How a panelled door is built

Construction of a door frame

Both types are available in exterior and interior grades. Exterior doors are thicker and stronger to withstand weather and intruders.The most useful standard doors are 2040mm high by 810mm and 820mm wide. Non-standard sizes are made to order.

Panelled doors can usually be reduced by up to 18mm all round, but flush doors can only be reduced by a few millimetres at best. Panelled doors have a timber framework consisting of two vertical stiles and two or more horizontal rails. These enclose panels made of plywood, timber or glass.

Flush doors consist of a light, timber frame faced with sheet material. The cheapest doors have a honeycomb cardboard core (hollow core) and hardboard faces. Slightly more expensive doors are faced with plywood. Others have heavier, laminated timber or chipboard cores or timber rail cores. All flush doors have built-in blocks for fixing hinges and locks; some may also have blocks for other door furniture. See examples below.

Doorframes

The frame into which a door fits can be made in several ways. Modern door frames consist of a door jamb moulding which functions as both a hinge mounting and door stop (see right). Older door frames are made in a variety of sizes, but generally there is a door frame or liner made of timber between 100mm and 300mm wide and a door stop made of timber at least 50mm wide. Architraves are common to all types of doors, though the mouldings vary in width and pattern.

Examples Of Different Types Of Flush Doors:

Lightweight - A paper honeycomb core is framed with softwood and covered with hardboard. Most commonly use as an internal door.

Solid Core - A chipboard core gives greater weight and improves fire resistance. The plywood covering is faced with decorative veneer.

Laminated Core - Strips of timber are laminated together for good fire resistance.

Multi Rail- The core is made up of a large number of wooden rails from side to side.

Hardwood Stiles - Another variation of a wooden rail core, wiht thick hardwood stiles.