Types of Doors

"The doors of perception" was a title to a book by Aldous Huxley that influenced rock and roll history forever. It became the title for the band"The Doors" and brings to light what doors really are; openings into our soul.

Doors convey the image of our home as impenetrable, welcoming and beckoning all at once. They exude an image of our inner self that shapes the entire structure of our homes from top to bottom, inside and out.

That's probably the main reason why there are so many styles of doors. With the numerous types of doors available, it's easy to see why mistakes can be made when ordering doors. Don't worry. In this article we will cover the five different types of doors available and what they do and how they work.

Passage Doors are your everyday basic door. It can come in a variety of styles from pre-hung to blank slabs. These doors swing in or out and left handed or right. To find a doors swing stand with your back to the hinges and imagine the swing of the door. Which ever side the doors hinges are on, left or right, is the swing of the door. If it goes into a room, its and in swing, if it comes out, it's and out swing.

Double Doors are the same as a passage door except the two doors interlock and can open at the same time, doubling the space of a single door opening. Typically one door stays locked with an astragal and the other locks against the striker of the stationary door.

Pocket Doors are similar to passage doors except they slide on a track rather than pivot on a hinge. These are usually installed in a new home since most of the door is covered with wall coverings like drywall. These door openings are usually rough framed larger than conventional passage doors.

Bypass Doors are just like a pocket door except the door does not enter a pocket and become disguised. These doors are mostly used as closet doors due to the fact that the majority of the door is hidden behind a closet wall.

Bi-fold Doors are the most common closet doors. These doors pivot on a hinge and a track and fold together as they close. When closed the bi-fold door resembles a typical passage door.