More and more consumers are going online these days to purchase
their goods. They can often get better prices and they get to shop
from the comfort of their home - plus they can browse for as long
as they want without being pestered by sales staff.
So it is no surprise that door sales online is another industry
that is rapidly on the increase. Doors are not the most
straightforward of items to purchase online (it's not like buying a
book from Amazon!) but that dosn't seem to be deterring people.
However, we thought it would be useful to put together this little
guide to help you avoid any pit falls and ensure you get what
you're looking for.
Do's & Dont's
Do consult a joiner or the person who is going
to fit your door for accurate measurements and advice on what you
need.
Do carefully examine any images / videos of the
doors to get a good idea of how the actual door will look.
Do understand, however, that door's are made
from wood - a natural material - with an unpredictable grain, so it
is unrealistic to expect your door to come in exactly the same
shade and grain pattern as the picture on the website. It will
obviously be the same wood type, the same style, the same size and
roughly the same shade and tone but it may not be absolutely
identical.
Do ensure you select the right size of door for
your needs including the width, height and thickness.
Do check for any handling or delivery charges.
Doors are bulky items and not cheap to deliver so most online
retailers will include some sort of delivery or handling fee for
orders under a certain value.
Do double-check whether the displayed price in
inclusive or exclusive of VAT.
Do check the returns and damages policy.
Most online retailers will use 3rd party haulage companies and they
should offer specific and informative advice on what checks you
need to make before signing for your goods.
Don't expect your door to come with frames,
hinges, door handles etc. Many retailers do offer all of these as
additional options but they will not be automatically included.
Don't be afraid to call the online retailer (if
they provide sufficient contact details) and ask them for advice.
This is a good test of what service you are likely to get overall
too - if they have poor knowledge and an unwillingness to help you
are better off buying elsewhere. If they are selling doors online -
they should be able to offer expertise and technical know-how
too!
Don't expect a specific time for your delivery
without additional costs. It is unlikely an online retailer will be
able to offer you a specific time slot for a delivery free of
charge. Typically, you will be provided with a delivery date and
will need to make sure you are around to receive your delivery.
However, most retailers will be able to offer a morning or
afternoon delivery but they will be charged extra by the haulage
company for this and will need to pass that charge on to you.
Interior Door
Styles
Overwhelmed by the sheer volume of interior doors available on
the market? Chances are, you're not the only one! With styles
ranging vastly in appearance, it's easy to get confused about what
you should be looking for. Here we offer a breakdown of different
styles and their common uses, to help you make a decision.
Traditional
Traditional styled doors are what you might call a safe bet -
they look good in almost any setting! After all, if a design has
stuck around for so long, there's probably a good reason why.
Traditional needn't mean old-fashioned, however. Even the most
modern home needn't be afraid of adopting a classic theme when it
comes to doors. Symmetrical is design, often involving one or more
moulded panels, traditional styles strike a balance between
simplicity and ornamentation, and are great for forming a theme
that will work well in any or every room of the house.
The colonist style, featuring six aesthetically balanced panels,
is a classic example of a popular door design, which is still going
strong to the present day. One advantage of such popular,
traditional designs, outside of the obvious fact that they are
almost guaranteed to remain in fashion, is that they are typically
available in every standard of door, from plywood to hardwood,
finished and unfinished, registered fire doors, and in a range of
popular sizes. Replacement doors will also be easy to come by in
the future, if you stick to a classic style.
Rustic
Rustic traditional doors form an attractive sub style of their
own, as they offer a more particular, rural appeal, most commonly
utilized in barn conversions and cottages. Features include the use
of whole planks of wood constructed across the length of the door,
offset and finished with contrasting strips of timber, running
across the breadth. This rustic feeling, basic aesthetic is both
striking and compelling, very reminiscent of humbler, perhaps
happier, times! Ken's Yard's range of country - styled
traditional doors are hand constructed from high quality American
White Oak. Bespoke sizes are also available for no additional cost.
Browse the range and give us a call or email if you would like more
details.
Alternatively, why not employ in a modern, city flat, for a bit
of irony and a simple, unusual look!
Modern
Contemporary door styles are generally categorized by clean
lines, no fuss minimalism and a streamlined look. Another strong
feature, ironically in line with its classical cousin, is symmetry,
but with less emphasis on ornamentation. Modern designs will bring
your home right up to date, and as they are current on the market,
will also be available in a variety of materials, commonly with
glazed options available. Replacing your interior doors with a more
modern, sympathetic style is a great way of updating your home when
fresh paint won't cut it, but don't want to spend thousands on a
total redesign. You will probably find that lighter, contemporary
designs will open up your home, making it much more appealing when
you come to sell it.
The Humber design, featuring four equal rectangular panels, is a
common and particularly popular example of modern interior door
style.
Glazed
Glazed doors are more of a modern as opposed to a traditional
feature, favouring a light, as opposed to a grand feel. This can be
nevertheless luxurious in effect! Commonly employed in hallways,
kitchens and living areas, panels of glass allow for the transfer
of light between rooms, where privacy is less of an issue. Doors
with glazing are great for opening up spaces, when you want to
create the feel of open plan, whilst still maintaining room
boundaries. Use in any dark, small corners of the home, to bring in
any light possible! You'd be amazed by the difference this makes.
Different levels of glazing are available, to achieve varying
ratios of illumination and privacy. Choose from full-light, for
maximum impact and illumination, and half light, or even smaller
panes of glazing, for a more subtle effect.
Glazed doors are often available as part of a styled theme, with
unglazed or partially glazed versions in the 'family'. This makes
them even easier to incorporate into the home, and a more appealing
option than ever. Safety glazed and registered fire door options
are also widely available on the market.
Commercial
Many of the more striking, unusual pieces you'll find whilst
browsing door styles online are most commonly used in professional
or commercial environments, such as offices, schools and colleges.
More modern than traditional, they feature contrasting lines and
tones, often utilizing insets and diagonal designs. Of course,
there's no reason you couldn't utilize these in your own home, for
a more funky feature! Contrast often leads to an interesting,
classy look.
As a final rule: there is no real rule when it comes to personal
door choice. Have a browse, imagine the doors in the environment of
your home, consider, and come to a natural conclusion, whatever
style genre that may be! If in doubt, consult with like-minded
individuals, who broadly share the same tastes as yourself. You
might even want to consider the expert opinions of an interior
designer.
After all, when it comes to your home, you want to make sure you
get it just right -- and internal doors needn't be an
exception.
Interior Door Material
Explained
One of the biggest decisions a person has to make when choosing
an interior door for their home, is choosing which material the
door will be made from. Interior doors are available in a wide
variety of materials, the most popular of which is wood, but there
are also a wide variety of different wood types to choose from. In
this article I will explain the different material that interior
doors are available in, from mahogany to walnut tointernal glazed
oak doors. When you know about all the different materials you will
be able to go out and pick the perfect door for your home.
The Make-up of Interior Wood Doors
Interior wooden doors are by far the most popular type of
interior door. Even if you have decided to buy a wooden door, there
are still a lot of varieties to choose from. First let us consider
the different make-ups of the door; Solid wood doors, solid core
doors and hollow core doors.
Solid Wood Doors
These doors can be found in many homes. These doors will help
give your room a warm glow and the stunning grain patterns will add
class and style to your room's interior. They are available to buy
in a wide variety of wood species, from mahogany doorsto internal
glazed oak doors, so it should be easy to find one that will
complement your home. A major advantage of these doors is that they
can dramatically decrease the amount of noise travelling from room
to room. They can also be easily stained and finished to your
personal preferences.
Solid Core Doors
These doors recreate the appearance and durability of the more
expensive solid wood doors. They feature a solid wood fibre core
which gives the door a heavier and more expensive feel to it. The
surfaces of these doors are available in a wide variety of grains
and textures, with each one mimicking the look of a real solid wood
door. Like solid wood doors, they offer better sound insulation
than a comparable hollow core door.
Hollow Core Doors
These are the least expensive option when considering the
make-up of interior doors. Wood boards are placed on the surface of
the door and between them is a patterned core of wood material.
These doors are generally much lighter than the others. If they are
damaged they are not as expensive to replace.
Different Types of Wood Species
Once you have chosen which of the three ways you would like your
door to be constructed, it's time to choose the type of wood you
would like it to be made from. This will come down much to personal
preference, but below will give you an idea of what the different
wood species entail.
White Oak
White Oak is a very popular material for interior doors, and
you've likely seen it in other homes before. It is a dense
hardwood, so it will put up with a fair amount of wear and tear.
The colours of these doors tend to vary between shades of white to
a light brown colour. White oak is one of the most durable wood
types for doors and tends to cope well with shock. This would be a
good choice if you have people in your home who have a tendency to
slam doors. These doors are easy to stain and there are a wide
variety of different stains available. To add a bit of style to a
particular room you could choose to go with an internal glazed oak
door.
Mahogany
Mahogany is one of the more expensive options for interior
doors. It is a hardwood and can often be found with either an
interlocked or a straight grain. The surface of a mahogany door
typically exhibits a fairly course texture. Mahogany itself is
split into different species, which includes Sapele (an African
mahogany species). It is a relatively heavy door, but it features
low stiffness and resistance to shock. You may want to look at
different wood types if you want better hock resistance.
Walnut
Walnut features a contemporary dark grain and may be just what
you're looking for if you have a darker door in mind. A walnut door
has the potential of becoming the centre-piece of your room, they
really are that beautiful. Beauty doesn't come cheap however. A
downside of having a walnut door is that they are relatively soft
when compared to the likes of mahogany for example. This means it
will be easier to mark a walnut door. Also, walnut doors will
always be dark. If you're looking for a door to brighten up a room,
this is not an option for you.