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Door Tips
Whether replacing an already existing door in your home or adding a new door
altogether, there are a few key points to keep in mind during the process.
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Determine what function the door is going to serve. Will it be mainly
decorative? Are you going to need it to serve as a sound-deadening door?
Figuring these things out will help you make better choices for what you
want.
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There are a few types of doors, each with benefits and drawbacks:
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Hollow Core Doors: These are probably most common type
of interior doors used. Hollow-core doors are light,
affordable, easy to install and replace, and can be painted or
stained. The negatives for the hollow-core door are that they puncture
easily, and are not effective for keeping out sound.
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Solid Core Doors: Solid core doors will cost you
more, but they are more durable and have a superior sound
insulation quality to the hollow-core doors. They can be painted or
stained as well.
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Medium Denisty Fiberboard (MDF) Doors: MDF's are very
dense and have a flat surface. MDF's are very versatile and a middle of
the road alternative to hollow core and solid core doors.
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Metal Doors: Metal doors are typically used as
exterior doors. Typically they are less expensive than solid core
wood doors. They can be painted and hold up very well to the
elements.
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If you have spent the money to insulate and sound proof the walls, then
spend the extra money on the doors to ensure that they are insulated against
sound as well.
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Choosing the right door is important for energy conservation reasons as
well. Having the right door can save you money on heating costs in the
winter, and air-conditioning costs in the summer.
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With exterior doors keep in mind that damaged weatherstripping results in
energy loss, as well as single layer glass doors. If going with glass,
invest in multi-layered glass doors to help conserve energy and save money
down the road.
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Swinging exterior doors have a much tighter seal than sliding
doors, making them more efficient at insulation and energy
conservation.
Door installation contractors may also provide the following services:
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Carpentry
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Window Installation
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General Contractor
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Handyman
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What You Need To Know When Choosing An Exterior Door
By Bill Prudehome
Exterior doors for your home come in a variety of materials, colors, and designs. New materials, such as vinyl have provided manufacturers with the ability to create exterior doors that need little maintenance, provide security, energy efficiency and add value to your home.
The front door of a home greats your guests and its styling says a lot about the home owner.
Wood
Wood exterior doors are desirable for their natural beauty and structural strength. They are widely available in a number of different woods ranging from pine, oak, cedar, mahogany, and walnut. They do however require significant protection from the elements as well as regular maintenance. Manufacturers are required to treat wood with a preservative to help prevent rotting but ongoing maintenance is the only way to ensure that your wood exterior door lasts and performs.
Steel
Steel exterior doors are actually made from a combination of materials. The interior structural components (rails and stiles) are often wood, the inner core is filed with insulating foam and the outer skin is made of galvanized steel. The inner wood structure gives it stability and strength. The foam core provides good insulation and the steel skins are durable, resistant to warping or rotting and require little maintenance.
Steel exterior doors can be painted any number of colors. They are also available with pre-finished PVC coatings that simulate a wood-grain finish.
Fiberglass
Fiberglass exterior doors are relatively new and are constructed in the same fashion as steel exterior doors with wood stiles and rails and an inner core of injected foam. The outer skin is fiberglass. Fiberglass is very strong, durable and energy efficient. In addition to a flat painted surface, fiberglass can also be embossed to give it the texture and appearance of wood.
Vinyl
Vinyl exterior doors are also relatively new. They employ a multi-chambered vinyl structure for both the frames and panels (sashes) utilizing a steel, aluminum, or wood re-enforcement to add strength and prevent distortion. Vinyl doors are good thermal insulators because of their multi-chambered designs and offer good thermal performance ratings. Vinyl is a very durable material and is resistant to extreme weather conditions. It is also very resistant to breakage and provides good protection against forced entry through the door. Vinyl doors will not rust, dent or scratch, and require no special maintenance.
For additional information on exterior doors for your home or other renovation projects, visit Renovation Headquarters.
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Bill_Prudehome
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When To Have Sliding Closet Doors
By Arturo Ronzon
The sliding closet door is one option available when thinking about installing or purchasing closets for a room. If you only have very limited space for a closet, then the sliding closet door will make sure that you can have access to the inside of your closet without having to worry about banging the door on the walls or the foot of your bed. If you are worried about sliding the doors too fast and making lots of noise, then worry not because there are sliding closet doors that will not slam when reaching the end of their travel. These doors come with silent rails and a damper system to slow the doors down at full travel.
Sliding closet doors come in many different types. You have the traditional wooden sliding closet door that gives the whole closet a warm look. Different types of wood or wood laminate with all the different combinations of wood color and grains, will give different effects to a room. To add a bit more functionality to the doors, you can opt to mount mirrors on them. Now you can really save wall space when mounting mirrors on the sliding closet doors. Mirrors will also give a small room a good sense of depth. Because of this effect, there are many different sliding closet door options that have its surface completely covered in mirrors to use the depth effect to the maximum.
Instead of mirrors, you can opt for glass sliding closet doors. These glass doors will give an open look to your closet and could give the room a more open feel. You have to keep your closet organized though or else the glass sliding doors would be counter-productive. If glass is still your fancy but you don�t really want everything inside of your closet to be seen, then frosted or stained glass sliding closet doors would be the other options. Otherwise, a combination of sliding glass and wooden doors could be the solution.
If space is limited, then the sliding closet doors is definitely the way to go. But even if you are not constrained by space limitations, the sliding closet doors will offer some nice decorating options that could enhance the overall theme of your room.
Want to learn more about Closet Doors?, feel free to visit us at: http://www.aboutclosets.net/Articles/Closet_Design.php
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Arturo_Ronzon