Wooden panel doors are traditional and classic. They look good, and they last for ages with a bit of maintenance, not to mention the safety standards. They are fairly simple to make, so prices are quite accessible. Furthermore, wood is flexible and allows various models and styles.
Panelled doors are extremely common because they have a bit
of extra style. Rather than being simple, they come with a panel or two, as
well as up to eight panels. They can be vertical, horizontal, or diagonal – you
might as well find randomly placed panels if you feel funky.
Panel
doors provide extra beauty without costing a fortune. There are plenty of
options out there, so there is also a lot of variety. Their popularity is due
to many other reasons, though. Here are some of their most important benefits.
A bit of extra elegance
Imagine
a perfectly smooth door – quite elegant and would work well in an ultra-modern
home. Now, imagine a panelled door. Those extra carvings allow the panels add
to the overall elegance of the room. They are suitable for traditional homes.
However,
a little attention to small details makes them ideal for modern homes as well –
it is all about choosing the right style, number of panels, orientation, and
color. This extra elegance can go in more directions and might as well get a
funky or crazy approach.
Panels,
also add to a door's natural beauty, and a bit of imagination can make it stand
out. If you think plain colors are dull and boring, how about repainting a
door? How about painting each panel in a different color for your kid’s room?
Exactly – you have countless options.
Extra privacy and strength
Panel
doors may look fragile, but this is only a misconception. The truth is they are
actually made to last – super solid and tough. Opt for a solid core door, and
you will benefit from a proper sound proof experience – great if you have kids
or many rooms for different activities.
Compared
to other types of doors, panel doors are often made to be weatherproof. With
these thoughts in mind, it is no surprise that more and more people use panel
doors as exterior doors. Obviously, you need to ensure the door is solid and
features a solid core.
Interior
and exterior doors are made differently, hence the necessity to research your
options.
Plenty of variety
Most
types of doors allow a certain degree of variety – more commonly, smooth and
simple doors and panel doors. Panel doors started gaining popularity all over
the world around the 1960s. They are still extremely popular today, hence the
impressive variety.
Most
of the variety targets the amounts of panels and their orientation – no matter
what you are after, there should be no issues whatsoever. Got an old house with
an unusually shaped frame? Too big? Indeed, most doors come in a few standard
sizes.
However,
you can order doors in all sorts of shapes and sizes.
Solid and sturdy profile
Again,
while panel doors may seem fragile, they are not. They are also used as
exterior doors, and their sturdiness will not disappoint. Panels will hold up
better in daily uses – even if they face a lot of traffic in interior doors.
There are no issues whatsoever.
In
fact, you will be surprised to find out that panel doors are so solid these
days that it is more difficult to punch a hole in a panel door than in a smooth
door. Maintenance is minimum as well. However, they are more likely to get
dusty on top of panels than smooth doors – a quick wipe will do.
Easy to customize
Panel
doors come in all sizes and styles, not to mention colors. Indeed, most
homeowners stick to white doors, as well as two panels – vertically placed.
There is no general rule though – whatever suits will do.
You
can finish your doors with paint – some come in the required colors. You can
also repaint them yourself whenever you want – simply nourish them every few
years, which will also add to their durability in the long run.
But
then, if there is a special color you want, you can finish it yourself with
paint. You can use polish or stain – no matter what you are after, chances are
you will find polish and stain in different styles and nuances.
Other benefits of panelled doors
These
reasons are more than enough to convince most homeowners about the benefits of panel doors. However,
different people invest in panel doors for different reasons. Here are a few
other benefits of this model:
●
Usually made with environmentally friendly
materials
●
No gas release – common in flush doors when
they degrade
●
Hollow core panel doors are very inexpensive
●
Hollow core panel doors are lightweight
●
Installation is fairly simple, yet it depends
on the model
Are there any disadvantages?
While
in theory, they may seem perfect, the truth is panel doors also have a few
drawbacks. First of all, they are more expensive than most other doors. Smooth
doors require less work and materials, so they will cost less.
If you
are on a budget, you can invest in a hollow core panel door.
Second,
panel doors require a bit more maintenance. Dust tends to gather on top of
panels or corners, so you will need to wipe them clean more often.
Bottom line
It is
easy to realize what makes panel doors so popular these days. Despite being
quite old – some may say they are traditional, their popularity keeps
increasing. Plus, there are plenty of different models on the market, so it is
practically impossible to fail in finding the perfect design.
