and type of room.
A paneled door can be successfully decorated with glass elements
For living rooms, especially the living room, and kitchen, paneled doors with translucent inserts are often selected. That is, the ideal solution is to use glass as the central part. For the bathroom and toilet, the choice is limited to blind inserts. However, this does not at all prevent you from creating a unique interior. First of all, it should be taken into account that all doorways in the house must be decorated in the same style.
Modern technologies make it possible to produce paneled doors in any style. This is possible thanks to a wide palette of coatings (veneer, laminate, PVC, etc.), as well as a variety of cutters. Inserts can be straight or curly, of almost any shape, and contain additional overlays, volumetric elements, carvings and elaborate relief. If desired, over time you can replace the boring middle. If the paneled doors have glass, you can apply a design to it, turn a simple canvas into a stained glass window, or cover it with film with a photograph, pattern, or any image you like. This design does not limit you in anything.
Advantages of panel doors
Thanks to many positive qualities, such a door will be an excellent addition to the interior of a room, be it an office, apartment or country house.
The main and indisputable advantage that a panel door has is excellent strength and long service life.
In addition to beauty, panels make the entire structure more rigid, and therefore stronger. With such a system of coupling parts, the possibility of warping at the door is minimal.
Despite their excellent sound insulation, they are light in weight.
They do not dry out even with sudden changes in temperature and high humidity.
Thus, beauty, originality, quality, reliability are the main characteristics of panel doors. The photo shows how harmoniously they are able to interact with interior design.
Paneled doors: photo gallery
Design
Paneled doors are made in any designs and styles. Thanks to the extensive range, it is possible to choose a product for any type of room. For residential premises, doors with glass or transparent inserts are chosen. They can be decorated with painting (classical or modern patterns) or photo printing. For the bathroom and toilet room, the ideal solution would be a door leaf with blind slats.
Panels in interior doors are:
- straight;
- curly;
- with additional pads;
- with volumetric elements;
- with elaborate carvings and relief.
Doors with a glass panel can be transformed yourself by applying a design to it and turning it into a stained glass window.
Finishing paneled doors
The most common finishing options are contrasting and solid. In the first case, the panel stands out clearly, differing in color and texture. Another type involves a similar design of the frame and panel.
Solid wood doors are impregnated with antiseptics and agents that prevent the formation of fungus, and compounds are also added that impart fire-resistant properties. This treatment will not hide the attractive structure of the wood , unlike conventional enamels and paints.
Sometimes antiseptics contain pigments that affect the shades of wood flooring. Then his drawing appears brighter and becomes more attractive. Previously, this function was performed by varnishes and stains; they entered into a chemical reaction with the wood and due to this, a change in color occurred.
The customer can choose the shades of pigment that imitate any type of wood. But such compositions penetrate only into the upper layer of the surface and with scratches or damage, the lower, lighter layer is likely to show through. So, if you have to choose between a natural coating or a tinted one, you need to know about these properties in advance.
Finishing is carried out with water-based acrylic varnishes. They differ from their alkyd and nitro counterparts and do not so clearly affect the color of wood fibers.
When choosing a door lining, you need to know that abrasions and dirt will be more noticeable on a matte, duller surface, and gloss will make the tone bright and rich, but gloss will “eat” the structure of the wood and it will not appear so clearly. Therefore, it is better to focus on the middle option , when the features of both compositions are merged together.
Design Features
Typically, such canvases consist of two elements: a frame and panels. The frame is created from solid or pressed bars - 2 vertical posts connected by drawers. There must be at least five parts in total. This way the workpiece acquires the necessary strength and stability. In the empty space between them, inserts will then be fixed.
To secure the frame parts, grooves and tenons are provided, which are cut during production. This type of fastening is more accurate, looks attractive, and is less likely to cause cracks and other damage. The same fastening is responsible for the product’s resistance to humidity and temperature changes, preventing distortions.
How to choose a paneled door?
Choosing the right paneled door is not a trivial matter, because not only its beautiful appearance is important, but also its reliability. For example, for city apartments, the most suitable structures are those with an aluminum frame inside. A coating made of hard and valuable wood will look good on top. And for the dacha, you can use varieties made from coniferous wood. Usually, in this design manufacturers preserve the original color of the wood , covering it only with varnish and anti-corrosion agents, which makes the interior of the country house unique.
You also need to focus on the finishing design. Standard design is most suitable for a classic, strict type of interior. Clear forms and laconic execution will give the interior completeness and solidity, and will say a lot about the taste of the owner.
Often, solid wood doors are preferred for indoor installation, but the variety of design solutions allows them to be placed in any interior style.
When choosing cheaper panel doors, it is advisable to pay attention to structures made of MDF; they will last longer than their wooden counterparts, since they react less to changes in temperature and humidity.
When buying a door, you need to pay attention to how closely the manufacturer adhered to the manufacturing technology. If he deviated from the process and used low-quality raw materials, then such a door will not last long.
Types of panels
The insert elements of panel doors are divided into the following types:
- Smooth - their surface has the same thickness, less than the base.
- Floating - elements whose thickness coincides with the dimensions of the frame. They are attached to the base using U-shaped grooves that protrude (fuse) above it.
- Figured - figured parts that have bulges in the center and thin edges.
Panels for indoor doors are installed in one layer, since the structures should be lightweight and do not require insulation. However, if there is a need to improve sound insulation, then it is possible to install inserts on both sides of the frame and lay special material between them.
How to care for a paneled door?
Paneled doors are reliable and last a long time , but even the strongest thing must be properly cared for, otherwise its service life will be significantly reduced. Environmental influences can negatively affect the quality of the material and then it will lose its attractiveness.
The most important moment in caring for panel doors is proper washing. Detergents must be chosen that are intended for cleaning them; they do not contain aggressive components that can damage the surface. If the door is partially dirty, then this area can be treated with alcohol diluted with water 1:10.
All kinds of gels, pastes, especially cleaning powders for treating the varnished surfaces of such doors are unacceptable. This will certainly cause irreparable damage to the coating. And the original shine of the varnish is lost over time. And to restore the original appearance, you need to periodically rub waxes and polishes into the surface of the base. To do this, you need to use a soft cloth or a special napkin.
Mechanical impact is contraindicated for paneled doors. And if repairs are planned in the place where it is installed, the best option is to dismantle it. But there are also cases when this is impossible, then the only way out is to cover it all with foam rubber and wrap it tightly with film on top.
Don’t forget about locks and hinges; this is also an element of door care that can extend the life of the structure. If this is done regularly, then the hinges will not become loose and creak, and a beautiful, well-maintained door will delight its owners for a long time.
Dimensions
There are standards for door sizes in the Russian Federation, this is GOST 6629-88. According to these standards, there are several types of height and width of the door frame:
- height: 2071 mm; 23721 mm;
- width: 670 mm – 970 mm, 1170 mm, 1172 mm, 1472 mm, 1872 mm.
The dimensions of the door leaf must also comply with the following standards:
- height: 2000 mm and 2300 mm;
- width: 600 mm, 700 mm, 800 mm, 900 mm, 1100 mm; as well as 2*600 mm, 2*700 mm, 2*900 mm.
