At first glance, it may seem that all doors in an apartment should be the same. But this is not the case, interior doors and doors for bathroom and toilet have significant differences.
And this difference is not only in the size of the opening. It is important that they have a number of additional qualities: practicality, ease of care, aesthetic appearance, durability and, of course, they should not stand out against the general background of the home interior.
How to choose the right doors for a bathroom
A bathroom with a toilet room has a number of specific features that distinguish them from all others. First of all, it is the increased humidity of the room.
Even if the ventilation is done at a high level, there will still be humid air in the rooms. Taking this condition into account, you should select moisture-, vapor-resistant materials so that they can serve you for many years.
Bathroom Glass Doors
- The most moisture resistant are glass. High temperature and humidity do not affect the condition of the material, do not deform, do not destroy the glass.
- Glass surfaces block sounds well, do not release heat.
- Moreover, this material is environmentally friendly and meets hygiene standards.
- The raw materials for bathroom rooms are different from ordinary glass, so it is highly durable and almost impossible to break.
In addition to the characteristics described above, they look very stylish and elegant, therefore they are most popular on the market.
They are glossy, matte, embossed and mirrored. The degree of transparency is also different. The canvas is diluted with inserts of metal, wood or plastic, and beautiful patterns or drawings are laid out from colored mosaics.
They look the most original in the interior. Visually add lightness to the room, increase the space, add light to the rooms. However, the beauty of the interior costs quite a lot of money, their cost is quite high.
The fashion for glass doors came to Russia from Western countries, where they have been popular for several decades. Sliding and swinging options for bathtubs look especially original.
Their main differences are: design, finish, some technical details. In the West, it has long been a problem for anyone to design bathrooms made of glass materials.
In our country, decorating a bath in this way is not yet very popular, it is considered a rather bold decision, however, glass door panels are already quite popular.
There are several ways to make glass opaque:
- Cover with sandblasting materials;
- Apply a drawing using stained glass paints;
- Stick on translucent or opaque films;
- Spray with gold or silver paint;
- Create stained-glass windows (creating a drawing by connecting several multi-colored pieces of glass, forming a picture).
There are techniques for thickening glass - to increase strength, for example, sticking armor films.
Fusing for the manufacture of glass doors
Many door construction companies offer customers unique, custom designs and materials.
If the customer wishes, the canvas can be made of a single color material or with the addition of a pattern, and such a solution will help the client feel comfortable, even being behind the glass.
Main advantages:
- High resistance to moisture;
- The high thickness of the glass makes the fabric quite durable;
- The thickness of the door is less than that of wooden materials;
- Can be used in curved rooms;
- Aesthetic look;
- Variety of decoration;
- Ease of care.
The main problem that arises after using the bath is condensation settling.
You can avoid this trouble by ventilating the bathroom well after bathing and leaving the door open for a while to dry the glass.
The water must evaporate on its own. Wipe with napkins or a towel is undesirable, as they leave streaks on the glass.
There are also canvases with anti-glaze coating, they are more expensive, but moisture does not accumulate on them.
It is desirable that the doors for the bathroom and toilet are made of the same material and with the same design. The greatest advantage of a glass door is its exceptional design and harmony with the interior of an apartment or house. Among other things, it will perfectly complement the interior of the bathroom.
Fittings for glass sheets are the same as for sheets made of other materials, the strength of the glass allows the use of traditional hinges and handles.
It is important to take into account the fact that the accessories must be "native", that is, made of the same material as the canvas or correspond to it in composition.
Chrome bathroom details, shower cubicle, bathroom curtains will perfectly complement the interior of a room with a glass door.
In addition, glass will be an additional source of illumination. It is quite natural that glass provides a vast field for the activities of designers.
In principle, glass is durable in itself. The main thing is to regularly look after the door, then it will serve faithfully to the owners for many years.
How to choose plastic doors for toilet and bathroom
Various types of plastic are not the worst option for bathrooms. This material does not deform from moisture, from warm air, it is quite comfortable, hygienic and durable.
They also quite well insulate the room from extraneous noise, and they also retain heat.
Due to the abundance of all kinds of coatings, plastic can take the shape or texture of any other material, which is an excellent solution for decorating a room.
PVC door leaf
Despite the fact that plastic models do not look as beautiful as glass or wooden ones, PVC structures are replete with a variety of shapes and colors.
In addition, they can mimic natural materials. Such doors are the most popular on the market, since they are not much inferior in appearance, they are much cheaper than glass or timber.
PVC doors are a classic option, they look good in modest, democratic interior solutions.
Characteristics of plastic bathroom doors
Plastic models are the clear leaders in hygiene, and this is the main issue for rooms with high temperatures and high humidity. In terms of these characteristics, such doors are inferior only to glass ones.
Moreover, PVC does not require additional processing, because antiseptic, water-repellent properties are inherent in it by definition.
- Self-extinguishing ability, low ignition threshold;
- Resistant to deformation, despite the high temperature and humidity of the room;
- Lightweight;
- Resistant to chemical and mineral reagents;
- Easy to care for;
- A wide selection of textures, colors;
The main disadvantage of PVC construction is the possibility of deformation under high load on the canvas. This is possible due to the fact that the material is not elastic enough. You can solve this problem. This is mainly done by manufacturing companies, they equip the door with special tabs that reinforce the canvas, or connect plastic with a metal (aluminum) base.
If your choice fell on PVC doors, consult about their level of deformation. The above-described bathroom and toilet doors are slightly more expensive than pure plastic doors, however, they will last you longer. As in the case of glass sheets, PVC models are of 4 types: sliding / sliding, swing, accordion.
The canvas can be made of one material, it can be paneled or combined. In the latter case, plastic and metal or glass are most often combined. Glass inserts can be fixed directly to plastic or attached to iron inserts.
Types of bathroom and toilet door designs:
1. Most often, a swing type made of PVC is used for the bathroom. Their main advantage is ease of installation and use. For this type, you do not need to adjust the doorway and worry about the non-standard size, shape of the door.
This effect is achieved due to the fact that the doors are produced immediately in accordance with state building standards. If you are thinking of changing an old door to a new one, the likelihood that you will have to deform the opening is negligible.
For bathroom doors, the material is no different from what is used in the manufacture of interior doors, so they can be selected the same for the entire apartment. Only in typical apartments is there a difference in the size of the doorway between the bathroom and the rest of the rooms.
To avoid deforming the walls when you are going to make repairs, before going to the store, measure the width of the opening and the previously installed door.
2. The most compact - folding plastic structures. Due to the fact that it is gathered in folds, the free space increases, and the width of the door can be easily adjusted.
Sliding and sliding structures are approximately the same, the only difference is the number of leaves, respectively. In sliding - 2 pieces that open in different directions, in sliding - 1.
The main factor in choosing this type is free space in the bathroom. If it allows, you can install the model on two leaves. This type assumes two options for the door shape: standard and rounded.
The color range of such plastic models is not replete with paints, however, the choice is large enough. The standard color, in particular for swing structures, is white.
Nevertheless, multi-colored models, imitation wood imitation are also quite popular. In addition, the texture of the canvas, both smooth and embossed, can be different.
However, in textured canvases, dirt accumulates more, so for the bathroom it is better to choose smooth surfaces so that they can be easily washed if desired.
Such versatility of PVC doors for a bathroom allows not to disturb the overall picture of the interior of the house, not to disturb the harmony in the decor. This is especially important if the doors of different rooms are within the same visibility.
A door made of plastic materials serves as an excellent alternative to more expensive materials, while not inferior in quality and functionality to its expensive competitors.
If the status does not oblige you to buy expensive glass or wood, you also do not prejudice PVC, you should choose just such models, they will last much longer than "organic" materials.
Wooden doors for bathroom and toilet
The classic version for the bath is wooden models. They are quite popular, despite the fact that the tree is subject to rotting, deformation due to high temperature and humidity.
However, this fact does not stop status buyers. After all, it is the tree that emphasizes the high cost of the entire interior of the house, especially if the apartment is decorated in a classic style. To avoid the problems described above, manufacturers use oak or beech materials, specially processing the wood and pre-drying it to the desired condition.
In addition, they are additionally impregnated with antiseptics, varnished. Such models are appropriate for large bathrooms, since it is better to place them away from a source of heat and moisture. Models made of this material are quite expensive.
Chipboard structures
Particleboard and MFD designs are quite popular on the market. Their main advantage is their affordable price. In addition, they are covered with a special laminate that repels moisture.
Thanks to design developments, they fit well into the overall picture of most modern interiors. Natural veneer door leaves are not recommended for use in bathrooms because they are not resistant to moisture.
Which wood is preferred for the bathroom?
The main problem is the fight against moisture. Among wooden models, conifers are best suited to this problem. Moreover, the material should be treated with an antiseptic, three layers of high-quality construction varnish should be applied.
Wooden bathroom doors Natural veneer is undesirable for the bathroom. If the choice fell solely on this material, it should be pre-soaked with moisture-resistant agents and treated with glue. In this case, it can be installed in the bathroom.
When choosing a door, you should always remember that pure water deforms and destroys wood. Therefore, the main selection criterion should be the distance from the bath to the door. If it is small, water ingress on the door is inevitable.
How to choose doors for bathroom and toilet?
The main selection criterion, which should always be guided by, is practicality and ease of use. It is imperative that the door for the bathroom provides good ventilation. It can be created by gaps between the door and the floor.
In addition, handles, hinges, latches should be made of especially high-quality material, since due to high humidity, the load on them will be greater than in the interior versions.
Choosing a door for a bathroom and toilet should not only take into account the financial situation, but also taking into account the overall picture of the home interior. A very important detail is whether it opens comfortably. It is best if it opens outward so as not to disturb the already small space in the room.
At the same time, it is important to reduce the likelihood of injury to household members as much as possible. If the risk is still great, it is better to make it swing inward.
If, in addition to the bath, there is a jacuzzi or a sauna in the room, the door should not be hermetically closed; ventilation should be done at the bottom of the canvas. If the bathroom is located too close to the interior doors and there is a possibility that two doors will open towards each other, then sliding doors can be chosen for the bathroom.
They will become not only an excellent practical solution, but also beneficially complement the picture of the interior.
Criteria for choosing a door for a bathroom:
- Moisture resistance;
- Practicality;
- Ease of care;
- Attention to the size of the opening, room;
- Heat resistance;
- Condensate repulsion;
- A harmonious addition to the overall interior of the house;
- Safety for family members, especially children;
- Compliance with the status of the owner.
The size of a standard door leaf for a bathroom is equal to the format of interior linens: from 1 m 980 cm in height, 6-8.5 meters wide, a step of 55 mm.
Types of door structures:
- Swing - a traditional model, mounted on hinges, can be single or double-leaf, sashes can be different in width;
- Pendulum - swing, which can be opened in both directions;
- Sliding - moves with the help of special rollers fixed at the bottom and top, moves in one direction, the upper rail is regulating, and the lower one is a support;
- Sliding - similar to the previous version, however, it has two sashes that diverge in different directions along the slats.
There are also several options for bathroom and toilet door designs. In addition to the traditional rectangular shape, there can also be radius - rounded doors.
This shape looks very original and fits perfectly into the arched interior.