Renovation Warehouse always has in store a good range of doors, from wooden doors to metal security doors, screen doors, wood and glass French doors, ranchsliders and more.
Our wooden doors are both newish and oldish, interior and exterior. It’s important to distinguish between interior and exterior, though, as exterior doors have their wood treated to withstand different conditions, plus the weight and density of an exterior door is very different. You wouldn’t want an overly heavy interior door, nor do you want your new back door so thin that it lets cold air through.
So what’s the difference?
There’s the insulation factor, the sound blocking, not to mention sturdiness. Let’s start with solid-core exterior doors. These likely have a wooden outside, although their interior may be a mix of natural wood and synthetic.
Interior doors, on the other hand, are sometimes hollow, and likely cheaper and easier when you need to find a second hand option to replace a door in Northland. Occasionally they’ll become dented when you’re moving furniture, or perhaps your children will damage them irreplaceably, or maybe you just need a new look.
If you’re roaming Renovation Warehouse humming and ha-ing about what kind of a door to take home, here are the ways you can distinguish interior from exterior doors, and the insulation, soundproofing and aesthetic factors to consider as you do so:
Outward appearance
Raised panels can be found on both interior and exterior doors, although often exterior doors have the pattern just on the one side. Large panels of frosted glass are not something you would expect to see on an interior door.
Made of just one material
Interior doors may have medium density fibreboard (MDF) in them with a skin of wood laminate over the top. Wood with metal reinforcing may be used for exterior doors – which are usually at least 12kg heavier than interior doors and have a far more ‘solid’ feel.
Insulation versus ventilation
Exterior doors keep extremes of temperature out. They also provide security and stand up to wear and tear. Your exterior door is likely to be quite thick and may have a good veneer on it.
The soundproof truth
If your interior door is fairly cheap, its interior is likely to be a mixture of thin wood structure and cavity. Sometimes the interior structure is called ‘honeycomb.’ It could have foam in the centre. Interior doors conduct sound by vibrating because of the air gaps in them – this is not something you want in your front door.
A final thought: when you’re hanging the door, be sure that it shuts in its frame perfectly, as any air gaps will also conduct sound. Renovation Warehouse has fixtures and fittings – as well as expertise – to help you get that door nicely hung.
Remember, we often list our stock on TradeMe, so head to http://renovationwarehouse.co.nz/ and click on through to TradeMe to see if we have what you fancy. Alternatively, just come in and find us at 28 Kioreroa Road, Whangarei, to browse through the many door options. We have a whole room full of them!