BLD 212 Lecture 3

DOORS
A door is a movable barrier placed across an opening in a building that provides access into the building or
between spaces within the building.
Types of Doors
There are many ways of classifying doors among which are the method of opening; the materials
from which they are made as well as the method of construction.
Classification of doors
Based on the method of construction, doors are classified into the following types
 Paneled doors
 Flush doors
 Match doors
 Framed ledge and braced doors
 Folding doors
 Garage doors
Based on the materials from which they are made they could be classified into:
 Metal doors
 Timber doors
 Glass doors
 Doors from any combinations of the materials above
Performance Standards
A door, depending on the type, should meet certain standards for:
 Weather resistance
 Security
 Fire resistance
 Sound insulation
 Privacy
 Operation
 Durability
Weather resistance
External doors need a minimum gap of 2mm for free movement. This gap should be sealed with
suitable draught and water exclusion materials to make the doors weather resistant. This is
because the external door forms part of the external envelop of a building and should therefore
have a similar level of weather resistance against weather elements like rain, sunlight and driving
wind.
Security
The security of a door depends on the materials used, the quality of the frame and the
ironmongery. Internal doors only need to provide minimal security. For example, a bathroom
door might be fitted with a simple lock. External doors need to be constructed to high
specification and fitted with high security locks.
Fire-resistance
Internal doors that separate spaces are usually made of materials that prevent the rapid spread of
fire. In the event of fire outbreak they should be able to keep the fire in a compartment for a long
enough time for the occupants to have moved from the other spaces before fire will spread
through the door. They are also heavy enough to be self closing in the event of a fire outbreak.
Sound insulation
Doors should be able to reduce the level of sound that passes through it so as to reduce the level
of discomfort that may be due to excessive sound. Heavier doors provide better sound insulation.
Privacy
Solid doors are the most private. If some light is needed while retaining privacy, then obscure
glass should be fitted into the door.
Operation
Doors can swing or slide to open and close. Most doors swing on hinges fixed to door frames.
Spring-loaded latches usually hold doors closed. Doors are normally opened with knobs or
levers.
Durability
Doors are in constant use. Their construction should be strong enough to withstand considerable
activity. A door should not fall off the edge fixed to a frame under its own weight. External doors
should be able to resist climatic extremes which can cause the shape to warp
Construction of Doors
The construction method for any particular type of door depends on the material from which the
door is made. The following are basic examples of methods of construction of some basic door
types.
Flush Doors
Flush doors have no projections or recesses on either surface of the door. These doors are
usually made of large sheets of plywood or hardboard. Flush doors may have glazed panels to
allow in some light. Flush doors are usually made in factories. This ensures a high quality;
durable product if the correct type of door is put in the right location. The plywood facing and
the frames for external flush doors should be fixed with waterproof glue.
Fig 6.1 Construction of flush doors

Panel Doors
Panelled doors are suitable for internal and external use. They are made from solid timber
frames with solid or glazed panels. A panel door consists of the following sections; intermediate
rails which are cross pieces that divide the door into panels horizontally; the muntins are the
central vertical pieces; the bottom rail is the bottom horizontal framing piece; panels are the
filling between the framing pieces which can be thin, solid timber, 6mm plywood; or clear or
obscure glass.
Parts of a panelled door
Types of panelled doors

Matched boarded door
DOOR FRAMES AND LINING
DOOR FRAMES AND LINING

The purpose of door frames and linings is to:
 Define openings
 Reduce the gap between a door and wall
 Provide fixings for the hinges and a recess for the lock or latch
 Provide a finish between the door and the wall.
Door Frames
Door frames are usually made from solid timber with rebate to house the door. The frame is not
related to the thickness of the wall surrounding it. A typical frame for a 50 mm external door
could be 125 X 75 mm with a 12mm rebate.
typical door frame

Door Linings
Door linings are usually fitted to internal doors where the lining is the full width of the wall. A
timber stop nailed to the lining provides a rebate for the door to close against.
Parts of a door lining
Method of Fixing Door Frames and Lining

The following steps are followed in the fixing of a frame or lining into a place as the wall is
built:
 Brace the frame or lining to keep square
 Paint the back of the frame to prevent the entry of moisture from the masonry
 Screw galvanized metal fastenings to the back the frame or lining which match the masonry
courses
 Stand the structure in position, level and support it with struts.
 Build the fastenings into masonry joints to secure the frame or lining in position permanently
The following steps are followed in fixing frame or lining into the wall after the wall is built
 Leave an opening that is about 3-4 mm bigger than the frame when the wall is built insert
wood plugs into some of the masonry joints that faces the openings during construction
 Put the frame in position after the wall and lintel are built.
 level the frame with small timber pieces
 Drill holes in the frame or lining for screw to go into plugs in the masonry.
 countersink the screws and fill the holes
METAL DOORS
Types of Metal doors
Metal doors as the name implies are made from metals either alone or in combination with other
materials.
Steel doors
An example of metal doors is the purpose made steel door constructed using mild steel as the
major materials for the construction. There are times where it might become necessary to allow
some amount of light to pass through the door into the room. Under such situation the doors are
usually constructed and fitted with glass panels in which case they are called steel panel doors.
Where there is no panel the door is also constructed like the flush door whereby steel skeleton
form the inner core. Steel doors are usually painted both for decoration and protection against
corrosion.
Aluminium doors
Another common type of metal doors are the aluminium doors that are usually constructed using
aluminium frames with either glass panels or panels made using aluminium sheets. Aluminium
doors are usually lighter than steel doors and have higher resistance to corrosion and therefore do
not need any paint coating.
Ironmongery
The term ironmongery refers to devices or little accessories that are parts of doors and windows
used for locking, securing, fixing and constructing them. The ironmongery includes locks,
latches, bolts, furniture check gear.
Fig 8.1 Examples of ironmongery
Fig 8.2 Examples of ironmongery continued
Further examples of ironmongery

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DOORS

Fig 6.1 Construction of flush doors

Parts of a panelled door

Types of panelled doors

DOOR FRAMES AND LINING

typical door frame

Parts of a door lining

Method of Fixing Door Frames and Lining

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