What Are The Different Types Of Doors To Choose From?

Every element of an architectural structure has its purpose. A door, for instance, primarily provides privacy in rooms, access between spaces, control of a room's atmosphere, and beauty to the building, per GharPedia. However, in today's world of super-speedy technology advancement, doors as products are undergoing a startling evolution in terms of functionality, size, shape, design, mechanics, and material. This door evolution has provided vast choices and endless opportunities to homeowners, contractors, architects, and businesses.

Unfortunately, this problem creates choice overload, which Psychology Today associates with disappointment, decision paralysis, dissatisfaction, and buyer's remorse. Now, you don't want any of those happening when you pick a door for your next project, so we suggest diving headfirst into the wondrous world of doors. To that end, we created this eye-opening list of the types of doors and their unique characteristics. Soon, you'll be able to shop confidently, decisively, and even have fun while doing so!

Hinged doors are the most basic type of doors, and they are what spring to mind whenever you think about these openable barriers. According to BUILD, a standard hinged door is made of a hollow-core or a solid-wood panel attached to a side of the entry space with hinges, and it is operated with a knob or any other control system. Though these doors are low maintenance and easy to customize, they may not be ideal for an area with limited space as they demand a lot of room for swinging in and out during opening and closing.

Bifold doors, aka accordion or folding doors, are high-class structures, the type you see in five-star hotels, million-dollar mansions, luxury fashion stores, and expensive buildings in metropolitan areas. As described by LaCantina Doors, a standard bifold door is made of two or more interconnected framed glass panels hinged together; when one slides open, all of the connected panels stack together into a fold. The pros of bifold are that they are elegant, fun to navigate, provide better natural lighting, and connect your interior to the outdoor space. But they can be expensive and delicate.

A pivot door is perfect for homeowners who love to make a statement and impress their guests. It is hinged vertically in the middle of the entryway, where it spins when controlled. Consumers favor pivot doors because they are sturdy, modern, large, customizable, stable, and operate silently, per DigsDigs. They can be constructed from wood, glass, ceramic, or a combination of the three for an unusual appeal. Note that pivot doors are typically broad and installed in sizeable entryways. 

A sliding door features a panel mounted on two rollers that allows you to slide it along a track. According to Anthony Innovations, some of the best places to install a sliding door in your house are the bedroom, living room, bathroom, and kitchen; however, sliding doors are also standard on wardrobes and closets. Hedrick Construction also discussed the advantage of a sliding door, lauding it for maximizing space, improving traffic and airflow, promoting better lighting, and adding aesthetics to the home.

A pocket door is similar to a sliding door in features and mode of operation. The only difference between the two is that the former has a pocket, i.e., a space inside the wall where it can be slid into when not in use. Civiconcepts recommends pocket doors for pantries, home offices, laundry rooms, primary bedrooms, kitchens, and dining rooms. They also mentioned that pocket doors are aesthetically pleasing, convenient to use, and space-saving, though these doors can become noisy and less sturdy over time.

A French door is a traditional hinged door in a different style. The door panel is divided into two halves, each hinged to the opposite side of the wall. This system gives the door a dramatic mode of operation and allows it to be opened inward and outward. Florida Window & Door Solutions say that the best places to install a French door are the patio and living room, though some homeowners use them for their gardens. Sash Windows discusses the benefits of French doors, citing high security, ultra durability, easy accessibility, and heating bill minimization.

As revealed by HPD Consult, battened and ledged doors, presently not as common in the USA as in other European countries, consist of vertical hardwood battens supported by horizontal ledges. These doors are easy to install, typically water-proofed, noise-free, cost-effective, effortless to repaint, and sturdy. According to MT Copeland Technologies, battened and ledged doors are primarily used in cabins and farm-style houses; however, they can also find purpose in a garage.

In an article on Medium, Maria Kairuz, an interior design enthusiast, encouraged homeowners to consider doors made of polyvinyl chloride (PVC). The expert cited benefits of better security, ease of maintenance, resistance against pet activities and warping, budget-friendliness, and modern looks. Describing a typical PVC door, Fenesta said it looks like a painted wooden door, only one of low upkeep. Homees explained that PVC doors are primarily used in areas where water resistance is needed, a bathroom, for instance, and installation costs between $250 and $500.

According to Sun Mountain, these doors are made of multiple panels, unlike most other types of single-paneled doors. They are widely used in bedrooms, gardens, dormitories, main entrances, and farmhouses. We recommend this door design to homeowners and businesses who love simplicity and high quality. Although, GharPedia warns that panel doors are expensive and require daily cleaning due to their low resistance to dust to keep them in perfect shape throughout the years.

Similar to a French door, a Dutch is split into halves. The difference between the two is that a French door takes a vertical split, while the Dutch's is horizontal. According to Julie Blanner, Dutch doors add classic charm and a touch of personality to your space while promoting better lighting and keeping out pests. These doors may require unexpected repairs now and then because they consist of multiple hardware parts.

The urdesignmag published a lengthy post unveiling some qualities of a roller door: high-security level, supreme durability, ease of use, and excellent weather adaption. And to remind you, a roller door is a typical garage door that features a steel sheet rolled up and down, as suggested by the name. According to Carolina Garage Door, before opting for this movable barrier, you should consider the high installation costs and its lack of elaborate aesthetics.

McCoy Mart describes a flush door as a cardboard-filled frame covered on both sides with natural wood, plywood, or medium-density fibreboard (MDF). They explained that the uniqueness of a flush door is found in its smooth surfaces. But before buying flush doors, Dream Civil says to consider that they are generally heavy, almost impossible to customize, and may be challenging to repair. Furthermore, Sun Mountain advised that these doors should be used as backdoors to backyards and patios.

According to The Construction Specifier, a revolving door is a structure set in a shaft that sits on a platform around which door wings revolve. These are the doors you navigate in banks and other commercial buildings. Wonderopolis states that the revolving door is a top choice because of its ability to prevent energy wastage in buildings. Note that revolving doors are available in manual and automatic. The automatic varieties are ideal for commercial buildings with high access frequency, while the manual ones operate quietly and are best for homes.

Install a collapsible door if you need a large-sized entryway-exit way for a building with limited space. Civiconcepts describes it as any door that must be pulled or pushed to open or close. They mentioned that collapsible doors are custom-made, authentic, cost-effective, and lightweight — therefore, easy to control. They also said that these doors provide maximum security against burglars and intruders, and for this reason, we recommend every store owner use collapsible doors.

For those who want a modern, reflective entryway design for their living room, kitchen, dining room, and the end of a corridor, glazed doors are a good choice. According to GharPedia, glazed doors are complex and delicate structures engineered with panes of glasses molded into different shapes, sizes, and patterns. JB Kind Doors describes these openable barriers as internal doors that maximize the amount of natural light entering a room.