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Contemporary interior swing doors and bifold options

GBSteve | Posted in General Discussion on February 17, 2012 09:07am

Hi all.  You helped me so much with my staircase issues I thought I’d throw another one your way.

Now that new flooring is in, and new baseboard is on the short list, we decided it’s time to look at replacing the interior doors. Was always in the plan, but doing so now will save removing and building new trim after the fact.

We’re looking for modern, contemporary doors for our house here in South Florida.  There are a lot of showrooms for various companies, in addition to what I’ve seen at the local lumber yard (I know, surprised they exist here).  The lumber yard handles mostly raised panel, or panel doors in general, which isn’t what we’re looking for.  If they are the cheapest option by far, then I might change my mind, but $100 less a door isn’t going to make or break it.  We’re thinking more of a flush slab, with the horizontal aluminum/steel accents added for decorative purposes.  Probably more European than anything.  

Finish to be natural, likely maple or white oak to match trim.  The key is solid core – replacing the builder’s special hollow core with something better.  Door sizes range from 2-4 to 2-8 x 8-0 with 3 swing, 3 pocket, and 5 bifold.

So far I visited the Bartels Doors showroom and liked what we saw.  We are looking at the laminated line (Astra Doors?).  They are MDF veneered, but appear to be built well.  Rough pricing is around $1000 for a 2-8 x 8-0 door, pre-hung with mortise bored for lockset.  A bit pricey, though they are well constructed and, so they say, built in Germany.  As noted, they have mortise design hardware.  That would add costs compared to the bore-thru common here.

Next is the internet, leading to Milano Doors.  I think there’s a showroom in the area, but not sure.  Prices are much better, but I haven’t seen one to compare quality.  Any experiences to share? 

A friend turned me on to Modernus Doors.  They look nice, but with no local showroom, it would be like Milano and buying blind.  

All three companies seem to shy away from bifold doors.  Don’t get me wrong, I despise bifold doors, but there’s no way around it at this house.  Not to mention I need two louvered doors for two air handler closets.  Still have no idea what I’m going to do there, but the HD/Lowes full louver flimsy doors have to go.  Any suggestions?  Both closets are also used for cleaning supply storage, so the doors will get periodic use.  Still thinking if I can add a grille through the wall somewhere and put a flush door in (but still has to be bifold).  Either way I hate to order swing and pocket doors from any of the above companies, only to have bifold doors that don’t match.  They sell slabs, but who knows what the charge would be for the local wood shop to set the hinges and size them.

Bartels sells a pocket door system, which like their pre-hung swing doors, comes with the jamb, trim, and their track.  Worked well in the showroom, but that’s all I know about it.  For the bifold door track/hinges I’m thinking Johnson Hardware. Everything in the house now is cheap hardware, two bifolds don’t work, and one pocket door falls off the track every day.  I’ll spend some extra to get decent door hardware after this experience.

If anyone has some thoughts, opinions, or general rants, let me know.  A pretty website doesn’t always mean quality products, and I’m all for supporting the local lumber yard, but doors get abuse and get used every day – we want something that looks good, is built well, and we will be happy with, given the cost of this reno.

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Replies

  1. calvin | Feb 17, 2012 09:32am | #1

    GB

    Well, you certainly got yourself going.

    First question-did the flooring installer undercut and and install the flooring so you aren't immediately going to run into a problem changing out jambs?

    8' doors?  holy cow-you got a tall house.

    I'm not familiar with any of the door co's. you've mentioned-if their veneers are even a hair thicker than what we can find in "normal" doors, then they might very well be worth the money.  I know not what you speak about your horizontal accents.

    But-

    If you can't find maple-look at birch-they might "stain" up to come close to the maple.  If there's no dark running through it.  Maple doesn't have a real pronounced grain and neither does birch.  MIGHT save you a little or expand the lines you are looking for if they don't produce in maple.

    The real reason for answering-the bifolds-Johnson 1700 hardware.  No pivot on the floor-the doors actually hang from the top-there is a guide that fastens on the bottom of the jamb. 

    Make sure when sizing the hardware that you mention thickness and weight of the slabs.

    Johnson.com has some good line drawings of all their hardware-they also offer pocket hardware which I've been satisfied with.

    Best of luck again.

    If louvred doors don't pan out-you might find some wood (Maple maybe-birch probably) vent panels that can be cut into the doors.  With the proper undercut on the door and a panel, you might reach the square inches of venting to complement the appliance. 

  2. calvin | Feb 17, 2012 10:42am | #2

    GB

    My goal-finish the proposal, take the pup to the overnight.

    But, I was really only concerned with combustion air (if that is a question-water heater-furnace if they have 'em in FLA and maybe gas dryer.................

    The air handler should be a sealed system-return and supply-one complete loop. 

    Have a good time!

  3. User avater
    xxPaulCPxx | Feb 17, 2012 01:14pm | #3

    For the bi-fold door - why not just raise the bottom height 1/2"?  That would give a large volume of intake air.

    I have a question for you about solid core - why?  For feel, or for sound deadening?

    1. calvin | Feb 17, 2012 01:19pm | #4

      paul

      Paul,

      He evidently hasn't raised an 8' door off the ground.

      GOOD hinges GB

      and a firmly mounted jamb.

      now I'm really out the doorl

      1. GBSteve | Feb 17, 2012 05:31pm | #5

        Well, solid core is for both feel and sound deadening.  Supposed to get a proposal back from Bartels next week, but their doors are solid core with cylindrical passages bored vertically through.  I've seen this before - for insulation of sound and also air.  Their systems also use their own jamb with the hinges (2) mounted behind the jamb face - no hinge leaf exposed.  Supposedly 2 hinges is more than enough.  Each hinge is rated for 100kg weight.  Karcher hardware for the handles/locks.  Their pricing includes the slab, jamb, casing trim, and mortise box...all you do is pick out the design, size, color, and door handle.  Kind of an interesting system, using the split jamb, which I'm told makes installation easier than what we're used to.  Their doors also use a vinyl strip on the jamb to ensure a tight fit (think smaller version of weatherstripping for exterior doors).  Now it's just waiting on pricing...  They have a LOT of options and configurations, and they add to the cost quickly, but a basic veneer door system isn't outrageous, but still pricy.  Whole door system complete is working to around $800/door for a 32" x 96" swing with upgraded hinges.

        Probably going with pull handles on the pocket doors as well.  Not fond of digging for the little pull in the door end, then trying to fit the fingers into the little pull slot on the door face.  It usually ends up with you putting your hands on the door face and pushing it along.  I'll give up a few inches of the opening to make life easier (and better looking).

        With a 12 week lead time from them to order and receive from Germany, I'm glad I started looking into this now.

        1. DanH | Feb 17, 2012 08:44pm | #6

          Keep in mind that solid bifold and sliding doors will be heavy to operate, and the bifolds will really strain their hardware.

          1. User avater
            xxPaulCPxx | Feb 18, 2012 08:07pm | #7

            I mounted a pair of 1 3/4" x

            I mounted a pair of 1 3/4" x 8' solid core doors... with mirrors glued to them... onto my wifes closet in bifold fashin using Johnson hardware.  Each panel weighs about 100lbs.  Mounted though, it's as smooth as silk to operate.

            Her closet is right in front of the bedroom door, so while the closet door is open it sheild the view of her dressing from the hallway.

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