Plastic entrance doors: features of choice

The stereotype that plastic entrance doors are suitable only for shops and municipal institutions gradually loses its relevance. In practice, it has been proven that these convenient designs can be beautiful and reliable.

Plastic door leaves and PVC profile products are a reliable product for protection in a private house, a country cottage, on the border between indoor zones, for insulation of any outbuildings in the backyard or suburban area.

Their main feature, it is - the main advantage is that the competent combination of materials and the door structure itself are multifunctional. PVC doors are suitable for installation on the street, on the balcony, in the greenhouse.At the same time, they cope with different tasks that dictate different conditions: isolate sounds and smells, help keep the heat in the room, are protected from penetration attempts, and are resistant to temperature and humidity drops.

For greater reliability and preservation of the aesthetic architectural appearance of the house, the PVC door can be used as the second. The outer door leaf can be metal with any kind of finish and a protective coating that extends the life of the lining.

Almost any manufacturer can buy ready-made doors or order them individually. Minor repairs of PVC door structures are quite simple and can be done with your own hands.

A good entrance door should combine a large number of advantages and not be flawed with regard to such factors as burglary resistance, thermal insulation, and resistance to negative environmental influences.

Plastic door leaves meet most of these criteria:

• High strength material. It is achieved in various ways, among which the most widespread are the manufacture of door leaf from metal-plastic, an increase in the thickness of the door, the presence of stiffeners in the door cavity;
• The thickness of the door is 95-120 mm. To cut or break such a construction, it will take a lot of time and effort;
• The cavity of the door is filled with insulation;
• PVC profile has a low weight, which makes installation easier;

• PVC doors are fire resistant. Their efficiency is lower than that of steel doors with a special filler, however, they are almost not flammable, and the air gap inside the profile and the layer of the seal protect the room from the ingress of smoke and smell;
• Acid and alkaline compounds do not affect the surface of the material, do not corrode the top layer and do not spoil the color. Any contamination can be easily removed by household chemicals;
• Also, the surface is not afraid of mechanical damage of a different nature: shock, scratches, animal claws and other troubles;
• Service life - at least 20 years;
• Presentable appearance;

• Ecological and sanitary safety;
• Convenient door opening with one touch of the handle;
• Plastic constructions and double-glazed windows are a reference point for other types of products in the issue of noise insulation. Such doors will not allow any extraneous sounds to penetrate the house, since there are air chambers in the construction of the sandwich panels;
• Perfectly cope with the product and thermal insulation. Reliable contour does not allow heat to go outside, and the canvas itself is designed so that freezing and icing do not threaten it. Due to this quality, plastic doors are convenient for installation in domestic boilers or in the waiting rooms, from which there should not be heat;
• PVC doors can be found both in the economy segment of the market and in the premium class models, but their value in any case benefits in comparison with wooden and steel structures;

• Opportunities for the design of the exterior of the house and interior. Deaf white door leaves made of PVC-profile - the last century. Today, their diversity is very large: the traditionally white and color models, chocolate and black shades, gray and bright colors, the presence of double-glazed windows, various decorations, non-standard-sized models;
• Sealed shutter.Excellent compacting pressure is ensured by the seal in combination with special clamps;
• High level of burglar resistance, which is provided by a wide profile, reinforced door hinges, reinforced closed reinforcement. Additional protection is provided by a powerful steel profile, anti-burglary fittings and anti-shock double-glazed windows;
• Easy to repair and adjust;
• Products are certified and meet all standards.

These advantages are relative and largely depend on the integrity of the manufacturers.

The same applies to the shortcomings, among the possible:

• The simplicity of plastic entrance doors does not harmonize well with luxurious finishes and interiors. They are suitable for many interiors due to their versatility, but in some they are simply “lost” because of their brevity;
• Even following all the standards of production does not exclude the possibility of cracking of the glass in the joints and the appearance of "bubbles" on the laminated sheet;
• With a high level of protection against burglars, plastic doors are inferior to wooden and even more steel;
• Low level of mechanical stability.The state standard allows the production of doors without an additional profile. However, it is not resistant to damage and the use of physical force;

• Environmental friendliness of plastic doors is very relative. For example, in comparison with the door leafs of solid wood, they significantly lose in quality. The internal cavities of such doors are treated with special compounds that increase their resistance to weathering, the film on laminated doors is of chemical origin and contains chlorine, phenol and aldehyde, which evaporate under the influence of sunlight;
• GOST bans the use of lead in the production of doors, but manufacturers' unscrupulousness continues to flourish, and some aspects of the standards are not respected in practice.

Technical specifications include information on the standards by which plastic (metal-plastic) doors are made, materials used in production, and design features.

Standard plastic doors consist of the following elements:

• Door frame (frame). The basis of the frame for the front door is a profile with two, three, four or five cameras. A reinforcing metal profile is installed as a stiffening rod, which is necessary for installing secure locks and heavy loops. Profile angles are connected by special elements. From above should be present trim;

• Door Sash. The basis of the door leaf is a metal frame, sewn on both sides. Durability is provided by a multi-chamber (from 2 to 5) profile. Outside on the entrance doors, metal lining is used, inside insulation with a thermal break (does not allow the door to freeze). For the external design can also be used windows, glass, triplexes.
• Locking system. Reliability is increased by installing bolts around the perimeter. The most common type of locks is a lever lock, but more modern systems are possible, for example, code ones.

• Fittings. It mainly includes hinges and knobs. The hinges are selected in accordance with the weight of the structure (the average value varies between 80-100 kilograms), and the handles with the purpose of the door. If there are small children in the house, you should pay attention to the handles with the blocking system.Also fittings include closers for smoother closing, bolts, linings, strips, and locks.
• Compactor. It creates tightness (protection from sounds, odors and drafts), softens the sound of a slamming door, prolongs its service life due to the fact that the edge of the door and the frame do not knock together. The higher the quality, the longer it will last.
• Threshold. It can be frame, steel and aluminum. Frame is a part of the solid door frame, the threshold of steel is a separate element and is designed for entrance doors, aluminum products can be insulated.

Production standards at the level of legislation regulate the ability to choose a quality product. Metal doors according to GOST are divided into exterior and interior, deaf and glazed, with different structural features, with varying types of finishes.

Deaf door leaf has an opaque appearance. It can be monophonic or with drawing of architectural drawing. Glazing is made with glass or any other glass that meets safety requirements.

As for the construction, the entrance plastic doors are divided into:

• Single and double leaflets. Doors with two doors, in turn, are divided into models with doors of the same and different widths;
• With opening and locking flap;
• With the presence and absence of the frame;
• With and without threshold;
• By the number of chambers (interlayers) in a profile on two, three, four and five chambers.

In addition, GOST regulates the thickness of insulation for different-chamber profiles (16, 20, 24 mm), sound insulation level (at least 26 dBA), air permeability, number of door openings (500,000), conditional life of individual elements (profile - 40 years, double-glazed windows - 20 years, fittings and insulation - up to 10).

GOST establishes strict rules regarding product specifications. They include the standard door dimensions, internal filling, the condition of the fittings and tolerances from the norm. A quality control procedure, packaging technology, transportation methods and storage conditions are also spelled out.

The appearance of plastic doors opens up great opportunities for registration of the facade of the house.In the rich model range there are simple solid doors of classic white color, doors in brown and black colors, models with a window or several glass elements, different color decorations, stained glass film or real painting, glossy and matte finish, finished with natural wood. A window or glass inserts are provided for a wide variety of shapes: rectangles, squares, rhombuses, ovals, circles and half circles, a combination of shapes and lines.

Developed modern production technologies allow plasticity to give relief, to transform smooth surfaces into concave or ribbed, to make doors with convex, three-dimensional details and any kinds of curved lines. The only drawback of design delights is the high price.

The discreet, versatile, laconic design of plastic doors helps to successfully combine them with the facades of any type, be it brick, stone, concrete or siding panels. It is a little more difficult to choose a combination with wood paneling, but then the doors come to life with a finish that imitates the color and texture of natural wood.

The familiar and common phenomenon is metal-plastic doors of the light spectrum, from warm milky to cold signal white. White doors are most often diluted with glass with a glossy, mirror, matte or stained glass surface.

Decorating modern cottages and houses may be the most unexpected, so manufacturers are not limited to white, and diluted the palette with alternative options. Among the most common - black and brown in different shades. As a rule, such doors are used as external doors and are complemented by decorative glass units with a reflective surface.

Close to them is the palette of natural shades of bleached oak, light and dark walnut, mahogany, wenge, and other options found among products made of wood.

Plastic finishing with imitation of expensive wood veneer is very popular and looks particularly good in the design of the facade of the house.

Metal doors are distinguished by several criteria:

• Purpose It is determined by the place of operation: entrance doors, to the balcony, to the loggia. Doors with the ability to open them for ventilation are more suitable for the balcony; a lightweight blind door with a lock is needed for the room; insulated doors with a wide profile and a protective outer covering are required to enter the living room.
• Type of construction. Rectangular single-leaf doors prevail, double-wing models with doors of various sizes and equal width are less common. In some cases, install arched plastic doors.

• Opening method. Swing, sliding, folding. The last two are more common in the performance of balcony doors. Entrance doors open hinged way.
• The presence or absence of a metal profile.
• Profile location (vertical or horizontal).
• The presence or absence of glass.
• With gateways or without.

The standard height and width of the entrance doors is determined by the parameters of the doorway in typical residential buildings. Common dimensions of single-door doors to an apartment have overall parameters of 980x2050 mm, 980x2100 and 880x2050 mm.

But single doors do not always fit into the dimensions of the opening.For example, in a private house or cottage often require non-standard size products.

Sizes of one and a half are in the range of 1010-1550 mm in width and 2050-2370 mm in height. Double doors are indispensable in rooms with frequent transportation of large-sized items, such as outbuildings or shops. They have the largest dimensions: 1910-1950 at 2370-2450 mm.

The thickness of the door depends on its “filling” and has no strict regulation. The thickness of the aluminum profile, the number of chambers in the sandwich panels, the presence of double-glazed windows for additional protection - all this affects the increase in the thickness of the product. Averages - from 90 to 120 millimeters.

All types of materials from which entrance doors are made, have their own advantages and nuances.

Metal-plastic and fiberglass structures combine the positive qualities of different types of doors (wooden, steel, plastic), although they are lost against the background of some fancy interiors and are inferior to some types in the degree of burglary resistance.

Most plastic entrance doors are made of polyvinyl chloride, known as PVC.To increase the strength of plastic reinforced aluminum profile. In the aggregate, the two layers make up the metal-plastic construction.

The glass insert gives them a less boring and rigorous appearance, and a double layer of double-glazed windows protects no worse than a “blank” door with a solid plastic from the top to the bottom edge.

For finishing one-piece metal door leaf made of metal-plastic, laminated panels of different colors are used: orange, green, purple, cherry, red and others.

The main criteria of the "right" entrance doors - reliability and aesthetics of the appearance are often not able to help choose a quality product. When evaluating doors it is important to take into account much more nuances.

Specialists in repair and design recommend to pay attention to the most important aspects:

• Before buying, it is necessary to make measurements of the doorway with millimeter accuracy. It is enough to measure the height at one point, and the width - at least two.
• The door must be suitable for its purpose, depending on its location.
• The basis of the whole structure is not a door leaf, but a box or frame.Sinking the door in the future will depend on its stability and reliability. The main rule of choice - the door frame should be thicker than the canvas.
• The thickness of the door leaf is of fundamental importance. The wider it is, the more inside the chambers, the insulation layer is thicker, which means there is less risk of noise entering the house, heat loss and freezing. In addition, a thick door with additional security features is more resistant to hacking attempts.

• The door at the border with the street from the outside should be treated with a protective coating against burnout and moisture.
• One lock is good, but two is better. Comprehensive protection will not allow intruders to break the door and enter the house.
• Hidden loops win in several ways at once. First, they are harder to crack or remove the door from the hinges, and secondly, they look more neat and aesthetically pleasing.
• Platbands - a mandatory element in the design of the entrance door, and you need to choose them simultaneously with the canvas and the box, so that the size and color match perfectly.
• The entrance door must be equipped with an eye, which is at a convenient height for viewing. You should also pay attention to the chain or a more advanced mechanism that allows you to lock the door in a slightly open position. This is especially important if there are children in the house.

• Cheap does not mean bad, expensive does not mean good. This simple truth works in relation to plastic doors at 100%.
• The colors and decorative elements should echo the facade of the house from the outside and the interior of the hallway from the inside.
• For street doors, the presence of stiffeners and metal profile - the necessary conditions.
• The quality of the hardware determines its service life. It should not hang out, have sharp corners or unpresentable appearance.
• Knocking on the canvas and twisting the doorknob is not all. The study of technical documentation for compliance with GOST helps to avoid many problems with poor quality product afterwards.
• If in doubt, it is better to choose a product from trusted manufacturers.

Unconditional sales leaders among PVC products are Veka, Rehau, KBE.

Veka is of German origin and is headquartered in Germany, but it has several Russian branches. Distinctive features of products - quality, reliable protection, beautiful appearance, quite a high price. In the product line of PVC profiles, the minimum number of chambers is 3, maximum –7,that provides good heat and sound insulation, and burglar resistance.

Reviews of plastic entrance doors Veka mostly positive. Users recognize products to cope with their tasks, aesthetic and durable. But there are those who believe that the high cost is just an overpayment for the brand.

Rehau brand is also owned by a German company engaged in the production of profile in Russia. The unique modern equipment and the company's credo - “to avoid mistakes is more important than to eliminate them”, in the aggregate give the product of impeccable German quality. All reviews about profiles unanimously agree that these are products whose quality justifies the price.

KBE closes the top three of German origin in the market of PVC products. In the absence of significant differences in design and quality with the products of the two previous industrial giants, KBE doors are an order of magnitude cheaper, which makes them affordable for those who would like to save on the purchase.

Separately among the premium products is the company Salamander. It is not inferior to its German competitors in anything, but the cost of such doors will cost twice as much as that of the Veka or Rehau. This circumstance shifts really good products by several positions lower in the rating of sought-after and sold goods.

The conditional second place is occupied by a group of profiles that have proven themselves in the market, often falling into the top lists, but still not holding a stable position. These include the international company "Mont Blanc", "Kaleva" and the Russian company "Propleks". They also receive a large percentage of positive feedback and a minimum of complaints.

A budding firm in the third position is the Belgian concern Deceunink. Among its advantages are the presence of highly efficient door systems. The disadvantages include the fact that the company is one step behind the rest and uses outdated modifications.

Oar plastic entrance doors - a universal solution for apartments and houses. They are suitable for any design of premises, whether it is the design of a hall in a historical style, a minimalist interior or a Provence style setting.

For household premises, baths, saunas, loggias, winter gardens, swimming pools, doors without additional measures of protection, profile and compactor are suitable. As input, the best option is warm doors with a decorated facade, for example, glass or a mirrored surface.

About the features of the entrance door of PVC, see in this video.