Choosing doors to the bathroom and toilet

For most residential premises, the choice of interior doors does not present any problems; one can proceed solely from aesthetic preferences.

A bathroom is a room with specific operational loads, as a result of which special requirements are imposed on all elements of decoration, furniture and even interior doors.

First of all, this is due to the fact that in the bathroom and toilet there is always high humidity, even with a high-quality ventilation system. In this regard, in the bathroom and toilet it is necessary to choose doors that can take out moisture and steam for a long time without deformation, while maintaining the original appearance and functionality. For example, sliding doors are unlikely to fit.

The second important point is the increased requirements for sound and heat insulation of the door structure.

Choosing bathroom doors

Bathroom door material

The first criterion by which the consumer usually chooses interior doors is the material from which they are made. This largely determines the cost of the product.

Due to the fact that modern processing technologies are used in the manufacture of door panels and frames, there are no absolute technical contraindications to installing doors from any material, however, practicality and durability may vary. Therefore, before choosing the doors to the bathroom and toilet, you should learn more about the advantages and disadvantages of products from various materials.

Glass doors

In terms of moisture resistance, glass is the best option. He is not threatened with deformation from steam, destruction under the action of water, high temperature or its differences.

Moreover, glass is an environmentally friendly material, it is hygienic, has good sound insulation and high thermal insulation properties.

Glass door leaves for toilets and bathrooms are absolutely safe, they are made of high-strength tempered glass, so you can not be afraid of injury - it is almost impossible to accidentally break them at home.

Cloths can have a different coating - tinting with varying degrees of transparency, matte coating, embossed pattern and even a mirror surface. Inserts made of wood, plastic, metal, mosaics, luxurious sandblasted patterns and drawings are used as decor. All this should be kept in a single bathroom design.

Glass models are original and refined, they bring lightness and elegance to the interior. Due to their conciseness and apparent weightlessness, the dimensions of the space visually increase.

An additional advantage for bathrooms, as a rule, not equipped with windows, is the fact that glass models, even with a matte coating, retain more natural light than traditional blank sheets.

Due to the excellent consumer characteristics, ease of maintenance, the presence of all the properties necessary for bathrooms and a stylish appearance, glass doors are in great demand. The only drawback of such products is the rather high price.

Plastic doors

Plastic is great for wet areas. Doors made of this material do not rot or deform under the influence of hot steam and water.

In addition, they are hygienic, durable, practical and lightweight. Their performance of sound and thermal insulation are at a decent level. It is easy to wash such door structures, they are immune to aggressive household chemicals and retain their original appearance for a long time.

With the help of special coatings, the surface of plastic door structures can imitate almost any material, their color palette is very wide.

Of course, in terms of aesthetics, PVC doors are significantly inferior to exquisite glass and luxurious wooden counterparts, but their low cost, practicality and durability have made them a very popular option for most consumers.

For a bathroom with a budget democratic renovation, this is an ideal option.

Wooden doors

The material is very susceptible to the negative effects of moisture, and especially hot steam, and can quickly deform and become unusable when constantly in a humid, warm environment.

At the same time, the installation of wooden doors in bathrooms is a classic option and it cannot be called completely unreasonable. But you need to know all the nuances and weigh the pros and cons of such a solution before choosing wooden bathroom and toilet doors.

The main question of the appropriateness of such a choice is the interior in which the doors will be installed, and the amount that is supposed to be spent on them.

If there is no special design need for natural wood and the repair budget is limited, you should refrain from wooden door construction.

The fact is that the most resistant types of wood (usually it is beech or oak) and high-quality processing, which allows you to protect the material from harmful effects as much as possible, are quite expensive, respectively, such doors cannot cost the same as ordinary interior doors made of pine.

And if you buy wooden products of the middle price range, there is a high probability that over time the door leaf will deform and move, and the door will no longer close tightly.

Partially, the problem of wood's susceptibility to moisture is solved by covering it with special varnishes, but they need to be updated in a timely manner, in addition, caring for a wooden surface is complicated by the fact that dust and dirt eat into the pores of the wood and it is problematic to wash them.

There is an opinion that if the ventilation system works well, the steam will not harm the doors. This statement is true only for spacious bathrooms, and in the vast majority of typical apartments they are so small that the hood simply does not have time to pick up all the steam before it hits the door leaf, in addition, it will inevitably get splashed with soap and water. Therefore, even with good operation of the hood and excellent ventilation, a wooden door should be chosen only by those who are ready to periodically carry out its cosmetic repairs - cleaning, opening with a new layer of varnish, etc.

At the same time, in an expensive noble interior of a classical style, such doors are indispensable. But in this case, a significant budget should be allocated for their acquisition.

In addition, at the design stage, consideration should be given to ensuring that the entrance to the bathroom is located as far as possible from sources of water and steam.

Chipboard and MDF

In demand among consumers are door structures for bathrooms and toilets made of chipboard and MDF, covered with a special laminate. Such models proved to be excellent in wet rooms, their design is diverse, and the price is affordable.

There are several nuances in the choice of such products. First of all, models covered with veneer are suitable for bathrooms only if the technology of crosswise gluing of fibers was used during its application, otherwise natural veneer will not withstand constant contact with warm, humid air.

When choosing models that are covered with laminate, it is important to pay attention to the fact that it is made of PVC, and not of paper.

• When installing doors to a bathroom or closet adjacent to a kitchen or other living room, positioning two swing doors at the same time can interfere with each other's opening and closing, as well as lead to frequent collision, which can cause chips, scratches and dents on both doors. The best solution in this case is to install compartment models in the bathroom.

• The door to the toilet and bathroom must necessarily be equipped with a special ventilation hole or have a sufficiently large gap between the door leaf and the floor.

• Handles and locking mechanisms are subject to greater loads than locks and handles of all other interior doors, so they must be subject to increased requirements.

door design

The main rule that should be followed when choosing a door to the bathroom and toilet is the same design style with the rest of the interior doors facing the common corridor, only the material and finish may differ.

The negative impact of water is manifested not only for the door leaf itself, but also for decor elements, so all of them must be resistant to moisture, from this point of view, a complex finish from the side of the bathroom itself is impractical. At the same time, manufacturers, knowing this nuance, often produce models decorated only on the outside.

High humidity and frequent use place a huge burden on all used fittings. Therefore, you should not save on it, you should choose quality products from a reliable manufacturer.

The use of stainless steel is optimal, in addition, it is very desirable that the material be coated with a special anti-corrosion compound.

Installation Features

The technology of installing doors to the bathroom and toilet has a number of important differences from the installation of conventional interior doors.

• According to safety regulations, the height of the threshold should be about five mm. This will protect living rooms from flooding in the event of a washing machine leak, pipe burst or other accident with the water supply.
• Due to the presence of a high threshold, bathroom and toilet doors will have to be installed 10 mm higher than other interior doors, so the opening may not fit the standard factory two-meter door. Either you will need to increase the opening, or order the door according to individual sizes.

It is not only technically not always possible to cut the door on your own (as, for example, in the case of a glass sheet), but it is also extremely undesirable, even if technically it can be done - the veneer after cutting will begin to peel off over time and the product will lose its original appearance and may be deformed under the influence moisture.

• Between the door leaf and the threshold, it is necessary to leave a ventilation gap of 1 cm. If a door specially designed for the bathroom is purchased, a hole for the ventilation grill has already been made in it, and in this case this requirement can be neglected.
• The door frame must be installed before the walls are finished, and the door leaf should be installed after the bathroom renovation is completed.
• If hinged doors are installed, they must be mounted in such a way that they open outwards. This will maximize the use of all the space in the bathroom. If the door will open inward, the surrounding space will need to be left empty.

The choice of doors for the bathroom and toilet

• The design of the doors should match the style of the interior and be combined with the design of other interior doors, even if budget bathroom renovation is planned.
• The main criteria for choosing the optimal door material should be durability, practicality, design and price of the product.
• An important point is the choice of the type of opening, it is necessary to evaluate which model will be more convenient - sliding or swinging.
• Before proceeding with the selection of a specific model, it is necessary to measure the opening and wall thickness in order to find out whether the doors of standard sizes will fit or whether they will need to be made to order.
• After all the requirements for the doors are set, the material from which they should be made is selected, it remains only to find a reliable manufacturer and choose the optimal model.

The choice of doors for the bathroom and their installation is an important step in the repair. It is necessary to know not only the general features of this type of premises, but also the individual parameters of the room, such as size, ventilation, remoteness of the entrance from sources of water and steam.

If you take into account all aspects before choosing doors for the bathroom and toilet, you can choose the perfect product that will last for many years.

In addition, it is necessary to commensurate the budget with the preferred material and in the case of a choice between, for example, a cheap wooden option and a mid-range chipboard, it is worth stopping at chipboard.