Most Popular Types of Doors and Characteristics

Cons
Pros
Cons

Types of Doors

Sliding Doors: Pros and Cons

Location of Use

• Interior Doors – Interior doors are distinct from exterior doors because they are not built using weatherproof material. An interior door cannot be sealed to the same degree as an exterior door. Manufacturers build these doors from lightweight materials like MDF, wood, or glass. These lightweight doors are either solid core or hollow core.
• Exterior Doors – Exterior doors are built to keep your home secure from the weather and to maintain privacy and safety. Manufacturers build exterior doors with solid materials like fiberglass, steel, and wood.

Style of Door Frame

• Panel Doors – A panel door is one that has vertical lengths of material called stiles and horizontal rails to hold flat panels of wood or other materials. Different types of paneled doors have varying styles and numbers of stiles, rails, and panels.
• French Doors – A French door is any kind of door that utilizes glass panes in its construction. The door can have a single or multiple glass panes.  
• Louvered Doors – A louvered door consists of multiple horizontal slats attached to vertical stiles. These louvers, or horizontal slats are on the whole door or on a certain portion of the door. These slats maintain privacy but still allow air and light to pass through. These doors resemble shutter panels.
• Dutch Doors – A dutch door consists of an upper and lower section that can open and close independent of one another. There are Dutch doors with solid panel doors as well as Dutch doors with glass panes on the upper portion.
• Screen Doors – A screen door is an exterior door that goes in front of an exterior door. This kind of door has a screen to keep insects from flying into your home.
• Flush Doors – A flush door is made from just one piece of metal or wood. This means that it is flat, or with no raised panels, on either side.  
• Storm Doors – A storm door is one that homeowners fit over exterior doors in order to protect them from the elements. These are sturdy doors made from aluminum and security glass.

Material of Doors

• Wooden Doors – A wood door or a timber door is composed of solid wood or wood elements. People use wooden doors as interior doors and exterior doors. There are solid wood doors and solid core doors.
• PVC Doors – PVC and uPVC doors are made from polyvinyl chloride. This is a man made material that mimics the look of other materials like wood. Homeowners use them as both interior and exterior doors.
• Glass Doors – Glass doors are constructed from glass panels held in frames of wood or metal. Glass doors can be used as interior or exterior doors. A glass door has a versatile look that fits different design styles from contemporary to traditional.
• Fiberglass Doors – Fiberglass is glass fiber reinforced polymers, similar to the material that they use to make airplanes, surfboards, and cars. Fiberglass doors are strong and durable. Also, these doors mimic the look and feel of more solid materials like wood.
• Steel Doors – A steel door is not made from solid steel but instead is a door with steel panels on either side and a synthetic core. Most people use steel doors as exterior doors, but there are times when homeowners use them to secure interior locations.
• FRP Doors – Fiberglass reinforced polymers are a type of molded door. Homeowners use these as both exterior door and interior door applications because they are strong and low maintenance.
• Aluminum Doors – Doors made from aluminum are strong, easy to clean and maintain. Most aluminum doors are exterior doors.
• MDF Doors – MDF stands for medium-density fiberboard. This means that manufacturers make these doors from gluing wood fibers with resin and wax. These have become popular with homeowners as they are inexpensive and come in a variety of styles.

Type of Closure

• Sliding Doors – Sliding doors, also known as bypass doors, move back and forth on a track rather than a hinge. Homeowners use sliding doors, like sliding glass doors, to access outdoor areas from the home like from porches or patios.
• Bifold Doors – Most bifold doors feature a set of two collapsible doors with a hinge in between them. Most people use these doors for closets and pantries. Some feature solid panels and others a single glass panel. The glass doors are used as exterior doors.
• Revolving Doors – Revolving doors feature three or four doors on a central shaft that rotates to allow people to always enter. The exclusive use of revolving doors is business rather than personal.
• Hinged Doors – A hinged door is the most common type of door. These doors feature a set of double or triple hinges on one side of the door that allows it to open and close.
• Pocket Doors – A pocket door operates by sliding on a track open and closed. It recesses into a pocket in the wall, so this is a good option if you need to save space. Pocket doors can be solid or feature glass in their construction.
• Roller Doors – A roller door is one that opens and closes in a vertical direction. Fabricators make these doors from solid material or glass panes. Most people use these for garage doors, but there is a rising interest in using these doors in interior spaces.
• Pivot Doors – A pivot door has a hinge on the top and bottom rather than the side. These doors rotate on a vertical axis though the location of this axis will change based on the size of the door.
• Swing Doors – Swinging doors feature hinges that allow the doors to swing in either direction.

Common Interior and Exterior Doors by Style: Pros and Cons

The most common type of door is a hinged door. These work in both interior and exterior settings. Also, manufacturers fabricate hinged doors in fiberglass, wood, mdf, glass, and steel.

French Doors

Pros
MDF Doors: Pros and Cons
Pros
Fiberglass and steel doors are some of the most durable exterior doors on the market. Both of these have an insulated core that makes them energy efficient too.

• French doors complement different style homes from traditional to modern.
• French doors allow in ample natural light because of their single and multiple glass panels.
• Manufacturers craft them from different materials such as fiberglass and wood, so you can use them as both interior or exterior doors.

Fiberglass and steel doors are some of the most durable exterior doors on the market. Both of these have an insulated core that makes them energy efficient too.

• These doors have a simple design that is beautiful and works for disparate design styles.
• Depending on the material used, these doors are durable.
• These doors are among the easiest to install.

Fiberglass and steel doors are some of the most durable exterior doors on the market. Both of these have an insulated core that makes them energy efficient too.

• Dutch doors have a unique style that has instant appeal.
• These doors allow you to open the top for fresh air and light while keeping the bottom portion closed for the safety of children and pets.
• You can receive deliveries by opening the top portion so that you feel more secure.

Fiberglass and steel doors are some of the most durable exterior doors on the market. Both of these have an insulated core that makes them energy efficient too.

• These doors have a sleek and simple style.
• Because they fit tight against the door frame, these doors absorb sound well.
• These are a more cost-effective type of door than more intricate styles.

Fiberglass and steel doors are some of the most durable exterior doors on the market. Both of these have an insulated core that makes them energy efficient too.

• Fiberglass doors are durable as fiberglass does not warp, crack, break, or rot.
• These doors are insulated, so they save you money on your utility bills.
• Fiberglass doors mimic the styles of other more expensive doors like wooden doors.
• These doors need minimal care and will last for years.

Fiberglass and steel doors are some of the most durable exterior doors on the market. Both of these have an insulated core that makes them energy efficient too.

• Wooden doors are some of the most solid and durable door options available.
• Real wood provides wonderful color and texture to any location.
• Wood doors fit disparate design styles and you can customize them for different-sized doorways.

Fiberglass and steel doors are some of the most durable exterior doors on the market. Both of these have an insulated core that makes them energy efficient too.

• These doors are some of the most inexpensive.
• MDF doors are light and easy to hang.
• There are versatile style options and variations with MDF doors.

Fiberglass and steel doors are some of the most durable exterior doors on the market. Both of these have an insulated core that makes them energy efficient too.

• Sliding glass doors allow ample light into interior spaces.
• They take up less room than other doors of the same size.

Fiberglass and steel doors are some of the most durable exterior doors on the market. Both of these have an insulated core that makes them energy efficient too.

• Hinged doors can open wide for the delivery of large items.
• There are considerable options for size and finishes for hinged doors.

Fiberglass and steel doors are some of the most durable exterior doors on the market. Both of these have an insulated core that makes them energy efficient too.

• These doors save space as they recess into the wall when they open.
• These doors have a unique appearance and a custom look that sets your room apart.

These are the most standard doors, but there are some drawbacks that make other doors styles worth considering in different areas.

• These doors may require specialized maintenance as some of their hardware is behind the wall.
• Pocket doors and pocket door hardware are more expensive than standard doors.

Conclusion

Flush doors complement some styles and contexts, but there are some disadvantages that are important to understand.
Cons
Pros
A panel door is the most common interior and exterior door.