All about doors: The ultimate door guide

Welcome to the big ABC of doors! Here you can find out what doors there are, what purpose doors serve and what they can be made of. So that you know afterwards what the right door is for you.

Builders, owners and tenants alike like to think about floors and wall colours. But doors? They often get too little attention. Yet they are so important: they protect our flat or house; they prevent noise or smells - and in some cases they even prevent misfortune and serious fires. Let's take a look at the types of doors.

Which door you need depends first of all on the place of application: is it an interior or exterior door? Front doors should above all be solid and stable, so that they offer us protection, for example, from burglars. The same applies to apartment doors in an apartment building. Here, pay particular attention to the standards for resistance class (RC) against burglary, differential climate behavior against problems with strong temperature differences, and sound insulation.

Similar issues apply to balcony and patio doors, i.e. sound insulation and, if necessary, burglar resistance. However, unlike front doors, they are usually made entirely of glass and are therefore much more sensitive in terms of temperature permeability.

In the house itself, it is then mostly a question of room doors on the one hand and partition doors to functional rooms such as the garage, cellar or attic. With the often massive partition doors, fire protection issues are most important. Here, too, the following applies: Above all, pay attention to DIN standards and to the fact that they can be opened easily from the inside in an emergency in order to keep escape routes open.

In principle, doors can be made of four materials: Wood together with related materials such as high-quality pressboard, plastic, glass and metal.

Wooden doors are the classic, especially for interiors. While solid wood doors carry a certain weight, there are now a wide variety of wood-based materials from which doors can be made. The advantage of wood is that it is a warm material that beautifies any room and can be made into almost any shape or color. In addition, wood insulates well - and allows a certain degree of privacy.

Doors made of glass or those that bring with them a larger light cutout enlarge the space, make it brighter - and in the process, depending on their nature, can even insulate as well as wooden doors. Glass doors are ideal for interiors where many people gather, as well as balcony and patio doors or dark rooms that need light from the outside. Unusual looks are now possible with glass, which can be used to create great design accents: Thanks to engraving, matting and Co. But beware: As interior doors, they protect less against temperature differences between hallway and room.

Plastic is also well suited for doors - especially at the entrance to the house. This is because the lightweight material is weather-resistant and easy to maintain. If the doors are made of high-quality plastic, they offer excellent protection against burglary.

Doors made of metal, on the other hand, are optimal for fire protection as well as for front doors. They keep burglars out and also withstand high temperatures in the event of a fire. Of course, they are often massive and therefore comparatively heavy - which does not fit everywhere. 

What most people think of as a door are so-called swing doors - also called revolving doors. They hang on two hinges, which is usually attached to the wall with a door frame. They open into the room and turn against the wall. If you like it more stately and have enough space, double doors are an option. Especially between two living rooms, they will impress guests and create an element that exudes generosity.

A clever alternative for smaller rooms such as guest WC, pantry, walk-in closet or home office area are sliding doors. Their advantage is the fact that they are very space-saving - and in some cases can even be recessed into the wall.

The same applies to folding doors: they save space and are practical. Modern folding doors also have nothing to do with the old-fashioned folding doors from the mid-20th century that are still installed in many a multi-purpose hall today.

Doors are much more than just passageways between rooms—they are functional and design elements that influence comfort, security, and the effect of a room. In everyday use, they not only protect against prying eyes, noise, odors, and drafts, but also actively influence how we perceive and experience rooms. A well-chosen door can create a feeling of openness, optimize light control, or clearly zone areas without appearing bulky. At the same time, doors are a crucial component in fire protection and burglary protection: especially when it comes to front doors, apartment entrances, or fire doors, the right choice is not only a question of aesthetics, but also of safety and compliance with standards. In addition to classic functions, it is therefore important to consider technical aspects such as differences in sound insulation values, burglary resistance classes, or the importance of thermal separation in exterior doors. Taking these factors into account enables builders, renovators, and design enthusiasts alike to make informed decisions that go far beyond "I like it" or "I don't like it." Doors influence the flow of use in a house, determine how light falls into hallways and rooms, and ensure that everyday situations—whether family life, home office, or quiet times—are successful. In combination with matching door handles, locking systems, and Frames, the result is an overall concept that is not only functionally robust but also impressive in terms of design. Only when all elements—Door leaves, fittings, Frames, and accessories—are considered in conjunction with one another can a door system unfold its full effect and value.

When choosing the right door, several criteria beyond material, function, and design play a role. First, the question of where the door will be used should be made clear: interior doors differ fundamentally from exterior doors in terms of their requirements for security, weather resistance, and sound insulation. Wooden doors, for example, impress with their natural warmth, good insulation, and versatile design options, while glass doors visually open up the room and allow light to pass through—ideal for hallways or small rooms without windows. Plastic and metal doors, on the other hand, offer particular advantages in terms of ease of care, weather resistance, fire protection, and security. In addition to the Material, the opening function and the door system are also decisive factors: Hinged doors (swing doors) are classic and versatile, sliding doors save space and create flowing transitions, while folding doors or special swing door variants respond flexibly to room layouts. It is also important to take norms and standards into account – such as sound insulation and fire protection classes, which are relevant in both public and private construction. A checklist that takes into account both technical properties (e.g., sound insulation values, dimensional tolerances) and aesthetic design preferences is helpful in this regard: color, finish, handle design, and frame shape work together to ensure that the door blends harmoniously into the room. In combination with high-quality fittings and handle sets, individual styles can be created – from a Minimalist, purist look to classic elegance. This holistic approach not only makes the decision easier, but also more sustainable, because both functional and emotional needs are equally fulfilled.