Which metal entrance doors are considered the best and reviews. How to choose the right entrance door to the apartment Which metal doors are better to choose for the apartment

Choosing the front door to the apartment is not an easy task and raises many questions. You need to know what qualities the design should have, what to look for when choosing. The front door is the keeper of the hearth, preventing noise, cold and uninvited guests from entering the housing. It should also look presentable, as it acts as the hallmark of the apartment.

Requirements for the entrance door to the apartment

Any premises, residential or industrial, meet the visitor with the front door. It is not difficult to choose the front door of internal opening to the apartment now. Nevertheless, manufacturers offer a wide range of products, the difference between which is in materials, dimensions, colors and styles.

Many people are not able to make a competent choice due to the large variety. This is especially true for those who buy entrance doors to the apartment for the first time. To avoid errors, you should take into account the requirements for any input structures:

1. General reliability parameter. Entrance doors perform many functions, but the main one is to ensure the protection of housing. For this reason, the design chosen must be durable and of high quality, able to protect against intruders.
2. It should be possible to inspect the outer territory. It is better if the front door to the apartment is equipped with at least a small peephole. This will allow you to see the situation outside the housing or on the flight of stairs.
3. Noise and heat insulation. The product prevents the penetration of noise and cold into the house, increasing the comfort of living.
4. Appearance. It is better to choose a beautiful front door to the apartment so that it fits into the interior of the home with its style design.

Before you go to the store for a purchase, you need to consider other points:

1. Canvas price. It all depends on the quality of the design. If you choose a door for a summer cottage or an old abandoned apartment, then it is not necessary that it be high-strength. Cheaper alternatives will work as well. But if the product is installed in a new building apartment or a residential country house, then more expensive variations can be considered.
2. Opening dimensions. The canvas should easily "enter" the doorway. Therefore, before buying, you should take all measurements in advance.
3. Choice of accessories. We are talking about locks, hinges, eyes, handles and so on. It takes into account the type of construction and your own preferences. Of course, it is better to choose the appropriate fittings for a good entrance door to the apartment, suitable in quality and style.
4. Availability of certificates and guarantees. This is an important point at the time of purchase, ensuring that all installation and operation issues are resolved.

Types of entrance doors

A wide range of input structures is presented on the construction market; designer canvases and technical models are also produced. They are classified according to the material used in the manufacture.

metal front door

This is the most requested type. They are made using special technology from durable materials. There are models that are additionally coated with an anti-corrosion compound, which allows the blades to be used under different climatic conditions, extending their service life.

The thickness of metal sheets also matters: for European entrance doors it is 1 mm, Chinese - from 0.5 to 1 mm, domestic - from 1.5 to 3 mm. The strength characteristics of the input structure depend on the thickness of the metal. European models have standardized sizes, while our manufacturers also produce non-classical options.

The customer can choose the design and format of insulation.

Before choosing a metal door to an apartment, you need to familiarize yourself with the classification according to the level of complexity:

1. Economy class. These are simple and affordable products made of single-sheet steel with a thickness of 1 mm. As a design, only painting is used, without insulation and soundproofing. A separate variety is metal sheets in an apartment, assembled from two sheets (each 1 mm thick). For such products, finishing, heat and sound insulating filler is provided.
2. Middle class. These are products made from two sheets, where the thickness of each is 1.5 mm. Finishing can be any and depends on the preferences of the customer.
3. Elite class. Entrance doors with a reinforced structure, with a thickness of sheets up to 2 mm. They are finished with natural or artificial materials, sheathed with wood, veneer.

As a finish, they use: thermal film, polymer or powder paint, plastic or wooden lining, vinyl leather, car enamel, varnish, MDF lining and other materials.

Important! In order for the selected metal front door to successfully fulfill its functions, it is important to install it correctly.

wooden front door

Not so long ago, wood was used as the main material for the production of entrance structures. Now the user has a choice where each product differs in its operational properties. Nevertheless, wooden canvases are classified as luxurious and practical classics. Thanks to innovative technologies, their functions and properties have been improved by an order of magnitude compared to the first models, as a result they last longer.

Wooden products are no longer as popular as they used to be, this is due to the fact that a large selection of artificial materials is offered on the market. But some customers prefer the natural solid wood. Considering the design features, three types of wooden entrance doors can be distinguished:

1. Shield. To assemble these products, shields up to 4 cm thick are used. The frame is assembled from solid wood elements glued together. Some manufacturers supplement such entrance doors with an aluminum frame, which not only retains heat, but also extends the life of the product.
   
   
2. Paneled. In terms of design, they are similar to shield ones. They weigh an order of magnitude less, which facilitates transportation and installation.
   
   
3. Whole. This option is now the most common. For manufacturing take a solid array of wood.
   
   

What materials are wooden doors made from?

1. Oak. This is a high-strength and durable breed that can last for several decades. An interesting feature is that oak hardens over time, which makes the canvas even more stable. The result is the most expensive entrance doors to the apartment.
   
   
2. Ash. By analogy with oak, a durable and practical material. A popular option due to the variety of colors.
   
3. Beech. It is better to install such a door to an apartment in a multi-storey building. Beech does not tolerate moisture, so it is not used for country houses.
   
4. Pine. The key advantage is the affordable price. Pine is a soft material, so canvases from it are made purely for apartments.
   
   

Wooden doors to the apartment are preferred by those customers who prefer environmental friendliness and natural appearance.

Entrance door to the apartment with a mirror

This species is gradually gaining popularity. Many customers prefer just such entrance doors to the apartment, explaining the choice by the small size of the hallway. Now the mirror can be mounted in both wooden and metal products.

The front door with a mirror looks organically in any interior, often acting as a key element of decor. The design is interesting for its decorative effect, but it can also perform other functions:

1. Practicality. Leaving the apartment, you can always look in the mirror, evaluating your appearance. Of course, for this you need to correctly place the light sources so that the light falls on the person.
2. Visually enlarges the space. Light, reflected, creates the illusion of a large corridor.

Important! To ensure the desired effect, it is necessary to carefully choose the shape and size of the mirror to be installed. This will emphasize the style of the apartment and decorate the interior.

The mirrors themselves are practical products. Indeed, in a small hallway, it is sometimes difficult to place a separate large mirror. But the door panels are just the right size.

The width of the entrance door to the apartment

Standard dimensions are defined by GOST standards, regardless of the material of construction. The main parameters are as follows:

1. Height. The standard parameter is in the range from 2070 mm to 2370 mm. To determine a specific value, the total height of the ceiling and the width of the door leaf are taken into account.
2. Width. The minimum parameter is 910 mm. For single leaf - 1010 mm, one and a half - 1310, 1510 and 1550 mm, double - 1910 and 1950 mm.
3. Thickness. There are no strict regulations regarding this value, since it all depends on the material of the canvas for the apartment. The thickness should be enough for the front door to perform its main functions.

Important! For entrance structures, the standard size is larger than for interior ones. They do this so that a person carrying a load can freely pass through the opening.

How to choose entrance metal doors for an apartment

The most common metal structures. Most often, a steel door to an apartment is chosen, which provides adequate protection for housing. There are both global and domestic manufacturers on the market, producing products of different styles and sizes.

Metal has long been used to make entrance doors to an apartment. This is the most durable material that provides protection against burglary. For this reason, it is popular for both residential and industrial premises. When choosing an iron door to an apartment, you should pay attention to the base material. For the manufacture of products using the following metals:

1. Aluminum. Such products are different in texture and shades. Aluminum is a metal that is easy to process, so making entrance doors from it is somewhat easier.
2. Steel. This metal is more reliable and durable. In addition to the main function, such entrance canvases are equipped with noise and heat insulation. At a price they are more expensive than aluminum counterparts, but the quality is better.

When choosing a product for an apartment, pay attention to the thickness of the base layer - the more, the better the design will protect the home. Only two materials are used as the basis, but the products differ from each other due to the decorative layer. As a decor apply:

1. PVC panels. Caring for such a coating is quite simple.
2. MDF. In addition to environmental friendliness, this material provides good sound insulation. The most preferred option for office space.
3. Powder coated. Budget exterior.
4. Panels made from natural wood. Expensive, but environmentally friendly and visually appealing option.

To increase the mechanical characteristics of the entrance door to the apartment, manufacturers equip products with stiffeners. These elements provide protection against deformation and increase burglary resistance. The more stiffeners, the more stable the structure will be. It should be understood that due to the increase in the number of these elements, the weight increases, which means that the hinges will experience increased loads and will fail faster.

What color to choose the front door to the apartment

When choosing a color, it is necessary to take into account the general style of housing design, the color of the floor material, walls, and basic furniture. The right tips to help you choose the color of the front door to the apartment:

1. The best solution is to choose a neutral shade that will go with nothing. White, black, gray or beige options look good.
2. It is optimal if the color of the canvas matches the shade of the window frames.
3. Doors decorated with drawings, stained-glass windows or stickers look good. The bias is made on design, so compatibility is relegated to the background.

Important! These tips are suitable for choosing the entrance canvas to the apartment, as well as for interior partitions.

Rating of entrance metal apartment doors

The most popular designs of the following brands:

1. Outpost. This manufacturer produces products at a reasonable price. The company is originally from Russia, but production is organized in China, which made it possible to optimize costs. The manufacturing process is controlled, so the products are of good quality, unchanged technical parameters and appearance.
2. Torex. The company has been producing entrance doors to apartments for over 25 years. Thanks to solid practical experience, the fabrics produced have good consumer properties, without overpayment. The range includes fire protection options.
3. Elbor. The year the enterprise began its activity is 1976. Not so long ago, a comprehensive modernization of the company was carried out, which made it possible to increase production capacities.
4. Guardian. A distinctive feature of the products of this company is the high price, but consumer properties correspond to the premium class. For the manufacture of entrance doors to the apartment, strict international and domestic standards are taken into account.
5. Became. This is a group of companies that produces entrance canvases for individual orders. A feature of the products is additional concreting, thanks to which the box is attached many times more reliably, while maintaining tightness.

This is not a complete list of companies manufacturing entrance doors for apartments.

Where should the front door to the apartment open?

In this matter, there is a main requirement - in the event of an emergency, the structure should not create obstacles for the evacuation of people. If we consider the practical side, then take into account several points:

• when opening inward, you will have to stop in front of the door and step back to open it;
• the canvas that opens outward is characterized by burglary resistance, since it is much more difficult to knock it out;
• if the product opens inward, it will not be possible to put an additional door, which will not only keep the heat in the apartment, but also reduce the noise level;
• if the room has a small entrance hall, it is better to choose the option of opening to the outside.

In the case of apartment buildings, the following points are also taken into account:

• when plowing outside, the canvas should not interfere with the opening of the neighbor's doors;
• if the apartments open to a common vestibule, then the vestibule door is opened outward, and the entrance door is opened inward;
• if during the opening the door touches something, for example, a counter, then it is supplemented with an opening limiter.

For the most part, where the canvas will open is the decision of the owner of the apartment.

Conclusion

Choosing an entrance door to an apartment is not a problem, as there are many proposals: these are metal, wooden products or structures with mirrors. The main thing is that the door provides adequate protection for the apartment and at the same time matches the interior of the room. You can take into account the rating of the entrance metal doors to the apartment, but it is equally important to properly install the canvas.

Evgeny Sedov

When hands grow from the right place, life is more fun :)

Content

Long gone are the days when the status and financial situation of a person was judged by the front door to his apartment. The more massive it is, the richer its owners. In modern life, it is protection and personal security. The question of how to choose an entrance metal door will not confuse you, thanks to our recommendations.

When choosing an entrance structure for your home, pay attention to:

1. Product appearance.
2. Heat and sound insulation characteristics.
3. Protection, locks.

In order for the selected input structure to be reliable and serve for a long time, it must perform its main functions with high quality. There are only 4 of them:

• Protection against uninvited guests (prevention of robberies).
• Access control to your home (with the help of a peephole and video surveillance).
• Noise isolation and prevention of heat leakage from the house.
• Aesthetics (appearance should evoke positive emotions).

Choosing the appearance of the door

There are two types of doors: wooden and metal. The appearance of the latter is possible to choose independently. This can be a canvas with a powder coating or paint, leather upholstery, clapboard lining, decoration with MDF panels.

Powder coating consists of a polymer and metal, is applied in a special chamber, forms a reliable protective layer and has a pleasant appearance. The manufacturing plant has prepared stamps for the outer door coverings and offers a rich color scheme. For decoration, molding is actively used - convex details that make up a certain pattern or pattern. You can also galvanize the surface of the entrance structure (apply a layer of gold or silver as a decoration).

To cover with vinyl leather, upholstered with veneer or “lining” is offered less and less. These methods already belong to the "retro" style.

MDF panels provide the opportunity to create a unique design model.

The choice of the appearance of your front door depends on individual preferences and tastes. Tip: consider all the characteristics, do not rely only on the appearance of your purchase.

• PVC entrance and interior doors - where to buy and how to choose, an overview of models with characteristics and prices
• Electromechanical lock - overview of models and price. How to choose a mortise or overhead electromechanical lock
• Door handles for interior doors - how to choose mortise or overhead according to the material of manufacture and design

The metal structure you choose will be strong and durable if you know what it is made of. Here is a brief description of her device:

• Front and rear steel sheet. Better whole, without seams. The joints of the seams can be easily bent with a crowbar and damaged with one blow with a heavy object; thickness 2-4 mm - this will be acceptable for an ordinary city apartment. Thicker steel will have to be opened with an autogenous, it is unlikely that robbers will do this in the urban jungle.
• Platbands. Close the gap between the door and the door frame.
• Internal porches close the same slot when the door is closed, protect from impact with crowbar and crowbar.
• A frame on which sheets of steel are attached.
• Stiffening ribs provide stability and strength of the structure.
• Polyurethane foam provides thermal insulation.
• Soundproofing materials - cotton wool, polystyrene foam, foam rubber.
• The seal prevents the penetration of odors.
• Hinges and pins do not allow to remove the door, their number depends on the severity of the structure, to prevent abrasion, the hinges must be equipped with bearings.
• Vertical and horizontal crossbars hold the entire structure, spacers prevent deformation.
• Castle.
• Peephole.
• Pen.

You can use this list as a checklist so that you do not lose sight of any product characteristics when buying. A good example of a door device, see the photo below.

Heat and sound insulation

Sound insulation and thermal insulation properties of the front door are important criteria. When choosing a product, pay attention to the following points:

• How warm and quiet it will be in your home will depend on the quality of the materials that fill the interior of the front door. To do this, use mineral or basalt wool, polyurethane foam. These components do not ignite, absorb noise, do not remove heat and do not let in cold.
• Decorative panels made of MDF boards or plywood, and flashings are the best protection against noise.
• For an input construct to have the effect you want it to have, it must be set correctly. Gaps and distortions that deprive you of heat and let in noise and cold are not allowed. For safety, you need to use silicone seals.
• It is important to eliminate the empty space between the doorway and the door frame with foam.

Locks

Reliability and safety are provided by special locks for metal doors. You need to choose several types of shutters. The lock must match the selected door model, its weight, design, location and material from which it is made.

• According to the type of fastening, locks are divided into mortise, overhead and padlocks.
• According to the type of mechanism, they are divided into level, cylinder and code.

A lever lock is a set of plates that move thanks to the protrusions on the key beard. This lock has a latch operated by a handle and presses the door itself tightly against the seal. If the lock is installed correctly, the door closes smoothly without pressing the handle.

The cylinder lock is characterized by its small size. Inside it are pins that turn only with the appropriate key. The insert part of the cylinder is easy to replace, and it is better to reinforce the outer part with an armor plate, which will protect it from knocking out.

The leaders in the production of highly secret locks are:

1. Mul-T-Lock Company, which produces the best cylinder and padlocks, machines and machines for cutting keys.
2. The German concern Ikon is a manufacturer of locks for entrance, balcony and window systems.
3. The Chinese company Masterlock offers low prices, acceptable quality, decent appearance of mortise and padlock aluminum u-locks.

Using different lock systems for your front door will make it harder for burglars to work. Even better if they are from different manufacturers. The best option is 2 locks: the main one is level, the additional one is cylinder.

A high degree of protection against hacking is provided through the use of new developments in the production of keys. For example, laser keys have special recesses that set the code for opening the lock. And on the keys with a punched card, special recesses are applied, which provide a large number of combinations of shutter systems.

Choose a lock with a latch, it cannot be opened with a master key, knocked out with a sledgehammer, it does not jam and does not allow the door to be opened with a key from the outside. Give preference to a deadbolt, valve or constipation - these mechanisms will give you additional confidence in the reliability of your design.

Installation of an entrance metal door

Knowing how to choose an entrance metal door, you can understand the features of its installation. In order to avoid unpleasant situations associated with the inability to get into the house, entrust the installation of this complex structure to a specialist.

Recommendation: it will be good if the installation of the input structure is carried out by employees of the same company in which you bought it. If a defective door is found, they will not be able to absolve themselves of responsibility, arguing that the installers are to blame!

Basic installation rules:

1. It is impossible to install a heavy metal structure if the wall thickness is less than 15 cm and it is made of crumbling material. It is better to prepare a special frame that will ensure the stability of the entire door block.
2. Enlargement of the doorway is not carried out by shock methods, in order to avoid damage to the supporting beams, use only a grinder with special discs.
3. The measurer must carry out preparatory work, take measurements, select the desired door size, give recommendations on preparing the doorway, dismantling the old structure.
4. Be sure to level the floor in the area of ​​​​the doorway with a screed.
5. After that, fasten the door frame using the anchor method. In this case, the anchors act as reliable fixators.
6. The voids are filled with mounting foam, after it dries, plaster is applied.

Manufacturers

Manufacturers of entrance doors are conditionally divided into domestic and imported. Both have their pros and cons.

• Representatives of domestic brands offer products of low quality from inexpensive materials. Here consumers are more satisfied with the price.
• Imported suppliers offer better quality door products. But there is a big minus - their doors do not always correspond to the size of our openings. As a rule, they are always wider than necessary, this entails additional costs.

Having made the purchase budget, it is necessary to decide on the choice of the manufacturer of the entrance doors. Here is a short list of leading firms:

• Italian concern "Dierre" - for owners of refined taste and connoisseurs of real beauty. The owners of the company do not save money on introducing the latest technologies into production.

• "Gardesa" comes from Italy - excludes marriage, uses spot welding, an automated production system. Gardesa products are quality, comfort and safety.

• The Israeli company "Magen" is affordable prices, acceptable quality. To date, all the technological capacities of the company have been transferred to Russia. A distinctive feature is the use of Mul-t-Lock locking systems.

• Superlock is a company based in Israel. It is characterized by a high level of protection of its products, elegance, special developments in the field of shutter mechanisms. Superlock systems developed by Israeli technologists are actively used by entrance door manufacturers in other countries.
• Forpost is a Moscow company offering a special system for locking entrance doors at 12 points at once, the models are suitable for use in Russian conditions.

• Factory "Toreks" produces high-quality steel doors with anti-vandal coating. Uses special Italian and Japanese equipment, which has no analogues in Russia.
• The Russian company "Guardian" - offers entrance doors of any price category. The company's stores are located in 135 cities of Russia.

A high-quality and reliable front door is not a whim, but a necessary condition for comfort and safety. It is she who protects the peaceful sleep of the owners of the house, protects their life and property, protects from cold and noise, and allows you to designate a zone of family personal space. Its strength, ability to burglary directly affects the level of security. At the same time, one cannot fail to note the importance of an attractive appearance, which indicates the good taste and wealth of the owner. Let's try to figure out how to choose the front door to the apartment among the many proposals.

front door requirements

The product must meet several basic requirements. In addition to the fact that it must be made of durable material that is resistant to mechanical stress, the door must be equipped with:

• at least two reliable locking systems installed with a gap of 30 cm;
• a peephole that guarantees a panoramic view;
• additional longitudinal and transverse stiffeners;
• high degree of noise and heat insulation;
• reliable fastening in the form of U-shaped grips or anchor fasteners.

Equally important is the aesthetic component. Ideally, if the door trim is in harmony not only with the interior of the entrance, but also with the interior "colleagues".

Entrance groups of private houses or country cottages must be equipped with additional anti-burglary systems.

Types of entrance doors

The following materials are used for production:

• wood;
• metal;
• plastic;
• glass.

Obviously, durable metal doors are best suited for country houses and apartments. They are installed by the vast majority of owners, as they want to be sure of their own safety. The second in the ranking are wooden doors. These products, as a rule, have additional protection in the form of an iron frame or a steel plate installed as the central layer of the door "pie". Products made from valuable species - solid oak or ash, most often decorate the homes of wealthy people.

Other types of canvases are not able to provide decent protection. They are installed in premises where there is no need to create an insurmountable barrier or where security functions are assigned to the alarm system and special companies.

metal

Metal doors can be divided into aluminum and steel. The former do not have sufficient strength and are more often used in outbuildings - sheds or garages.
Steel blades are reliable, strong and durable. They are equipped with noise and heat insulating layers, additional stiffening ribs. Doors made of steel can have different thicknesses and internal content. The degree of security of the premises from burglary attempts, the penetration of cold and extraneous sounds depends on this. The combination of different materials improves the technical qualities of the door and affects its appearance and durability.

The use of special technologies makes it possible to make metal doors bulletproof, fireproof, endow them with the ability to absorb vibration vibrations during an explosion.

Wooden

Wooden doors have not lost their relevance due to their natural origin and environmental friendliness. Solid wood products are powerful and respectable, creating an atmosphere of prosperity and inviolability of traditions.

The quality of a wooden door should allow it to withstand the effects of atmospheric phenomena, block extraneous noise, and provide a high-quality thermal break.

The outer panel is made of wood coated with antibacterial and fireproof compounds. Protective varnishes and paints can be used as a finishing layer. Even if there are no increased requirements for the door regarding its protective properties, it is better if it is reinforced, equipped with seals and a reliable locking device.

The density and weight of the finished canvas depends on the type of wood. The heaviest and at the same time representative, expensive and reliable doors are made of solid oak or beech. More affordable options, such as pine, birch, are not as strong and require additional reinforcement. Such variations are suitable for installation in a bathhouse or a barn.

With mirror or glass insert

Cloths with decorative inserts made of glass or mirrors give the room lightness and elegance. It may seem that transparent fragments are the "weak link" of the fundamental design and the reliability of such doors is in question. However, thanks to the use of special technologies, such options are in no way inferior in strength to their “deaf brothers”.
The reliability of the glass insert depends on the characteristics of the material. In the production of entrance doors, the following types of glass are used:

• triplex - is a multilayer material;
• hardened - has an increased level of shock resistance;
• bulletproof - resistance to firearms is ensured by applying a special film.

Glass door

Entrance groups from a double-glazed window initially found their application in the construction of office buildings, shopping and entertainment centers, hospital and sports complexes, small shops and service industries. However, practical and functional doors with attractive and varied designs are gradually gaining ground in the private sector. The proven safety and durability of insulated glass entry products makes them increasingly in demand.

The door design includes a plastic profile frame, a double-glazed window and plastic panels. Glazing can be made in the entire size of the canvas or occupy 2/3 of the total area. It can be continuous or made up of fragments.

Anti-burglary fittings can be attached to the door, which increases resistance to the actions of intruders. Special hinges are designed to withstand heavy loads.

A multi-point lock secures the frame on three sides and makes the structure more airtight. The plastic profile is reinforced along the perimeter, which increases its reliability.
By installing armored anti-vandal glass, you protect yourself from the actions of hooligans and burglars. Multilayer fabrics made using triplex technology can become an alternative to an armored product. They are able to withstand a blow from a stone or a bottle, and even when broken they will not scatter, but simply become covered with cracks.

A door structure with a double-glazed window can be made special by laminating, complicating the layout, tinting, applying a mirror or matte finish.

What to look for when choosing a metal door

When choosing a door, you should make sure that it is resistant to forceful and intellectual break-ins. The design must guarantee reliable protection of property and human life.

Another aspect that should also be evaluated is the ability of the canvas to sound and heat insulation. The door should block the entry of street noise, dust, drafts and odors.

Equally important are the strength and quality of execution of all mechanisms of the structure - hinges, handles, locking system. You should make sure that all elements work correctly in order to exclude unexpected jamming of locks and warping of the door.

Aesthetic appeal and compliance with the style and color scheme of the interior is no less a weighty argument when arranging the entrance group.

Security class

There are 13 levels of burglary resistance of doors. The security class for household products usually varies within the first four positions. Higher protection categories are required for banking equipment and vaults.

Let us examine the properties of the doors corresponding to the first four levels.

1. First class - physical strength and ordinary hand tools are enough to open the door.
2. The second class - for hacking you will need a special power tool.
3. The third class - such an obstacle can only be overcome by electrical devices with a power exceeding 500 watts.
4. The fourth class is bulletproof doors that are resistant to previous breaking methods.

Steel thickness

The reliability of the structure directly depends on the thickness of the steel from which the canvas is made. Most often, metal with a thickness of 1-2 mm is used. In better and more expensive doors, the thickness of steel plates can reach up to 6 mm.

It is not recommended to use steel thinner than 1 mm, since it is unstable to accidental mechanical damage and vandal attacks. Steel plates with a thickness of 1.5 mm are considered the optimal material for the manufacture of canvas for the entrance group in an apartment or private house. They do not weigh down the door beyond measure and at the same time guarantee it a high level of protection. For even greater reliability, manufacturers reinforce the canvas with an additional sheet of steel.

Number of stiffeners

The design of the metal front door is a multi-layer cake. The outer layers are steel plates, which are reinforced from the inside with stiffeners. Quality doors should have at least three such elements - one horizontal and a pair of vertical ones. But the more stiffeners in the design, the more durable, heavy and reliable the door leaf will be.

Heat and sound insulation

The filling of the door "pie" consists of heat-insulating and sound-proofing materials and differs depending on the price category of the product. Cheap samples are filled with corrugated cardboard or mineral wool in the form of pressed boards. More expensive models are insulated with polyurethane foam, which blocks noise and does not allow the room to freeze.

The thermal insulation characteristics of this material are very significant. No wonder he is so popular. Judge for yourself - a sheet of polyurethane foam 10 mm thick has the same thermal insulation ability as brickwork with a thickness of 30 cm.

Number and types of loops

Since hinges are the weak point of any, even the most reliable door, it is better that they are hidden. Such fittings will not leave a chance even to the most sophisticated intruder.

Manufacturers are constantly working to improve the sustainability and quality of these devices and offer unique, patented concealed hinge designs.

The most reliable designs are obtained if, instead of hinges, the door is equipped with special anti-removable pins. Thick steel rods are installed on the end side of the web in the place where the loops are usually located. When the door is closed, the pins go into the holes formed in the door frame. The rods are blocked, so that the possibility of removing the web is completely excluded. There can be at least 2 such parts, however, for greater reliability and structural stability, it is recommended to install at least 5 pieces.

Exterior and interior decoration

Products are different variations of deaf canvases. They can be made with a decorative design in the form of an imitation of a paneled door, have fragmentary glazing. The outer side is usually decorated in dark restrained colors. It can be plain or imitate the texture of natural wood or stone. From the living quarters, the product is decorated with MDF sheets, finished with natural veneer, laminated or plastic lamellas.

Features of choosing a lock

The degree of reliability of the door depends not only on the thickness of the steel and hidden hanging fittings. A cheap simple lock can nullify the merits of any quality design. A specialist will open such a lock in a couple of seconds. It is advisable to equip the product with not one, but several different types of devices. At least there should be two. The main lock secures the door in several directions with the help of bolts. Additional fixation devices may be simpler. The main thing is that they are not cheap - such locks often jam, break, they are easy to open.

In order to increase the reliability of the lock, you can install special armor plates.
The most reliable is considered the "brainchild" of innovative technologies - a biometric lock. For authentication, such a device only needs to read information from the fingertips or the iris of the eye. Such devices are capable of storing up to 99 different fingerprints. They are successfully used in "smart home" systems and nullify the efforts of masters of intelligent hacking. The owner of the house can manage it at will - to open or restrict access to other persons. In case of an emergency, such a shutter can be opened using a special cylindrical key.

Additional protection systems

Devices that impede access to the locking mechanism provide additional protection for the door. Among them are:

Armor plates - protect the pocket area for mounting the lock. They do not allow drilling at the fixing points of the lock case and shank. The armor plate is made of steel 3 mm thick and is welded into the door at the manufacturing stage. In total, the thickness of the outer steel sheet of the door leaf, the mounting pocket and the protective lining is as much as 7 mm, which suggests a high degree of security of the locking mechanism.

Armor plates - protect cylinder locks. There are various options for such overlays:

• invoices consist of two elements and are installed on both sides of the door leaf, after which they are connected with pins;
• mortise - installed on the cylinder by cutting through the metal sheathing and mounting pocket;
• magnetic - among them are sliding and rotary. Sliding block the keyhole. You can remove them only by attaching a special magnetic key. Swivel - almost the same principle, only the protective cover does not move, but rotates;
• coded - a metal curtain closes access to the locking mechanism. During the first stage, access to the introduction of the key into the lock is opened, the next step is to open the locking mechanism.

peephole

Good fittings are very important for high-quality protection. And these are not only hinges, a lock and a variety of overlays. A modern door should be equipped with a panoramic peephole with a wide viewing angle. The device may be periscope. In such a product, the eyepiece and lens are located at different levels. There are bulletproof eyes that will protect against the attack of an armed robber. The most convenient are electronic systems that, like a video intercom, have a display and have the ability to record sound and image.

To install a reliable door leaf, a strong burglar-resistant box is required. This is a special design, which is far from being as simple as it seems. Manufacturers are constantly developing new options for boxes, which makes it possible to make the entrance to the home more and more impregnable. There are double adjustable designs that allow the door in the closed state to practically “merge” with the wall, to be in the same position with it. This technology requires the use of special "invisible" loops. Hidden mechanisms have a built-in latch that limits the opening angle. This device works automatically. The locking mechanism is also adjustable. He independently determines the desired degree of pressing the door to the box. This ensures optimum contact and effective blocking of noise, dust, odours, cold and drafts.

The dimensions of the door depend on the size of the opening, the door frame, the number of leaves and the established state standards.

The dimensions of the structures vary depending on the number of wings. There are single-leaf, double-leaf options, as well as supplemented with a transom.

A single leaf door is a single leaf mounted in a box. It is not recommended to install doors with a width of more than 110 cm. The original design and correction of the opening within the framework of GOST will help to make an unassuming option stylish and modern.

A double-leaf composition is a popular version of a door in a private house. The opening for it should be twice the standard dimensions. The height remains the same. It looks very respectable, but requires much more space. As a compromise, you can choose one-and-a-half doors with different-sized doors. The narrow part remains motionless most of the time and opens only when necessary.

A door with a transom is useful if the height of the opening is increased. This technique allows you to use canvases of standard height, and close the upper part with a special insert.
GOST defines the standard dimensions of doors, regardless of their design features.

The main parameters indicated by GOST:

• The height of a standard doorway can vary from 2070 -2370 mm. The exact value of this indicator depends on the ratio of height to the distance from floor to ceiling, and the width of the door.
• The minimum width of the door clearance for the entrance group is 900-910 mm. The maximum value for single leaf doors can be 1010 mm. The same indicator for a one-and-a-half door is set in three sizes - 1310, 1510 and 1550 mm. The recommended width of double-leaf structures is 1910 or 1950 mm.

There are no specific guidelines for the thickness of door products. It depends on the materials of manufacture, the design features of the door, its internal content. In addition, the thickness of the walls and the depth of the box are taken into account.

Standard solutions are good in typical apartments. Today, designers now and then invent previously unknown stylish solutions. In private construction, GOST recommendations are not always relevant. That is why the front door in a country house can be of any, the most incredible size. The dimensions of the future canvas are determined on the spot by measurements. However, overextension of parameters is neither practical nor desirable. Therefore, doors with a width of more than two meters and a height of more than 2400 mm are not recommended to be installed in a private dwelling.

An exception can be made for a building that is used as a public institution or is significantly larger than standard buildings.

Color and style

The main thing to consider when setting off for a new door is the style of your interior and the architectural features of the building. It is difficult to imagine a high-tech front door in a classic mansion. Or in a Scandinavian interior design in the Baroque style.

Appearance is one of the most important criteria that we are guided by when choosing a particular model. The product should correspond to the chosen direction of design, be combined in color with the exterior of the house, wall, floor and ceiling decoration, be in harmony with window frames, skirting boards, interior doors, and furniture.

Options with imitation wood pattern can be safely called universal, as they are appropriate in almost any style. The decoration, made in light colors, is suitable for modern classics, minimalism, country, marine, Scandinavian, eco-style. Dark wood of noble shades will fit perfectly into the interiors of the Baroque or Rococo era. The effect of aged wood will emphasize the atmosphere of Provence.

Wood textures will not fit except in high-tech. Painted products with glass and chrome inserts will be appropriate here. Hi-tech doors can be white, black, blue, red, glossy or metallic.

In order for the doors to fit perfectly into the interior, it is enough that they match the color of the skirting boards, architraves or stairs. Platbands made in the same color with the furniture design will help to combine canvases with cabinets of a different shade.

Where should the front door open?

• In Russia, doors open outward more often, as this helps free up space inside the vestibule and use it more productively. But this is not important and the canvas may well swing open into the interior of the room, depending on the requirements of SNiP. The method of opening the door should not cause difficult evacuation of people from the building to the street in an emergency, therefore:
• the open door does not block the entrances to the rooms and neighboring apartments;
• the passage with a fully open sash should not be narrower than 1 m;
• doors located opposite each other in a narrow corridor should open inwards so as not to interfere with each other's functioning at the same time.

If these rules are followed, the opening method is of no fundamental importance and its change does not require official approval. But if the door previously opened in the other direction, it is worth warning neighbors and utilities about the changes.

About manufacturers of entrance doors - advantages and disadvantages

Previously, there was not much choice - wealthy citizens preferred products of European manufacturers, mainly Italian or German, while more thrifty ones put affordable Chinese options. Today, this niche is densely occupied by Russian companies. The lion's share of steel doors on the domestic market is produced in Russia - 90% of the entire range offered. The latest European components and technologies are used in production. Among domestic representatives of this area such large enterprises as ESTA, Guardian, Bastion, Toreks, STAL, Bars are in the lead. In addition, there are many small businesses offering decent quality products. True, their collections are not so diverse.

10% of the market is shared by large Chinese manufacturers, as well as companies from Italy, England, Poland, Israel and Germany.

How to place an order for a door in a store

When ordering a door, you need to focus on the size of the entrance opening. The box should fit into it without any problems. It is better if there is a little space left, which will allow you to set the structure strictly in an upright position and fix it with mounting foam.

Warranty service

You need to make sure there is a warranty. It gives the opportunity to claim free of charge the elimination of defects found during unpacking, acceptance and installation of the product.

The duration of the warranty for the door leaf, lock and fittings may vary. Find out this point in advance so that there are no surprises.

Warranty obligations remain valid if you have followed the rules of operation:

• the hinges were lubricated at least once every six months with a special compound - grease can be used;
• insert the key into the hole to the end and gently turn it;
• the key was removed from the lock mechanism only after a full 360-degree turn;
• do not use corrosive and abrasive substances for washing;
• provided protection of the door unit from moisture and direct sunlight;
• did not repair the door on their own and did not make changes to its design that affected the characteristics of the product;

Conclusion

Entrance doors have always been the face of a home. They provided protection to its owners, allowed to create comfortable living conditions. Today, the main functions remain the same, but the use of modern technologies makes it possible to endow the input structures with new features.

The choice of an entrance door to an apartment turns into a real headache for the buyer - the market is oversaturated with products that take into account any requests: price, design, reliability, sound and heat insulation. How, under these conditions, to balance the consumer properties of the door so that it is beautiful, affordable for the family budget and, at the same time, reliably protects the home from "uninvited guests" and is easy to use? Only experts know this.

Let's fill the gap in the knowledge of the average consumer and consider which front door is better to install in an apartment.

The main structural elements of the front door

The question of what material the front door to the apartment is needed from: wood or metal is not discussed. A priori, this is a metal door. It consists of many structural elements that many consumers do not know about. And they play an important role in protecting the home from thieves and robbers.

In order to warn the owners against possible mistakes when installing doors to an apartment, we will consider in detail, with the most accessible language, each element of the door structure, the terms that denote them and the role in the door design.

1. External cladding. The door should not only perform protective functions, but also have an aesthetic appearance. For this, several methods of external decoration are used:

• painting with powder paint, as a result of which several tasks are solved at once: an anti-corrosion coating is applied, the doors are given a pleasant appearance, the door leaf is protected from mechanical damage;
• the door is upholstered with leather or its substitutes;
• pasted over with a laminated film;
• sheathed with MDF sheets, precious wood veneer, etc.

For reference: the door leaf is a movable part of the door block, blocking the doorway with its size. Consists of inner and outer metal sheets, inner frame, stiffeners and filler (insulation).

2. loops- allow you to open and close the door.

3. Peephole (door)- provides an opportunity to inspect the space directly behind the door.

4. Handle (door)- allows you to control the lock and the door when it is opened.

5. Armored overlay for the lever lock- protects the lock cylinder from breaking, drilling, knocking out.

6. Outer metal sheet- closes access to the apartment through the door leaf, protects the lock mechanisms from breaking.

7. Internal frame. One of the most important elements of the door structure. The geometry of the inner part of the door block and the protection of locks from crowbars when trying to press the crossbars from the door frame depend on its strength.

For reference: to stiffen the door leaf, a metal profile is welded inside the door frame. In the language of specialists - stiffeners.

8. Filler- protects the room from the penetration of cold and various noises from the outside. In everyday practice, experts say that this is a heater.

9. Anti-removable pins. Are established only at external loops. Hold the door leaf in the frame while trying to cut the hinges and remove the door.

10. Door lock)– a mechanical device for blocking the door in the closed position.

11. Rigel(from German Riegel, which means bolt, latch) - an element of the lock mechanism in the form of a metal rod that directly locks the door.

12. vertical ledger at locks of "crab" execution.

13. Deviator. Additional horizontal bolts placed outside the lock area - if the criminal manages to squeeze the lock bolts, the door will not open. It will be held by a deviator, the location of which is hidden from the burglar.

14. Inner metal sheet. Enhances the security features of the door. There are no doors in a number of models - an MDF panel is installed.

15. Internal lining. It is made of MDF, fine wood veneer, etc.

16. door frame- the fixed part of the door block. It is a frame structure carrying a door on hinges. Fastened with anchor bolts to the wall.

17. Metal casing, is part of the box.

18. – installed on the box indoors.

19. Mounting pins- fasten the box to the wall.

20. sealant- installed in the porch contour.

For reference: the door porch is a small protrusion on the canvas for a tighter connection with the door frame (see photo).

21. Eccentric- regulates the force of pressing the leaf to the door frame.

22. Night watchman- blocks the door from the inside without the possibility of opening it from the outside. Only a hack.

23. – allows you to close and open the lock from the inside without a key.

24. - closes part of the wall inside the room, performing the function of a slope.

25. End bolt. Opens the second leaf of a double door.

What to look for when choosing

Of the above elements, the most attention should be paid to the door leaf and frame, locks, hinges, sealant, filler and peephole - they are the ones that ensure safety and comfort in the house.

Consider the features of each of the above elements so that the consumer, when choosing the front door to the apartment, consciously comes to a compromise on the parameters of the product when buying it or takes into account all the nuances in the contract when ordering.

Door leaf

The front door has many functions, but the choice is always made according to two criteria - security and reliability. Only then are other consumer properties considered. Therefore, first of all, the buyer (customer) is interested in:

• thickness of the skin (metal sheet) outside and inside;
• the presence of stiffeners;
• dimensions of the door leaf (more precisely, its thickness).

At first glance, everything is clear. The thicker the sheathing sheets and the canvas itself, the better. But do not rush to buy such doors - the large weight of the canvas will very quickly require replacement of the hinges.

How to choose the right door according to the thickness of the elements? More on that below.

Door leaf thickness. Immediately, we note that the thickness of the door leaf has practically no effect on the security of the apartment. The level of protection against noise and cold depends on the indicator. Therefore, in apartments with heated entrances, 7 cm is enough - the filler successfully solves its problems.

For reference: in private houses, doors with a thickness of 9-10 cm are mainly installed - a thicker layer of insulation is needed, and in garages, workshops and other utility rooms, 5 cm is enough.

steel thickness. Door manufacturers weld iron sheets with a thickness of 0.5 to 5 mm onto their products. In principle, in the apartment you can install a door leaf with a sheathing of any thickness. But what is the end result?

A metal sheet up to 1.5 mm thick can be easily opened with a simple can opener. From 1.5 to 2 mm can also be cut, but with metal scissors. Sheathing with a thickness of more than 3 mm sharply makes the door heavier, as a result of which the hinges wear out quickly.

Therefore, in practice, one sheet 2-3 mm thick on each side is placed on the door leaf. Such a decision is debatable. Here are a few points:

• At the entrance, no one will cut the door leaf with a grinder. This is not a private house, where sometimes no one is at home at night, but vigilant neighbors are far away or behind a high fence. Therefore, a thickness of 2.0-2.5 mm is sufficient.
• If the first barrier is impenetrable, why install a second metal sheet, increasing the load on the hinges and increasing the cost of the door itself.
• The second metal sheet conducts noise and heat well. Installing instead of it a removable panel made of another material increases the level of heat and sound insulation.

Conclusion: the front door will successfully protect the apartment from burglary with one 2.5 mm thick metal sheet welded on the outside.

Stiffening rib. Any metal under the influence of mechanical force is deformed. This is what burglars use, squeezing the door leaf from the box in the area of ​​\u200b\u200bthe locks. The use of thicker sheathing sheets or the frame of the door leaf practically does not solve the problem - the robbers use a longer lever.

In such a situation, stiffening ribs are saved - pieces of an ordinary corner or rolled metal with a complex profile welded inside the door leaf. Minimum allowable quantity: two plates vertically and one horizontally. Increasing the number of horizontal ribs reduces the probability of door wringing to zero. But you shouldn’t get carried away either - increasing the weight of the canvas negatively affects the loops.

Frame. The degree of resistance of doors to breaking also depends on the frame of the leaf - a solid profile pipe, with one welded seam in the corner near the hinges. Making a frame from 4 segments sharply reduces its strength - welding bursts under strong bending loads. The quality of the frame can be seen during a visual inspection of the door leaf - it is difficult to hide welding under a layer of paint.

door frame

A quality door frame should have:

• metal thickness 3-5 mm;
• closed loop - U-shaped profile does not provide reliability;
• a profile pipe as a supporting element - a box of two bent sheets is less resistant to deformation: bending and twisting;
• one weld;
• at least 6 mounting points: 4 on the hinge side and 2 on the lock side;
• one, and preferably 2 vestibules;
• thermal break - insulation inside the profile.

Locks

The door should protect the apartment not only from brute force (crowbar or sledgehammer), but also from intellectuals, called "bear cubs" in the criminal environment, capable of opening any lock. All attempts by manufacturers of locking devices to complicate their design sooner or later become available to burglars. Therefore, relying only on locks, no matter how complex they are, is not worth it.

But it is possible and necessary to complicate the task of a thief. To do this, in the door leaf, professionals recommend installing two locks of different designs or one, but electronic, which is much more expensive. This will require a higher qualification from the thief and more time to open the doors. The time factor in most cases becomes decisive - fearing to catch someone's eye, the attacker often abandons his idea halfway: after giving a lot of time to picking the master keys for one lock, he leaves.

For metal doors, you need to use lever and cylinder locks.

At lever locks the secret part is made in the form of a set of plates (levers), which either block the bolt or move it when the key is turned to the “open” / “closed” position. It has its advantages and disadvantages:

• a massive key allows you to use a "crab" design for locking doors with vertical crossbars and deviators - it turns the mechanism without deformation;
• a strong shell protects the locking device from impacts (knocking out);
• no protruding parts (mortise locks), resulting in access to the internal mechanism only through the keyhole;
• the through hole serves not only as a bridge for the penetration of noise and cold, but also for various kinds of master keys;
• if the keys are lost, the lock must be changed;
• they are easily opened with master keys, although in the latest models this process is difficult - levers with false grooves, electronic key identification systems, force break-in blockers, etc. are installed.

At cylinder lock(it is also called "English") the working part is made in the form of a cylinder, which is fixed in a certain position by a secret mechanism. The inserted native key removes the blockade, after which the locking mechanism can be moved: close or open the door.

This castle also has its strengths and weaknesses:

• The simple design allows many improvements to be made to improve burglary resistance. Therefore, there is a choice of cores on sale from simple to very complex, with several technical solutions;
• the standard size of the cylinder, allowing you to easily replace it if the keys are lost;
• low resistance against mechanical force - knocking out or drilling out the core, after which access to the crossbars appears, is not very difficult. Armored pads, plates or balls made of special steel that do not allow drilling, manganese pins, etc. solve the problem.

Electronic locks have not yet found themselves on the territory of Russia, unlike Western countries. Opening them is much more difficult - you need special electronic equipment that reads the signal from the magnetic key card.

loops

An analysis of crimes related to unauthorized entry into a home through a door showed that most often this is done through locks. In second place is the door leaf, and in the third place are the hinges. Having cut them off, the attacker simply takes the door out of the box. This statistics is also available to door manufacturers. They took into account the negative experience and took action.

Today in the entrance metal doors you can find:

• familiar to everyone outdoor loops. They are easily cut off, but the designers took this moment into account and began to install special anti-removable pins. They are included in the box and firmly hold the door in the closed position even with the hinges removed;
• internal installed inside the box and canvas. It is impossible to cut them for two reasons: they are not visible; you need a grinder, but if you use it, it’s easier to cut the outer sheet of the canvas in the area of ​​\u200b\u200bthe locks.

Hidden loops have several disadvantages that must be considered:

• the cost of fittings and its installation is much higher;
• special grooves in which hinges are hidden, reduce the doorway;
• the opening angle is limited - max 160 o ;
• there is a risk of deforming the door leaf with a sharp opening.

Another point that you need to pay attention to is the presence of a support bearing on the outer hinges. With it, the doors open easily and without extraneous noise.

peephole

A peephole in the door is a must. Thanks to him, the owners can always make a choice: to let guests into the room or not. In addition, it is possible to control the situation on the landing - in case of incomprehensible noises, look and, if necessary, call the police.

To make it easier to navigate in security issues, let's summarize. All doors, depending on the combination of the listed elements of the door structure, are divided into 7 security classes. For an apartment, the best option is class 3, a country house - class 4.

We figured out how to choose the front door to the apartment in order to protect it as much as possible from breaking. Now let's find out how to ensure comfort.

Sealant and filler

The apartment is comfortable when it is quiet and warm. The door, along with windows, is the weakest point in this regard. Noises and cold come through it. To combat them, various methods of insulation and sound insulation are used:

• fill the space between the door leaf sheathing with various heaters and noise absorbers;
• they make one-, two- and three-circuit porch, which is pasted over with a sealant.

Appearance

Professional builders, when prioritizing, in the process of choosing entrance doors, push their design into the background. For buyers, if not the main one, then definitely not the last one on the list.

The door leaf, on the one hand, must be practical and resistant to mechanical damage, on the other hand, have a presentable appearance from the outside and fit into the interior of the apartment inside.

Outside, these requirements are best met by powder paints, which, under the influence of high temperatures, form a beautiful and, at the same time, very durable polymer film.

From the inside, the door leaf can be trimmed:

• MDF panels;
• skin or its substitutes;
• tree;
• PVC panels;
• laminated film.

Of these materials, the most expensive finishing method is MDF panels. The simplest and cheapest is laminated film. In the absence of funds, you can simply paint the door with acrylic enamel and varnish it on top.

Rating of manufacturers of entrance doors

No one will deny that the door in the apartment must be of high quality. But each consumer has a different concept of quality and depends mainly on financial capabilities. In this regard, we will give a rating of manufacturers in different price segments, which will help you make the right choice.

"Elbor". Domestic company with over 25 years of experience. It produces doors from economy class to the luxury series. According to customer reviews, the company's products:

• high quality;
• interesting lineup;
• the level of protection against hacking in each segment is the highest;
• very good heat and sound insulation.

The impression is slightly spoiled by the high cost of products (prices are leading in each product class) and the level of service (service lags behind production).

"Forpost". One of the few Russian manufacturers of construction products, which began to be counterfeited. There is an explanation for this. The doors have an affordable price, a wide range of products, beautiful design of the outside and inside, high reliability. Among the shortcomings, low sound insulation and difficulties in replacing hinges and locks should be noted.

The company can inexpensively pick up doors for various utility rooms, apartments, country houses. In order not to run into a Chinese fake, you need to look at some elements of the doors. So, the original has an armor plate for cylinder ringing and a magnetic seal. The fake does not. And vice versa - the Chinese door is equipped with an electric lock, while the Russian one does not have it.

Torex. If the consumer hesitates and does not know which entrance door to choose for the apartment, the experts have a simple recommendation: take a closer look at the doors of the Torex company. She has the widest range in terms of cost, level of protection against hacking and design. And noise protection is the best in the Russian market, surpasses competitors by 15-20%. There is only one drawback - it is difficult to replace fittings.

"Guardian". In fact, Guardian is the name of the holding. The doors are produced by the Portal plant. They have been working in this direction since 1994. During this time, the network of dealers covered not only Russian regions, but also neighboring countries.

The price of the holding's products is one of the highest, but at the same time, it corresponds to the quality: a fire safety certificate has been received; handles, locks and hinges of the best European manufacturers. Therefore, our advice: if financial opportunities allow, opt for Guardian products of a premium class.

"Condor". Another local firm. She has the perfect combination of price and quality. Products are aimed at a buyer with an average income. There are no frills, but no shortcomings have been identified - a good thing for standard residential complexes.

Among the imported entrance doors, it is worth paying attention to the products of the Belarusian enterprises Steel Line, Metallux and Polish ones - Galant and Novak. They have good consumer characteristics, as well as a wide range of models, original design, affordable prices.

Editor's Choice StroyGuru

In the question of how to choose the right doors for your apartment, an interesting situation has arisen: employees have them from different manufacturers, including little-known ones, for example, Barlock Doors. Nobody has any complaints. Therefore, the editors decided to make their choice based on feedback on the forums.

The best door in the economy segment. Dual power has developed in the budget segment of metal entrance doors:

• professionals believe that these are products of the Stal plant;
• consumers - the door "Neman".

At the doors of "Stal" there is an interesting finish, well-established service, a wide range and, of course, an affordable price for people with low incomes. Neman has the best combination of price and quality in Russia with a large selection of models.

The highest quality door in the expensive segment. According to consumer reviews, the best premium door is the Monolith model (Guardian DS-4) of the Guardian holding. She has a great design, confirmed by excellent technical performance. But a normal (meaning not super-rich) person will not buy it. The Monolith costs like a wing from an airplane - several thousand dollars.

Important: All ratings and lists are based on consumer feedback. The sequence is drawn up in an arbitrary form. If some brands are not on the list, this does not mean that their products are worse in any way.

Conclusion

When arranging housing, it is very important to know how to choose a steel front door to an apartment. According to the editors, the front door should have:

• the thickness of the outer sheet of the door leaf is 2.5 mm;
• the inner sheet does not have to be metal;
• box frame made of a profile pipe with a closed perimeter;
• external hinges with support bearings with anti-burglary pins;
• two locks: lever and cylinder, with armor protection on the latter;
• thermal break (insulation inside the box profile);
• external metal platbands;
• at least one porch contour with a sealant;
• peephole;
• stiffening ribs, with at least 3 horizontally;
• external painting with powder paint (creates a protective film), although "there is no comrade for taste and color."

The specific choice is up to the consumer.

The front door is not just a "calling card" of the owners: it protects the apartment from breaking, cold, drafts and external noise. The strength and durability of the parts must ensure that the door will not warp over time, it will not jam, and the lock will work properly for many years.

The problem of choosing a new front door can be encountered when moving to another apartment, during a major overhaul, or after the door was opened for some reason. First of all, you should decide on the material on which the reliability of the door will depend.

Metal entrance doors vs wooden ones

If your apartment is located in a common vestibule with neighbors, you can also put a wooden front door, a metal one is enough for the vestibule. But for this you need to be confident in your neighbors, as in yourself. In addition, it cannot be 100% excluded that completely strangers will not enter the vestibule. A wooden front door is perceived by intruders almost as an invitation to an apartment: it is easy to open it or remove it from its hinges without too much noise if there is a complex lock. Therefore, a high-quality metal door is a better choice than a wooden one. The exception is doors made of solid wood of noble species, but they are usually purchased for private houses.

Entrance metal door device: construction details

In fact, the design of the entire door unit is important, which consists of a fixed part (frame) and a movable part (door leaf, the door itself). The box is fixed in the doorway, hinges are installed on it, a canvas is hung on the hinges. No matter how reliable the canvas itself is, if it hangs on poor-quality hinges, and the box moves away from the opening, such a door block will not protect your apartment, it will be easy to tear it out of the wall completely. Let's see what you need to pay attention to when choosing a door unit.

• Box. Represents the metal four-sided frame welded from a strong steel profile. The frame provides a cavity for the lock tongues and anti-burglary pins (crossbars). If the frame thickness is less than the wall thickness, additional trims are required - strips that compensate for the difference. Therefore, before buying a door block, it is necessary to take careful measurements and take into account the fact that manufacturers from different countries produce boxes according to different standards. It is much easier to pick up a Russian door frame for Russian buildings.
• The thickness of the metal sheet. Depends on the thickness of the metal sheets, the thickness of the stiffeners and the type of finish. Enamel painting has practically no effect on the thickness of the canvas, 10–25 mm can be added by wood cladding or soft lining. The average thickness of a reliable metal door is 60–90 mm. A door with a thickness of 40-50 mm loses in terms of sound insulation, in addition, only the most primitive lock can be installed in it.
• External and internal steel sheets. Their thickness should be at least 1.2 mm, optimally - 1.5–2 mm (the door is reliable, but not too heavy).

Note!
Inexpensive doors may have a smaller thickness of the inner steel sheet.

However, the door can be subjected to mechanical stress not only from the outside - especially if the apartment is being renovated, children are playing, furniture is being rearranged.

• Stiffening rib. These are internal elements that increase the strength of the door leaf without heavy weighting of the structure. They also prevent the web from being pulled away from the box when tampering is attempted. The most reliable door leaves with four stiffeners - two vertical and two horizontal.
• Insulation. The cavities between the steel sheets in the door leaf are filled with insulation, which also provides sound insulation. Insulation materials - corrugated cardboard, polystyrene foam, polystyrene foam, polyurethane, mineral wool. The most modern heaters used by most manufacturers in medium and premium models are polystyrene foam and mineral wool. To achieve the best heat and sound insulating properties, a combination of several layers of insulation is also used, including the addition of foil, cork layers, isolon and other materials. A sealing contour is placed at the junction of the leaf to the door frame, the gaps between the door frame and the opening are filled with mounting foam. In addition, it is possible to insulate the door with the help of external upholstery, but it can be easily damaged, so anti-vandal coatings are now preferred, focusing on the quality of the internal insulation.
• Number and type of locks. Since hacking technologies are constantly being improved, it is recommended to choose a door with at least two different types of locks (lever and cylindrical): this will make it more difficult for intruders to open it. If you have to choose one lock, put a lever - it is more reliable. The cost of locks depends on their complexity and should correspond to the cost and reliability of the door: it makes no sense to put cheap locks on an expensive door, and vice versa.

This is interesting!
The first lever lock was invented in 1818 in Great Britain. Mechanical locks of this type are still considered the most reliable. However, this required their first demonstrative break-in, which was carried out by a talented locksmith and received a prize of £1,000. After that, the inventor took into account the weaknesses of the castle and improved the design.

• Loops. The strength and reliability of the hinges are very important so that the door does not warp over time in the doorway. In order to additionally protect the door from burglary, hidden hinges are used, which are not accessible from the outside.
• Pins (crossbars). In modern models of metal doors, when they are locked with a lock, steel crossbars are extended into the door frame, which additionally protect the door from breaking.

Of course, the door block, in which all these nuances are thought out, plus an important decorative component, cannot be cheap. The entrance metal door is a part of your apartment that you will have to invest in so that it will serve for many years. Nevertheless, there are affordable offers that will resolve the issue without overpaying.

Entrance door manufacturers and price gradient

Now on the market there are entrance doors of European, Russian and Chinese manufacturers. The products of domestic manufacturers are in the highest demand, and there are objective reasons for that.

If we talk about Chinese-made entrance doors, then the products of the lower price segment (3,500 - 8,000 rubles) do not stand up to criticism, since the canvas is made from a sheet no more than 0.8 mm thick and can literally be opened with a can opener. The insulation in such doors is either absent or does not absorb noise well, usually it is corrugated cardboard. An inexpensive Chinese door, therefore, can only be considered as a temporary option. The middle price segment (8,000 - 12,000 rubles) is also not very attractive, simply because the cost includes delivery from China. The most durable and reliable Chinese doors are comparable in price and quality to Russian economy class doors (10,000 - 20,000 rubles). If your requests are higher, you can not look towards Chinese products. The average price segment for Russian doors is 20,000–40,000 rubles.

Doors of European manufacturers - for example, Italian and Finnish - are made using modern technologies and only from high-quality materials. However, their cost is quite high (at least 24,000 rubles, the average price is from 40,000), they are often delivered to order, which increases the time from payment to installation. At the same time, Italian technologies have been successfully implemented in many domestic industries, and it makes no sense to overpay for a European brand.

An important nuance is the guarantee. As a rule, there is no guarantee for Chinese doors; there is no one in Russia to deal with European-made doors in Russia. But if you purchase a door from a reputable domestic manufacturer, it will fulfill warranty obligations for at least five years.

As for the decorative component, you should first of all pay attention to the quality of fittings and cladding. If the paint begins to peel off, and the decorative panels warp, the aesthetics will come to naught. First of all, Chinese doors sin with this. Italian manufacturers are often chosen precisely due to the attractive appearance of their products, but it is always worth asking if there are any analogues from Russian factories. As a rule, you can pick up a similar option at a more attractive price.

In terms of price-quality ratio, the entrance doors of domestic manufacturers have not been inferior to imported ones for a long time. At the same time, they can be delivered to the customer faster and without unnecessary transportation costs. If desired, you can choose locks and fittings for the front door of both Russian and European production.

Where can I buy entrance doors to the apartment?

We turned to a representative of the Russian factory Doors Bravo for a comment, and this is what he told us:

“The entrance door can be bought in the construction hypermarket, and in the market, and in a specialized salon. A very convenient option is to buy through an online store, where you can see the entire assortment at once and sort it according to the desired parameters. The best solution would be the official online store of the manufacturer, where they offer favorable prices and genuine products. The point is small - to choose a manufacturer who makes door blocks to the conscience.

For example, our Bravo Doors factory produces entrance steel doors under the brands BRAVO (middle price category) and GROFF (premium class). All products comply with current state standards, a guarantee is provided, exchange and return are made in accordance with the law. When placing an order in the factory's official store, you can also use the services of professional door installation. The retail network of the Bravo factory in Moscow is the Dzerzhinsky store-warehouse at 16 km of the Moscow Ring Road, the Tagansky store on Marxistskaya Street and the Volokolamsky store on Volokolamskoye Highway. Online store address - . When choosing doors, pay attention to discounts and promotions: we always have products of the day that are sold at the lowest price.”

P.S. Doors Bravo is one of the leaders in the Russian market of door structures.