In this article we will look at: The second entrance door: the purpose and advantages of its installation How to install a second entrance door: two installation options
The presence of a second entrance door in an apartment or in a private house has long become commonplace, and there are good reasons for this. As a rule, the matter here is by no means safe. It would be more accurate to say that there is not much in it either, but still its main purpose is additional insulation. In this article, together with the website dveridoma.net, we will look in detail at the question of why a second door is needed and consider how to install it.
Second entrance door to the apartment photo
Benefits of installing two entrance doors
When installing two doors at the entrance to their apartment, people are most often guided by the following motives:
- For security reasons, the second door serves as an additional barrier to entry into the apartment, which may prevent intruders from entering. In addition to the fact that completely different types of locks can be installed on two doors, they also increase the amount of time it takes to get into the apartment. This increases the chances that the apartment owners will have time to call the police in a critical situation or that the criminals will be noticed and scared away by neighbors;
- Preserving heat and improving sound insulation - the first door is most often installed metal, because such a product is considered one of the most reliable. However, metal has poor heat and sound insulation. Therefore, the second door is often installed from wood and upholstered with soft lining. This reduces the chance of unpleasant odors from the entrance, noise and drafts entering the apartment. For all these purposes, the air layer in the soft lining plays an important role;
- Aesthetics - if strength is the main thing for the main entrance door, then the second one can be chosen based on visual characteristics, in accordance with the style of the interior. To do this, as an addition, the same door can be installed as in the interior spaces. This creates a harmonious picture of the interior and emphasizes the delicate taste of the homeowners.
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Cons:
As I wrote above, installing a second door is a situational decision. Therefore, in addition to the arguments “for”, for justice it is necessary to provide facts “against”.
Extra expenses
First of all, you need to remember that a second door means additional costs and an expansion of the budget for repairs. A good door is not cheap, and installing a cheap one will not bring any benefit.
Therefore, if you have limited finances for furnishing your apartment, you may want to abandon this solution in favor of a “standard” single door.
Need for repairs
If the second door is installed at the initial stages of repair, then there should be no problems with the repair. However, if such a decision was made later, then it should be understood that it is impossible to install another door without damaging the nearby finish.
Such an action will certainly lead to the need for repeated repairs in this place. It is worth considering that many teams and private craftsmen are not ready to take on work that is small by the standards of the entire apartment, considering it unprofitable for themselves.
Everyday inconveniences
I wrote above that many of those who have two doors use only part of the locks, but not everyone does this. The daily need to open and close four or more locks is quite annoying for a person.
If you understand that such a routine process can ruin your mood, then it may make sense to abandon the idea of installing a second door.
Reducing the “working” space of the hallway
Many people rashly believe that when installing a second door, the hallway area is reduced by a couple of tens of centimeters, which correspond to the distance between the doors. However, note that the interior door almost always opens inward. As a result, furniture, shoes or anything else cannot be placed in the area where it opens. For large apartments this is not particularly important. However, if you live in a studio or Khrushchev, then irrational use of even such a small area of the apartment can cause a lot of inconvenience.
To summarize, I would like to note once again that installing a second door is a situational and not a universal solution. Above I have given 8 reasons for and against, but the significance of each of them will vary depending on the specific case. Therefore, when making your final choice, you should rely on specific problems that you would like to solve by installing an additional door, while not forgetting to take into account possible disadvantages.
Disadvantages of double doors
In addition to many useful properties, two entrance doors can also bring some inconveniences into our lives. Their installation takes up a lot of space and reduces the size of the corridor. When installing a second door, it should be taken into account that the inner one should open deeper into the room, which creates additional inconvenience and increases the time it takes to open and close the doors.
To install two doors, you usually need to call a professional, since if the installation is poor, the desired result will not be achieved. This requires additional financial expenses.
Installation Features
If you decide to install double doors, the best solution would be to immediately order a design of two in a single block.
Installing two panels in one wide box reduces the risk of installation errors. In addition, you don’t have to think about how to finish the slopes between the doors - they are immediately covered with a frame or extensions.
Two designs for a private house, one block, photo
But this is an ideal option, which is not always possible. More often than not, the idea of installing double doors comes to mind after installing the main one. In this case, installing an additional one is not much different from installing a regular hinged interior room.
But there are still some features:
- The second should open inward and be attached to the same side of the jamb as the outer one.
- The distance between them should be such that the fittings do not touch. That is, the minimum distance between them can be determined by the depth of the door handle. However, you should not make it too large, as this will worsen the thermal insulation.
- To improve practical functions, it is advisable to make second doors with a threshold, which does not always look aesthetically pleasing. And it’s not very convenient to step over two thresholds at once when entering and exiting.
Advice. If you do not want to make a threshold, make a minimum gap between the bottom end and the finished floor. Then attach a sealing brush for sliding wardrobe doors to the end.
Course of action
How to install a second door:
- First, the door frame is assembled, hinges are cut into it, and it is installed in the prepared opening.
- After carefully checking the level, it is attached to the slopes with anchor bolts.
- Then the canvas is hung, and the gap between the box and the opening is filled with polyurethane foam. After drying, the protruding foam is cut off.
- The slopes between the two doors are closed with extensions or lined with decorative panels, and platbands are installed along the outer perimeter of the frame.
Locks
If the internal door does not perform the function of protection against burglary, then there is no point in installing an overhead or massive mortise lock on it.
In this case, the lock should simply hold the door in place and not disturb the aesthetics of the room with its appearance. Agree, a key sticking out of the door will not decorate it. The ideal option is a rotary or push handle with a latch (see Handles for entrance doors) or a magnetic lock.
If the doors still play the role of additional protection, then the lock can be equipped with a key hole only on the entrance or street side, and in the apartment it can be locked by turning the turntable.
It’s another matter if the second door is intended to ensure the safety of the home - the lock in this case should be very reliable. But you should also try to make it secret so that the apartment does not look like a metal safe from the inside.
Material selection
The main materials for making doors are wood and metal. Typically, owners prefer to install a metal door as an external door, and a simpler and lighter one as a second door. To reduce the risk of intruders becoming interested in your apartment, you should choose a simple and inexpensive-looking external product. The interior can be expensive and beautiful.
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Functions of a vestibule and when you can do without it
In most cases, the vestibule is a small corridor, fenced with doors on both sides.
The dimensions of the room can be minimal (a couple of square meters) or sufficient to organize a small hallway. The main task of the vestibule is to isolate cool street air from the interior rooms of the cottage. Once inside the vestibule, the air is heated due to heat exchange inside the buffer zone. As a result, a comfortable microclimate is maintained inside the cottage and residents do not have to incur increased costs for heating the cottage. The vestibule also protects the house from wind, humidity and heat. Street dust and dirt remain in the vestibule during the autumn and spring rainy periods.
The main functionality of the vestibule and vestibule doors:
- Protection from cold wind from the street;
- Reduced heating costs;
- Protection of the front door from freezing;
- Use as a wardrobe;
- Protection of the interior of the house from precipitation and dirt;
- Use as a storage space for various items and devices.
When building a cottage in regions with a warm climate, you can do without a vestibule. The experience of private sector construction in Europe and the USA shows that in such cottages residents do not experience serious problems or any discomfort.
Buy a second metal apartment door in Moscow
Our company offers to buy two metal doors for your apartment with different types of finishes. When choosing the appropriate option, you must remember that the installation of two entrance doors has some features:
- They have different opening directions. The outer door opens outward, but the inner door is installed with opening inward to the apartment. Ignorance of this point during installation can lead to serious problems, especially if the staircase or hallway is small.
- It is necessary to maintain the distance between the door leaves. To prevent the doors from clinging with handles or interfering with each other when moving, they should be installed at a distance of about 20 cm.
- The structures should be insulated. Although there is an air gap between the panels, care must be taken to seal the doors.
- The lock system must be complex. For greater security, try to install complex locking mechanisms on both doors.
We offer to purchase from us beautiful, durable and reliable doors made in the same style. And so that their installation does not cause difficulties, we advise you to seek help from professionals. We will quickly fulfill your order, deliver and install a new structure completely free of charge.
Choosing a second door based on insulation and finishing
Since the first door does not work very effectively in terms of insulation, in order not to repeat the mistake, it is better to install a second door with mineral wool inside, which slows down heat transfer. If this material is also in the box, then the apartment will be noticeably warmer. Basalt slabs do not burn and are environmentally friendly, which will provide complete protection every day and in emergency situations.
To completely eliminate all drafts, it is recommended to choose second doors with two sealing contours around the perimeter. It’s not worth overpaying for three and four elastic bands, because the same elements are located on the main sash.
The finish of the second door is optional. A powder-coated metal sheet can extend into the space between the doors, which will successfully resist possible moisture from the basement and prevent the formation of corrosion. But you can arrange the apartment side of the product in accordance with the renovation. The following are available to choose from:
- MDF overlays of various thicknesses to resemble wood;
- coating with Vinorit film, which protects the surface from chips and scratches;
- glass and forged jewelry;
- large mirrors that allow you to see yourself in full height before going out.
