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Interior Doors
Interior doors are often an afterthought
but should be considered part of the overall
room design. The door should match or compliment
the walls and molding and be both a functional
divider and attractive fixture.
Styles
You can choose from flush doors, flat panel
doors, raised panel doors, and French doors.
Flush doors have no pattern to them, just
a smooth surface. These doors are the least
expensive of all styles.
Flat panel and raised panel doors have a
frame with either inset or raised patterns
(respectively). The horizontal boards are
called "rails," the interior vertical
boards are called "mullions," and
the vertical edge boards are called "stiles."
The rectangular boards in the center are
called "panels." Paneled doors
are much more elegant than flush doors.
French doors are flat panel doors with glass
instead of the panels. They are an excellent
way to divide off a room while retaining
much of the light and perception of space.
Curtains or shades can be added to the French
doors to give privacy.
Materials
Doors are made of a variety of materials:
metal, plastics, fiberglass, veneered wood,
and solid wood. The "artificial"
materials are often textured to give the
appearance of wood, and are cheaper and less
subject to warping. While considerably more
expensive, we like a heavy, wood door for
the satisfying weight and rigidity.
Finally, doors carry a fire rating
that indicates
how long they can retard a fire.
Make sure
your doors meet any local zoning
codes. |
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