Advantages and disadvantages
The PVC door stands out from a number of structures made from other materials (wood, metal) due to its advantages, including:
- relatively light weight;
- wear resistance, long period of operation, subject to special care;
- hermetic connection of the sash with the frame, which is due to the configuration of the profile and the presence of a seal;
- high-quality sound and heat insulation;
- resistance to high temperatures, while the product does not lose its properties;
- attractive appearance, especially if various glass inserts are used, and the plastic structure is painted in a color that matches the exterior of a private or country house.
There are also disadvantages to such designs. They note the need for constant adjustment (1-2 times a year). This is due to the gradual subsidence of the sash. The heavier the structure, the more often the hinges are tightened. In addition, plastic door leaves do not always fit well into the exterior/interior. A negative impact on air circulation inside the facility is also noted. The higher the quality of the door, the better the product protects against drafts. This means that air movement slows down, disrupting natural ventilation.
Double-glazed windows
As in plastic windows, the design of the PVC entrance door uses double-glazed windows with a different number of chambers:
- single-chamber - made of two glasses;
- two-chamber - made of three glasses;
- three-chamber - made of four glasses.
The more cameras in the package, the higher the heat and noise protection qualities, but the cost of a multi-chamber double-glazed window is higher than a single-chamber one. The difference from window packages is the variety of shapes and sizes of glass inserts. They can occupy the entire area of the canvas or part of it, be rectangular, rhombic, triangular, curvilinear, round, oval, etc.
As a rule, triplex or armored glass, consisting of several layers of glass and a reinforcing transparent film, is installed as the outer glass in the package. To break through it, human physical strength is not enough; you will have to use technical means. The most durable glasses have bullet-explosion-proof properties. In addition, the glass unit may include the following glass:
- energy saving;
- relief, with a cast or engraved pattern;
- stained glass, with a color image;
- matte;
- mirror;
- tinted with film or colored.
The use of these glasses improves the performance and aesthetic qualities of the front door.
Operating requirements
For exterior entrance, apartment and balcony products, requirements for heat transfer, sound insulation, air permeability, opening cycles and durability must be met.
GOST provides the value of heat transfer resistance depending on the thickness of the filling with three-layer panels. With a layer thickness of 16 to 24 mm, the resistance coefficient should be within the following limits: 0.8-1.2 m2C/W. Sound insulation should not exceed 26 dBA, and the air permeability of the structure should not exceed 35 m2/(h m2).
The number of opening/closing cycles of entrance doors according to GOST requirements should not be less than 500,000.
Heat transfer is one of the main requirements for external plastic doors
The service life of the main parts of PVC door structures is divided as follows:
- profiles – 40 years;
- double-glazed windows – 20;
- seals – 10.
Based on the degree of strength, PVC profiles are divided into classes A, B and C. In the manufacture of door structures, class A profiles with a front wall thickness of 3 mm are used. The strength class is determined during testing.
If the width of the welded sheets exceeds 600 mm, then such a corner connection is reinforced with metal liners. To increase resistance to deliberate penetration, various options are allowed:
- installation of additional locks;
- glass up to 10 mm thick;
- anti-removal devices;
- reinforced hinges.
Structural design of the vestibules
Double-floor structures can be closed using an impost or a frame structure. An impost is a plastic partition dividing a door or window in which a groove is installed for closing. The modern hinged design allows both halves of the door to be opened without creating obstacles or disrupting the view.
The frame design is relevant for offices, shops and entrance doors to the house. In this case, one half can be fixed to the latch and opened if necessary to carry furniture or other bulky things. Old interior or balcony doors with two leaves will perfectly replace plastic ones with a hinge that swing wide open outward. In the case of a balcony design, this design allows for more efficient use of the room area.
The hinged design is especially relevant for balcony doors
Gradually, the impost is becoming a thing of the past, giving way to a more rational design - the shulpovoy. In addition to improving the appearance, saving material, increasing the luminous flux, the frame system has increased anti-burglary resistance. Two plastic sashes are connected by snapping and are quite difficult to break open from the outside, unlike an impost structure. The locking mechanism can be attached to one leaf or two, and only a specialist can notice it.
Users also note the good tight fit of door leaves with a latch latch. This is especially true for a balcony door, as it allows you to retain heat in the apartment. Among the mechanisms of the latch design, the simple and economical latch version stands out. There are latches on the passive leaf at the bottom and top, and on the active leaf there is a handle that operates the door opening system.
Preliminary work
- hammer and nails;
- electric drill;
- self-tapping screws;
- polyurethane foam;
- masking tape.
Door closer installation diagram.
Installation of metal-plastic doors is carried out after finishing the floor covering. Installation of a PVC door begins with hammering several nails into the frame for further adjustment. It must be assembled in a horizontal position.
To do this, holes are made at the joining points using a drill, which should have a diameter 1 mm smaller for self-tapping screws. In this case, the stand is first installed on the hinge side. And the stand on the lock side is mounted along the narthex after installing the canvas. Door hinges are screwed after installing the frame.
To level the entire block when installing plastic doors, wooden wedges are driven into the gap between the opening frame and the block frame. They must be driven in carefully to avoid damaging the frame.
Polyurethane foam is used to protect the visible part of the door frame and leaf. It must be applied evenly around the entire perimeter of the box. Adjacent areas of the door are sealed with masking tape to prevent foam from getting on them.
Standard sizes of interior doors
Domestic and foreign manufacturers offer many different variations in the sizes of interior doors. The most common width values you can find are:
- 600 mm;
- 700 mm;
- 800 mm.
However, there are doors on sale whose width differs from accepted standards. So, you can see canvases of 50 and 55 cm.
For sliding and double doors, the door width will be larger. It can range from 90 centimeters to 1 meter 80 centimeters. Large size doors are made to order.
The standard door leaf height is:
- 2 meters;
- 2 meters 30 centimeters.
But you can often find doors 1 meter 90 centimeters high, as well as 2 meters 10 centimeters and 2 meters 20 centimeters.
Door replacement
To replace an old balcony door, you need to dismantle the leaf and frame using carpentry tools. The vacated opening must be cleaned of dust and debris.
When taking measurements to order a plastic door, it is necessary to take into account not only the required gaps, the dimensions of which should be minimal, but also measure the diagonals. These measures will avoid distortion of the frame and the entire structure.
When installing a new frame in a balcony doorway, you should monitor the process of gaps appearing. When they are formed, the space is filled with polyurethane foam.
Door frame installation
Assembly and installation of the door frame: A - frame assembly; B - fitting the box to the wall; B - securing the hinge jamb (1 - hinge pin; 2 - seal).
First, the verticality of the wall is checked and the dimensions of the doorway are determined - both in width and height. Then a calculation is made. For example, a PVC door has a width of 90 cm and a height of 200 cm, which means the width of the frame is: 900+25+25+5=955 mm. In this case, 25 mm is the thickness of the door frame, and 5 mm is the door gap. The height is: 2000+25+3+10=2038 mm, where 3 mm is the gap at the top and 10 mm at the bottom.
The door frame is assembled on a horizontal floor surface. The upper ends of its uprights need to be cut at an angle of 450. On one of the side uprights, the junction with the lower and upper hinges is marked. A groove of the required depth is cut out in the box using a chisel. Then holes are made with a drill for the screws.
Manufacturers and prices: how much does a PVC door cost?
Today, purchasing a plastic entrance door for a private home is not difficult due to its widespread use. It is better to trust the following manufacturers:
- Deceuninck – price 9800 rubles. The photo shows a door from this manufacturer;
KRAUSS – price 10,000-13,000 rubles; But what kind of fittings exist for plastic windows and doors, and how to choose the right one, is indicated here.
Rehau – price 7800-9400 rubles; But what kind of entrance doors there are with glass and forging, you can see here.
- VEKA – price 13,000 – 19,000 rubles;
- BiMax – price 11,000 -12,000 rubles.
You may also be interested in information about how to replace locks on your front door.
