Doors for the bathroom and toilet: which is better to choose?

What door to put in the bathroom so that it does not deteriorate from high humidity, is durable, reliable and beautiful? Not every material will be able to withstand the specific conditions of service without consequences, so it would be impractical to choose a door, guided only by its compliance with the interior. Let's figure out which doors are better to put in the bathroom according to the type of construction, material and external design.

Wood MDF Plastic
Glass Mirror Stained Glass

To withstand the operating conditions in the bathroom, the door to the bathroom must be resistant to high temperatures and humidity, provide good air exchange and sound insulation, and have antiseptic properties. What materials will meet these high requirements?

natural wood

Solid wood bathroom door is a good choice if it meets the following requirements:

has an external water-repellent coating of paint or varnish;
treated with antiseptics;
made of hardwoods that absorb moisture poorly (beech, oak, mahogany).

It is important to properly install the door block. So that the box does not warp over time from constant exposure to hot steam and water, it is fixed using anchors and mounting foam. If these conditions were met during selection and installation, its further durability will depend on proper care. From constant humidity and evaporation, the outer protective coating loses its properties, and it must be updated from time to time, otherwise cracks may appear on the canvas.

Covering from MDF or fiberboard

Manufacturers of doors made of MDF and chipboard assure that the products are absolutely not afraid of moisture. In fact, the construction consists of a frame made of pine, which is characterized by high hygroscopicity. The design has water-repellent properties due to the outer finish of the canvas: the laminated coating is resistant to moisture, but until chips and scratches appear on the surface. There are other vulnerabilities: the back of the box, for which water-repellent protection is not provided. In just a few days of operation, the wood can swell, and the door will no longer close completely.

Products made of MDF and chipboard have an affordable cost, a wide range of models and a variety of colors - these are their main advantages. To ensure their long service life, it is necessary to treat all open areas of the box with a protective compound, make sure that the edge of the leaf is glued with high quality and has no gaps, and protect the surface of the door from damage.

metal-plastic

If you are going to purchase doors to the bathroom and toilet, and doubt which ones will last better and longer, take a closer look at metal-plastic structures. Aluminum and plastic, the main components of these doors, have a lot of advantages:

resistance to moisture, temperature changes and cleaning agents;
strength and durability;
resistance to deformation;
simple hygiene care;
lack of a nutrient medium for putrefactive bacteria and fungi;
low cost.

Choosing a door to the bathroom with a design similar to other designs installed in the apartment will also not be difficult: the exterior decor of metal-plastic PVC film allows you to get any color and texture.

Glass

Glass door - very good an option for the bathroom, given the resistance of this material to moisture. There will be many disadvantages of such a design:

When hot water is turned on, the glass surface is constantly covered with condensate. Moisture flows down the smooth panel, accumulates in puddles on the floor and leaves stains.
Water stains, splashes, fingerprints are very clearly visible on the glass surface, therefore, such doors need constant hygienic care.
Glass is a fragile material, and if it is broken, it is also dangerous. So that in case of damage to the glass door it does not crumble into small fragments, the surface is protected with a special film, and this affects the increased cost of products.
The low level of sound absorption is another drawback.

The design of glass doors is very diverse. It is customary to install deaf structures in the bathroom, so designers solve the issue of glass transparency in various ways: they create stained glass drawings, spray paint, paste over with a film or matte.

Types of doors by opening method

Swing Sliding Folding

What is the best door to put in the bathroom according to the method of opening? Manufacturers provide several designs to choose from.

A swing door is the usual standard option, quite convenient, if only square meters allow. The design consists of a box and a sash attached to it with hinges. Provided that the bathroom is usually modest in size, the door leaf opens outward. This saves space in the bathroom. It is necessary to install such a door taking into account that it does not block free access to other rooms in the open state.
A sliding door does not require additional space in the room, but for it it is necessary to leave a free part of the wall where the sash will move. There is another option: equip a groove inside the wall where the sash will go when opened. In this case, the door will not interfere with the use of free space.
The folding design "book" or "accordion" has the only drawback - poor sound insulation. This design is compact and takes up minimal space when opened.

Color selection

What color to choose doors for the bathroom and toilet? The entrance to the bathroom, kitchen and rooms is usually located in the hallway. To avoid color dissonance, the most rational solution is to choose the same shade for all designs. If the door block delivered to the bathroom is made of a different material, care must be taken in advance so that the decor of the doors harmonizes in color with the interior. It can be a colored textured PVC film, a similar pattern on glass and similar fittings.

Hardware features

Choosing the door to the bathroom, you need to take care of suitable fittings. These are hinges and a latch handle. It is desirable that the design of the chosen option matches the fittings installed on other doors of the apartment. To check the quality of products, you should pay attention to the following points:

Door hinges should not creak. High-quality fittings open smoothly, but with little effort.
A lock with a magnetic latch has a shorter service life compared to a mechanical one. Pay attention to the tongue of the lock. A plastic tongue creates less noise when closing than a metal one.
You can determine the quality of a door handle by its weight. The iron core, which is characterized by a long service life, is much heavier than the unreliable silumin - the material for cheap Chinese products. The handle spring must be elastic.
In order for the door to be locked from the inside, the handle must have a locking device. More reliable in operation is the option when the latch is included in the handle kit, but is located separately during installation.

All door hardware should be covered by a warranty. If the store refuses to issue a warranty card, it is better to refrain from buying.

Rating of manufacturers

Before choosing the doors to the bathroom and toilet, we suggest that you familiarize yourself with the rating of manufacturers.

"Alexandria Doors"- Ulyanovsk factory. Modern equipment from Germany and Italy allows us to produce products of European quality.
"Volkhovets". The doors of this brand are produced in Veliky Novgorod. Buyers are provided with a very wide range of products in a variety of styles.
"Dera". For more than twenty years, the Penza company has been producing its products. The manufacturer offers a unique design, high quality and affordable prices.
"Stendor"- practical, elegant, durable doors from St. Petersburg. The factory is equipped with imported equipment.
"Sophia". The Tver factory recently upgraded its equipment. Products are made in accordance with international standards.

World famous foreign brands:

Tre Piu is an Italian company. It offers non-trivial models with finishing elements made of aluminum, impact-resistant glass, veneer, precious woods.
Garofoli- a huge range of models from the Italian manufacturer.
Dana is an Austrian company. It has been supplying its products to the world market for over 40 years.

Products of well-known manufacturers are characterized by decent quality. The durability of the product depends not only on how to choose a door, from what material, and from which manufacturer, but also on the correct installation work, timely hygienic care and careful handling.