Choosing the best front door: from design to manufacturer

A high-quality front door is the key to comfortable living for a family in an apartment or private house. This product does not allow entry into the home cold air and various smells, allows you not to hear the clatter and hum of elevators in the entrance, protects property from attacks by intruders. But what is the ideal door and where to buy it? We will try to understand these issues, as well as find out what the modern Russian market offers us.

The best entrance doors

A good entrance door should combine high quality at an affordable price and meet a number of requirements:

• Ensuring the safety of property is the main function of the front door. Of course, protection against intrusion is provided not only by the door itself, but also by additional equipment: a high-quality peephole for monitoring the area at the entrance, high-burglar resistance locks and other accessories. However, the door itself must be protected from being removed from its hinges or knocked out.
• High heat and noise insulation : the door should not let in extraneous sounds and cold. This is ensured both by the properties of the canvas itself and by the presence of special sealing rubber bands.
• Attractive appearance : the inner part of the door should ideally suit the design of the apartment or house, and the outer part should fit into the style of the entrance or vestibule.
• Durability to accidental (for example, impacts from furniture brought into the apartment) or intentional (vandalism) damage, as well as severe weather conditions (if the door is intended for a private home).

Many manufacturers strive to achieve optimal quality indicators while maintaining the availability of their products, but not everyone succeeds.

In total, there are 13 burglary resistance classes. If the first four are assigned to ordinary entrance doors, then the fifth - to safe doors, and from the sixth to the twelfth - to the doors of bank vaults. Which door is the safest in the world? Officially, the only examples of the thirteenth class are the entrance doors installed at Fort Knox. The technology for their manufacture, of course, is secret, and they protect four thousand tons of precious metal bars - the US gold reserves.

Entrance door market: manufacturers and prices

According to experts, up to 90% of all entrance doors sold in our country are made in Russia. This is understandable: the quality of domestic products has long been equal to foreign ones, but the delivery time of our products is much shorter, as is the price. At the same time, the buyer does not have problems with non-standard models (and 9 out of 10 doors are sold to order in our country) or with warranty service.

In recent years, the situation with foreign manufacturers has only worsened - sanctions and rising exchange rates have had an impact. The only exception was, perhaps, doors from China: their price is still quite low, but the quality of the most budget models is significantly inferior to their inexpensive domestic counterparts. A small percentage of the Russian market remained with other foreign manufacturers, while the products of each country have their own characteristics:

• Italian brands (MASTER, Panto, Dierre, Albertin) are still focused on luxury products - armored and “smart” doors, as well as products finished with expensive wood.
• Finnish doors (Fenestra, ALAVUS) are quite simple in appearance, but are much more budget-friendly than their Italian counterparts. It is interesting that among Finnish products, not only metal, but also wooden entrance doors are common, although they are not very relevant for our country.
• The most popular doors from Israel are burglary-resistant products from Super Lock and MAGEN BARIAH. The second company's products are cheaper and have a simpler design. In general, Israeli doors presented on Russian market, - expensive armored products.
• Polish doors (Gerda) are another example of high-quality European products. Interesting design and high burglary resistance, the use of expensive natural materials in decoration attract many Russians, but in terms of cost, good Polish doors are only slightly inferior to Italian ones and are practically inaccessible to the middle class.

The number of Russian factories producing entrance doors is quite large, but many of them are focused on the market of a specific region. Among the popular and well-known brands throughout the country are:

• "Bravo"- high-quality and inexpensive entrance doors made in Russia. The main Groff series is positioned as a premium class, but at the same time, for example, for 20 thousand rubles, you can purchase a steel door with high-quality external finishing, fully equipped, with armored linings, three sealing contours, insulation from Knauf and anti-removal pins. On this moment, this is one of the best offers on the market.
• "Became"- high quality doors with a wide variety of finishes and fillings. However, the price of the products is already significantly higher than the previous brand: the most inexpensive door economy class for an apartment, and suitable for a country house - from 40 thousand in the minimum configuration. Expensive products are distinguished by additional insulation, the presence of a thermal break and a price of about 100 thousand rubles.
• "The Guardian". Like the above companies, Guardian products are distinguished by good workmanship, and the premium series of doors also have a high level of security. Based on the price category, this brand can be classified as an elite class. The cheapest entrance door, for example, will cost the buyer 17 thousand rubles, but with minimal additions to improve the too simple appearance - over 25 thousand. An expensive series “Monolith” of the third class of burglary resistance will cost from 110 thousand, and with good finishing - about 200. Needless to say, not every family can afford the products of this factory?

It is difficult to answer the question: “Which company has the best entrance doors?” - it depends on the specific requirements and financial conditions of the buyer. Important for someone low price, for some - finishing with expensive materials or suitability for installation in the Far North.

Which entrance door is better to install?

As already mentioned, there is no universal recipe for buying the ideal door, but we will try to consider the main parameters that you need to pay attention to when choosing.

Depending on the installation location: apartment, cottage or house - the door will differ in characteristics. It is usually important for apartment residents to isolate the premises from access noise, therefore the entrance door to the vestibule or, in its absence, to the residential part, should provide good sound insulation. For this purpose, in “apartment” doors Special attention pay attention to the filler (better if it is a fine-porous solid type) and installing an additional sealing contour.

In a private house, the main problem with the front door is freezing of both the product itself and the locking mechanisms. This leads to great difficulties in opening locks and to the fragility of all metal components of the door. Special additional insulation will help correct the situation - filling the canvas with expanded polystyrene or mineral wool. In addition, in the premium category you can find doors with a thermal break or even heating - they also protect from bad weather and operational failures.

Regardless of the installation location, the appearance of the product is important. If vestibule doors are often made of metal and the scope of imagination for design is limited only by the choice of color, then inner door(and especially its “apartment” side) are usually chosen in strict accordance with the style of the living space. The most popular in our country are solid wood, expensive wood veneer, MDF and more budget-friendly decorative panels. Since the decorative part does not greatly affect the functionality of the product, it can be simplified to a minimum to save money.

Despite the fact that entrance doors are not subject to mandatory certification, many manufacturers undergo this procedure voluntarily. Please clarify this issue when purchasing the product - high-quality doors must comply with GOST 31173-2003. In some cases, you can also obtain certificates for component products from the manufacturer: for example, the metal must indicate compliance with GOST 19904 (cold-rolled steel). Hot rolled steel (GOST 19903) is more susceptible to corrosion and less durable.

In addition to the basic documentation, a good sign would be the presence of additional certificates for burglary and fire resistance. For household entrance doors, four levels of burglary resistance are used - from the first, the simplest, to the fourth, in which the product can resist the influence of a powerful power tool for about thirty minutes.

To protect the room, not only the canvas itself plays a role, but also the components: lock, hinges and anti-removal pins. Locks are among the most popular on Russian doors. Italian made(Mottura, Cisa), they have a high level of reliability and quality. Anti-removal pins provide protection in case a burglar cuts off the hinges: they do not allow the door leaf to be removed and penetrated into the apartment - therefore, having two or more of them is highly desirable.

It is important to remember that there are no doors or locks that will make your home completely inaccessible to possible burglars. The main function of all the listed protective measures is to detain intruders until the police or security arrives, or to scare off robbers with the complexity of the work. Therefore, both door manufacturers and law enforcement officers recommend equipping your home with an alarm, especially if it is a dacha or a private house - in such premises, vigilant neighbors are unlikely to call the police.

Choosing 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 needs: price, design, reliability, sound and heat insulation. How, under these conditions, can one balance the consumer properties of a 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 specialists know this.

Let's fill the gap in the knowledge of the average consumer and consider which entrance door is best installed in an apartment.

Main structural elements of the entrance door

The question of what material the entrance door to the apartment should be made of: wood or metal is not discussed. A priori this is a metal door. It consists of many structural elements, which many consumers are not aware of. And they play an important role in protecting your home from thieves and robbers.

To warn owners against possible errors When installing doors in an apartment, we will consider in detail, in the most accessible language, each element of the door structure, the terms that denote them and their role in the design of the door.

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

• painting powder paint, as a result of which several problems 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;
• covered with laminated film;
• sheathed with MDF sheets, precious wood veneer, etc.

For reference: the door leaf is a movable part of the door block that overlaps the doorway with its dimensions. It consists of internal and external metal sheets, an internal frame, stiffeners and filler (insulation).

2. Loops- Allows you to open and close the door.

3. Peephole (door)– provides the opportunity to inspect the space directly outside the door.

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

5. Armored plate for 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 locking mechanisms from breaking.

7. Inner frame. One of the most important elements of a door structure. The geometry of the inside of the door block and the protection of locks from breaking when trying to press the bolts from the door frame depend on its strength.

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

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

9. Anti-removal pins. Installed only with external hinges. Hold the door leaf in the frame while trying to cut the hinges and remove the door.

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

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

12. Vertical transom for locks of “crab” design.

13. Deviator. Additional horizontal bolts located outside the lock area - if a criminal manages to press 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. Strengthens the protective functions of the door. In a number of door models, there is no door - an MDF panel is installed.

15. Internal lining. Made from MDF, veneer valuable species wood, etc.

16. Door frame– the fixed part of the door block. It is a frame structure supporting a door on hinges. Attached to the wall with anchor bolts.

17. Metal platband, is part of the box.

18. – installed on a box indoors.

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

20. Sealant– installed in the contour of the vestibule.

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

21. Eccentric– regulates the force of pressing the leaf against the door frame.

22. Night watchman – blocks the door with inside without the ability to open it from the outside. Only hacking.

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

24. – covers part of the wall indoors, performing the function of a slope.

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

What to look for when choosing

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

Let's consider the features of each of the above elements so that the consumer, when choosing the entrance door to the apartment, consciously comes to a compromise on the parameters of the product when purchasing 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 cladding (metal sheet) outside and inside;
• 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 heavy weight of the door will very quickly require replacing the hinges.

How to choose the right door based on the thickness of the elements? More on this below.

Door leaf thickness. Let us immediately 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 usually 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, a door leaf with cladding of any thickness can be installed in an apartment. 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 dramatically makes the door heavier, as a result of which the hinges quickly wear out.

Therefore, in practice, one sheet of 2-3 mm thick is placed on the door leaf on each side. One can argue with such a decision. Here are a few points:

• At the entrance, no one will cut out the door leaf with a grinder. This is not a private house, where sometimes no one is home at night, and 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 impassable, why install a second sheet of metal, increasing the load on the hinges and increasing the cost of the door itself.
• The second metal sheet conducts noise and heat well. Installing a removable panel made of a different material instead increases the level of heat and sound insulation.

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

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

What saves you in such a situation are stiffening ribs - pieces of ordinary angle or rolled steel with a complex profile welded inside the door leaf. Minimum allowed quantity: two plates vertically and one horizontally. Increasing the number of horizontal ribs reduces the probability of pressing the door to zero. But you shouldn’t get carried away either - increasing the weight of the canvas has a negative effect on the hinges.

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

Door frame

A quality door frame should have:

• metal thickness 3-5 mm;
• closed loop - the U-shaped profile does not provide reliability;
• profile pipe as a load-bearing element - a box made of two bent sheets is less resistant to deformation: bending and twisting;
• one weld seam;
• minimum 6 mounting points: 4 on the hinge side and 2 on the lock side;
• one, or better yet 2 porches;
• thermal break - insulation inside the profile.

Locks

The door should protect the apartment not only from brute force (a crowbar or a sledgehammer), but also from intellectuals, called in the criminal community “safeguards”, who are capable of opening any lock. All attempts by manufacturers of locking devices to complicate their design sooner or later become accessible to burglars. Therefore, you should not rely only on locks, no matter how complex their design.

But it is possible and necessary to complicate the thief’s task. To do this, professionals recommend installing two locks of different designs or one electronic lock on the door leaf, which is much more expensive. This will require the thief to have higher qualifications and more time to open the doors. The time factor in most cases becomes decisive - fearing to get caught by someone, an attacker often abandons his idea halfway: after devoting a lot of time to selecting master keys for one lock, he leaves.

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

U level 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 the use of a “crab” design for locking doors with vertical bolts and deviators - it turns the mechanism without deformation;
• durable shell protects locking device from blows (knocking out);
• there are 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 of various kinds of master keys;
• If you lose your keys, you have to change the lock;
• are easily opened with master keys, although in the latest models this process is complicated - levers with false grooves are installed, electronic systems key recognition, force burglary blockers, etc.

U 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 original key removes the blockade, after which the locking mechanism can be moved: to close or open the door.

This castle also has its strengths and weaknesses:

• The simple design allows for 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;
• standard cylinder size, allowing you to simply replace it if you lose your keys;
• low resistance to mechanical force - knocking out or drilling the core, after which access to the crossbars appears, is not very difficult. The problem is solved by armored linings, plates or balls made of special steel that do not allow drilling, manganese pins, etc.

Electronic locks have not yet found their way into Russia, unlike in 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 third place are the hinges. Having cut them off, the attacker simply removes the door from the frame. This statistics is also available to door manufacturers. They took into account the negative experience and took action.

Today in metal entrance doors you can find:

• familiar to everyone external loops. They are easily cut off, but the designers took this point into account and began installing special anti-removal pins. They fit into the frame and firmly hold the door closed 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 outer sheet canvases in the area of ​​castles.

Hidden hinges have several disadvantages that need to be considered:

• the cost of fittings and its installation is much higher;
• special grooves in which hinges are hidden reduce the doorway;
• opening angle is limited – max 160 o;
• There is a risk of deforming the door leaf when opening sharply.

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

Peephole

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

To make it easier to navigate security issues, let’s summarize. All doors, depending on the combination of the listed door design elements, are divided into 7 safety classes. For apartment best option– 3rd grade, country house – 4th.

We figured out how to choose the entrance door to an apartment to protect it as much as possible from burglary. Now let's find out how to ensure comfort.

Sealant and filler

An apartment is comfortable when it is quiet and warm. The door, along with the windows, is the most vulnerable place in this regard. Noise and cold come through it. To combat them, various insulation and sound insulation techniques are used:

• fill the space between the door skin with various insulation and sound absorbers;
• A one-, two- and three-circuit vestibule is made, which is covered with a sealant.

Appearance

Professional builders, when setting priorities, in the process of choosing entrance doors, their design is pushed into the background. For buyers, if it is not the main one, it is certainly 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, it must have a presentable appearance from the outside and fit into the interior of the apartment.

On the 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.

The inside of the door leaf can be finished:

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

Of the listed materials, the most expensive finishing method is MDF panels. The simplest and cheapest - laminated film. If you don’t have the funds, you can simply paint the door with acrylic enamel and varnish the top.

Rating of entrance door manufacturers

No one will deny that the door in an 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 present a rating of manufacturers in different price segments, which will help you make the right choice.

"Elbor". A domestic company with over 25 years of experience. It produces doors from economy class to 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 the products (prices are in the lead in each product class) and the level of service (service lags behind production).

"Outpost". One of the few Russian manufacturers of construction products that have begun to be counterfeited. There is an explanation for this. The doors have an affordable price, a wide range of products, beautiful design external and internal sides, high reliability. Disadvantages include low sound insulation and difficulty in replacing hinges and locks.

The company can inexpensively select doors for various utility rooms, apartments, and country houses. To avoid running into a Chinese counterfeit, you need to look at some door elements. So, the original has an armored lining for the cylinder bell and a magnetic seal. The fake doesn't have this. And vice versa - the Chinese door is equipped with an electric lock, while the Russian door does not have one.

"Torex". If the consumer hesitates and does not know which entrance door to choose for the apartment, specialists will simple recommendation: Take a closer look at the Torex doors. It has the widest range in terms of cost, level of burglary protection and design. And noise protection is the best on the Russian market, superior to competitors by 15-20%. There is only one drawback - it is difficult to replace accessories.

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

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

"Condor". Another domestic company. She has the perfect combination of price and quality. The products are aimed at buyers with average incomes. 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”, “Metalux” and the Polish ones – “Galant” and “Novak”. They have good consumer characteristics, as well as a wide range of models, original design, affordable prices.

StroyGuru Editor's Choice

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, the company “Barlock Doors”. No one has any complaints. Therefore, the editors decided to make their choice based on reviews on the forums.

The best door from the economy segment. In the budget segment of metal entrance doors, a dual power has developed:

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

“Stal” doors have 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 at large selection models.

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

Important: all ratings and lists are based on consumer reviews. The sequence is drawn up in any form. If some brands are not on the list, this does not mean that their products are inferior in any respect.

Conclusion

When arranging your home, it is very important to know how to choose a steel entrance door to your 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 made of metal;
• box frame made of profile pipe with a closed perimeter;
• external hinges with support bearings and anti-burglary pins;
• two locks: level and cylinder, with armor protection on the latter;
• thermal break (insulation inside the box profile);
• external metal trim;
• at least one narthex contour with a seal;
• peephole;
• stiffening ribs, at least 3 horizontally;
• external painting with powder paint (creates protective film), although “to taste and color, there is no comrade.”

The specific choice is up to the consumer.

How to choose entrance doors to an apartment? Each of us has our own idea of ​​​​products. But everyone considers reliability, quality and design to be the main qualities. You can secure your apartment from intruders with additional actions: carry out, arm the apartment and install. These are additional costs that can be avoided. However, there are nuances that affect reliability. It is heat and burglary resistant. To select the best product, we conducted a market analysis and compiled a rating of entrance doors to the apartment and consumer reviews to help make the right decision.

The first thing you should pay attention to is the material used to make the doors. Wood or metal is most often used in production. Let's look at the features of each. Quality input wooden doors apartments are expensive. They are quite reliable, and it is precisely such products that create prestige for their owners. Not every wood is suitable for making a high-quality structure. Better to use:

• ash;
• mahogany and ebony.

Products made from other types of wood are significantly inferior in strength and operational characteristics. In this case, it is better to purchase doors made of metal. The price category is different. We will tell you further how not to get confused and know what to look for when choosing.

Main technical parameters of entrance doors

The front door must meet two criteria - reliability and security. Therefore, when choosing, it is important to consider the thickness of the base and outer sheet. It is important that the structure has stiffening ribs. It would seem that the higher these parameters, the better. Excess weight will lead to wear on the hinges due to rapid inertia when opening.

Let's consider the main characteristics of metal entrance doors to an apartment in more detail.

Sheet thickness

Not every metal is suitable for entrance doors. Medium-carbon and medium-alloy alloys are considered optimal. You can check the sheet thickness in the technical data sheet, but you should know the basic classification:

The optimal weight of the product should be within 70 kg. Structures weighing about 100 kg are installed in cans.

Canvas design

The canvas consists of a frame rectangular shape with two steel sheets. Manufacturers sometimes replace the inner panel with MDF or veneer. If, you should choose a completely metal structure, since temperature changes and humidity will quickly lead to wooden panel into disrepair.

It is mandatory to install steel casing and vestibules that will hide all areas and protect the premises from unauthorized entry.

Stiffening ribs are installed between the sheets. The minimum set is 2 vertical and 1 horizontal. As their number increases, the reliability and weight of the structure increases.

Locks

When selecting a product, it must meet the following criteria:

• The quality of the lock must match the door. A model assembled from cheap materials will not protect even the most expensive structure from hacking. And, conversely, it is useless to install a premium lock on Chinese products;
• The front door requires a mortise lock; overhead models are not suitable. A latch is required;
• Manufacturers install 2 locks. This is necessary to protect against burglary, because opening two locks for a burglar is much more difficult and takes longer. There is another reason - reinsurance. If one breaks down, you can use the second lock during repairs;
• Locks need to be selected with different designs. It is recommended to install a lever and cylinder lock.

You should choose a lock only from reliable manufacturers. They guarantee high quality and reliability of the models.

Hinges and trims

For urban conditions or private houses, installing 2-3 loops is enough. They must be supplemented with ball bearings. This increases their service life. Elements can be hidden or external, which are attached to the stand and canvas by welding. External loops spoil the appearance of the product, and they can be easily cut off. Hidden ones are much more reliable. However, they have their drawbacks:

1. the price of the door increases;
2. the hinges are hidden in special grooves, this reduces the opening of the structure;
3. smaller opening angle.

The hinges are closed with a platband, which makes it difficult to break the door.

Design

The main thing when choosing is the design of the canvas. The finish must be practical, resistant to mechanical damage and weather conditions. This is especially important for private houses and cottages. Vandal-proof powder coating meets these requirements.

The inner fabric should fit harmoniously into. Manufacturers offer designs with removable internal panels that can be changed if necessary.

How to choose the right entrance door to your apartment

Many manufacturers are engaged in the manufacture of structures. How not to get confused and choose the best steel entrance doors for an apartment in terms of price-quality ratio? We have compiled several rules that will make it easy to navigate this market segment:

1. The base should be made of high-strength steel, sheet thickness 2-3 mm. In addition to reliability and durability, it has additional noise and heat insulation.
2. Finishing can be made of MDF, powder coating, wood.
3. When choosing, you should know in which direction the door will open and the location of the handle.
4. Moisture and moisture criteria.
5. You should pay attention to what materials the heat and sound insulation is made of.
6. Addition of locks to the design, degree of burglary resistance.
7. Door fittings: hinges, chains must be of good quality, otherwise they will quickly fail.
8. When choosing a product, it is important to choose a model from well-known manufacturers. They will provide a long warranty period not only for the canvas, but also for the accessories.
9. Installation should only be entrusted to professionals.

Additional functions of entrance doors

A high-quality door must not only meet the requirements of reliability and safety, but also fulfill additional functions. For city apartments, it is important that outside sounds and smells from the entrance do not penetrate into the room. Therefore, you should pay attention to these parameters.

Metal entrance doors to an apartment with sound insulation

Sound and heat insulation of the entrance door is made with mineral wool, polyurethane foam or polystyrene foam. In addition, they will protect the room from external sounds. According to professionals, the best design is one filled with polyurethane foam. In addition, to ensure sound insulation, it is necessary to maintain a tight seal between the canvas and the frame. To do this, you need to install 2 rubber sealing contours around the perimeter of the frame. You can, if necessary, check with the seller about how to add an additional metal entrance door to the apartment.

Another important parameter is the thickness of the door. It must be at least 60 ml, then the product will meet all the required characteristics.

Entrance metal doors to an apartment with a mirror

Entrance door designers have developed completely new model with a mirror cloth. In addition to the fact that it is convenient to have a full-length mirror, it does not take up space and visually increases the space. Such products can be divided into several types:

• with mirror panel, which is attached using a special adhesive composition;
• with built-in mirror– the mirror surface partially covers the panel.

You should know this! The only drawback of the designs is the inability to install a peephole. If necessary, a video peephole can serve as an alternative.

Rating of steel entrance doors to apartments and customer reviews

You cannot skimp on the safety of your home. The front door must fully meet all the requirements of modern life. To better navigate the models, we have compiled a rating the best manufacturers 2017-2018 in different price segments.

Manufacturer: Forpost

The products first entered the market more than 17 years ago. In addition to manufacturing steel entrance doors to apartments, they produce locks. The product is in great demand thanks to high quality and reasonable price.

The manufacturer offers 3 types of designs:

• standard− designed for installation in apartment buildings;
• reinforced− recommended for private houses;
• construction– for installation during the construction of houses or.

Installed on all models hidden hinges, which increases their safety.

Advice! If you need to remove elements, you should contact the manufacturer directly or a service center.

As proof of the above, here is a consumer review of Forpost products.

xumuk032 Russia, Bryansk, door “Forpost” 228: Advantages: durable coating, good insulation, looks decent.

Disadvantages: keys different castles almost identical in shape and color.

This steel door with metal thickness outside 1.5 mm. The inside is also metal, but a little thinner. Filling: polyurethane foam. And also a bunch of locks.

The outer side is made of steel 1.5 mm thick with weather-resistant coating. That is, this one is suitable for installation directly on the street. The interior of the canvas and the box is coated with polymer. Which is also very successful, because... when installed between the street and a heated room, there will be condensation, and polymer coating is not harmful, unlike MDF....

More details on Otzovik: http://otzovik.com/review_2983317.html.

S-128
128S

A-37

Manufacturer: Torex

The company has been producing metal structures for over 25 years. The product range can be divided into 3 categories:

• for private houses. Expanded polystyrene is used as insulation. You can also choose doors with a thermal break, this will help save heat;
• for apartments in high-rise buildings;
• fire protection They are able to hold an open fire for up to 6 hours. In addition, they are equipped with an “Anti-panic” mechanism, with which the doors can be opened from the inside.

Here is one of the many reviews about the models:

Hela, Russia, metal entrance door “Torex”: Advantages: no noise or smell.

Disadvantages: none.

We bought the entrance door to the apartment with sound insulation from Torex. These products are not very cheap, but quite high quality. The door cost us 24,000 rubles. It has 2 locks, 1 latch. There is a peephole. True, we ordered a metal curtain for it. I like the door hardware. Everything works quite reliably, and it looks normal...

More details on Otzovik: http://otzovik.com/review_1405347.html.

Manufacturer: Elbor

The history of the Elbor manufacturer begins in the 70s of the last century. The following series of doors are currently produced:

• luxury;
• premium;
• Standard products;
• Optimum with a minimum set of functions;
• economy class.

High quality sets the product apart from the market of similar products.

Manufacturer: Guardian

The manufacturer first began production in 1994. The products are highly expensive, which is not surprising. It has received the highest awards for quality and durability. The products have a fire safety certificate. Currently, the market offers products of different designs in a wide price range, but if funds allow, you should choose the premium class. On the manufacturer's website you can see photos of entrance doors in different price ranges.

Manufacturer: Condor

This manufacturer produces doors in a good price-quality ratio. Mineral wool is used for thermal insulation. The design is resistant to external influences, the canvas is painted with a special varnish composition. Doors can be installed. No obvious shortcomings were identified, and therefore it is worth paying attention to the product when choosing.

Manufacturer "Stal"

Metal doors from the manufacturer "Stal" are similar to those produced by the Elbor plant. The only difference is model range. The manufacturer does not produce premium models; the main production is designed for the average consumer. The products are made from sheets with a sheet thickness of 2 mm; a profile of complex design is used, which increases the strength of the doors.

It is quite rare to have the correct choice of a metal entrance door that fully complies with the conditions of use and purpose. We have collected several tips and rules that will help you accurately choose the right door in accordance with your requirements and not overpay.

The cost and complexity of the entrance door should be determined by its burglary resistance. It, in turn, must correspond to the value of the property and the likelihood of an attempted illegal entry. In any case, it is necessary to accept as a golden rule not to provide excessive resistance to hacking and carefully check whether the proposed technical solutions capable of performing their functions.

What size should the door be?

The actual size of the door is determined by the dimensions of the opening, from which the values ​​of the technological gaps and the thickness of the pillar elements of the door block are subtracted. The width of the opening, according to SNiP, should not be less than 910 mm, the height can vary from 210 to 230 mm, taking into account the 70 mm thick stand, which cannot be knocked down. However, these standards are directly related only to secondary housing; in new buildings and private properties, the sizes of openings can be completely arbitrary.

Therefore, it is so important to ensure that the technological gaps are observed when taking measurements for correct installation. The opening in panel and prefabricated monolithic buildings must be at least 10 mm larger than the assembled door block on each side, in brick buildings - 25 mm. It is advisable that the gap be no more than 50 mm, this will lead to a “suspended” installation method, reduce the strength of the fastening and will not allow the door to be used for the first time after sealing.

What thickness of canvas should I choose?

The thickness and grade of sheet steel in the door leaf is one of the most important factors in burglary resistance. In general, the thicker the door, the more reliable it is, but you shouldn’t bend it. Firstly, vandal opening of the canvas is carried out only if comparable forces failed to break the locks. Secondly, due to the increased weight of the door, the hinge group will need to be strengthened. Door leaves weighing over 150 kg require the installation of a closer and an opening limiter. Optimal thickness sheet ranges from 1.5 to 3 mm, and for doors of burglary resistance class III and IV - at least 4.5 mm.

Much the material is more important fabric production. The hardness of the steel to withstand axial tools must be at least 55 HRC to be resistant to most cutting edges 35-40 HRC will be enough. The resistance of steel to drilling and cutting plays virtually no role for composite panels, in which there is a relatively thin sheets steel is lined with a layer of abrasive material. You also need to remember that the hardness of steel below 60 HRC is not decisive for resistance to abrasive and oxy-fuel cutting; most so-called burglary-resistant blades can be burned through with a manual balloon cutter.

Which stiffener system is better?

The high rigidity of the fabric is one of the most important obstacles to spinning. Most budget doors only have a thin angle steel frame and a stamped surface. In this case, the door really bends with difficulty, but if the metal thickness is less than 1 mm, it can simply be crushed.

It is optimal if the door is reinforced along the contour of the narthex with a rectangular profile measuring at least 40x40 mm with a wall thickness of at least 2.5 mm. You can also focus on the cross-section of the reinforcing element; it should not be lower than 400 mm 2. In addition to the framing frame, it is desirable to have one or two horizontal struts and diagonal braces in the formed cells. There is no need to build a reinforcement system that is too sophisticated: stiffening ribs negatively affect heat and sound insulation and increase the weight of the canvas.

Do doors need insulation and what kind?

It would be more correct to call the so-called insulated doors filled, because the material inside the door provides not only a reduction in heat loss. It is also a sound insulator, in some cases interspersed with layers that make it difficult to make a full passage.

Thermal insulation is a mandatory option for the front door of a private house, even if there is a vestibule. In other cases, the presence of filler is not necessary. The best performance qualities, in ascending order, are cellular corrugated cardboard, expanded polystyrene and PUR filler. Mineral wool It’s not entirely suitable for doors: after a few years of use, it shrinks with the accompanying formation of cold bridges.

Why are safe doors needed?

The safe door is a canvas that does not protrude beyond the plane of the installation box or platband to prevent the possibility of pressing with a lever tool. At the same time, the inside of such a door is filled with concrete to increase vandal resistance.

Almost all safe-type panels belong to the fifth, highest class of burglary resistance. However, it makes sense to install such a door only if it is equipped with locks of the appropriate class; moreover, such a choice should always be determined by practical necessity. Otherwise, a safe door becomes a useless investment: it is 2-3 times more expensive than a regular door due to the complexity of organizing the unlocking system and the need to install a reinforced hinge group.

Which hinges are the most reliable?

There are quite a lot of hinge designs, but in general they can be divided into two groups: hidden and external. The latter variety is simple and inexpensive; most heavy but inexpensive metal doors are equipped with visible hinges. This is due to the fact that they can withstand the high weight of the leaf much better; moreover, the door frame is cheaper due to the uselessness of using a hollow profile and device seats for hidden mechanisms. However, visible hinges are worse in terms of resistance to burglary; it is recommended to purchase a hinge group made of hardened steel with rotating pins, which are very difficult to cut.

Concealed hinges are complex multi-part hinges. Their advantage is the absence of direct access to the loop group and preservation of integrity outside canvases. While providing high burglary resistance, they have characteristic disadvantages: they require adjustment and maintenance, and can creak and sag over time due to metal fatigue. If, when assembling a canvas weighing over 200 kg, the choice fell on hidden hinges, it is better to purchase the highest quality products possible, thereby guaranteeing a long service life.

Which locking system should I choose?

Modern doors are closed not only directly with the lock pins. In the cavity of the door leaf there is usually a synchronous locking mechanism, which, when the lock is turned, pushes the bolts apart on three sides of the narthex. This is good and bad at the same time: a door with such a system is less susceptible to pressing, but a burglar can gain access to the mechanism through a window cut out in the leaf, thereby bypassing the secret of the lock.

It is optimal if the locking mechanism is located in the cavity of the profiles that act as stiffening ribs, or if the central unit together with the lock is covered with an armored lining. A system of passive crossbars located on the hinge side will also not do any harm.

How many locks should a door have and what kind?

To answer this question, let us turn to the configuration of classic factory-made doors, which are often unknowingly called Chinese. They have three locks: an upper one, otherwise called a quick one, a lower one, which drives the locking mechanism along the vestibule, and a “night” latch, which does not have the physical ability to open from the outside. This set of locks is basic; in modern doors it could not be more scarce.

Burglary resistance can be increased, for example, by replacing the central cylinder lock with a lever lock. The highest class of burglary resistance is typical for locks with the ability to be reprogrammed for a new key, as well as those equipped with a secret trap that resets the locking bolts when an attempt is made to move the levers separately. Such locks can only be opened by making a duplicate key using a cast. You can further increase resistance to burglary by installing a radio lock or a hidden drive for the locking mechanism, but in this case it is necessary to monitor the technical condition and maintain the charge of the built-in battery.

Does the presence of a peephole affect burglary resistance?

There is an opinion that the hole for the door peephole greatly reduces the opening time. Indeed, if a burglar is familiar with the structure of a typical door, by knocking out the peephole, he can manually set the internal mechanism in motion. Also, the hole under the peephole serves as a vulnerable point in case of vandalism: through it you can quietly and extra effort Start cutting the fabric using lever scissors.

Of course, you can avoid inserting a peephole only if you install a video intercom or a hidden surveillance camera. In other cases, it is recommended to purchase a modern type visor with separate fastening of the body halves. Its peculiarity is that the diameter of the installation hole does not exceed 5-6 mm, which is not enough for the scissors to fit in. Also, instead of a peephole, you can install a camera, for connecting which a hole of 2-2.5 mm will be enough; through such a gap, manipulations with the internal mechanism are absolutely impossible.

Which fastening system to choose in the opening?

If neither the door leaf nor the locks can be hacked, attackers may try to vandalize the entire door block. This is all the more possible if technological clearances are not observed during the installation process, or due to filling assembly seams foam, not cement mortar. You can complicate the task of burglary by ensuring high-quality fastening of the door block.

We are talking about a system of anchors buried in the body of the wall by at least 1/4 of the width of the canvas. For anchors, a regular one is suitable steel reinforcement, which was inserted into the holes before installing the block in place in increments of 80-100 cm around the perimeter of the opening. After positioning and securing the door, its frame frame is welded to the anchors, thereby the block acquires an almost monolithic connection with the wall. Naturally, this installation method will not work when installing doors made of thin sheet metal.

How important are aesthetic qualities?

Don't be surprised, but exterior decoration doors has a direct bearing on ensuring high resistance to burglary. The presence of an overlay glued over the entire plane allows you to hide the manufacturer and model of the door, the type and quality of steel. Also, burglars will not be able to appreciate such specific subtleties as welding marks or the location of hidden hinges.

The overlay should not be provocatively pretentious; a smooth MDF sheet with chamfers is sufficient. It is recommended not to install branded pads on the keyholes that come with the locks. It is much better to use fittings without identification marks, this will make it difficult to determine the lock model.

What should be the complete set of a quality door?

The door installation process must be monitored personally, ensuring compliance with the geometry and positioning of the door block. Wherein installation team is obliged to remove the internal decorative trim, demonstrating the presence and suitability of the type of insulation, as well as clearly showing the customer the principle of operation of the synchronous locking mechanism.

The classic set of a door block is as follows: the leaf assembly with locks, hinges and other fittings, a frame and external trims. Finishing internal slopes is carried out by the customer independently from accessories for interior doors. Another important point: you must ensure that the set of keys is sealed in an opaque bag with factory markings and safe seals. All locks undergo the first test at the installation site; in the event of a manufacturing defect, the door manufacturer is obliged to replace them within the agreed time frame.

Conclusion

As a summary, all that remains is to remind you that when choosing a door you definitely need to know when to stop. The right blade, locks and installation system can provide truly high resistance to burglary, but the more difficult it will be for emergency personnel to act in the event of an emergency.

Video on the topic