It's a door to door affair
It often crosses one's mind, whether they be a guest, a stranger, a friend, or a visitor-- no matter what ties they have with the owner of a house, the question of being welcomed in is perhaps always the first. A home's first impression is through its door. We might not put a lot of thought into the issue, but a door symbolises control-- we lock it when we leave the house, and lock it still when inside; a door establishes autocracy in a good way.
Doors are classified into two categories, interior and exterior. Exterior or main entry doors depend on the type of structure it is used in. In Bangladesh's context, the type of exterior doors used depends on whether it is installed in apartment buildings or independent houses.
APARTMENT BUILDINGS
Battened, Ledged and Framed Doors; for the simple battened and ledged door, frame work is provided in the form of two verticals, known as stiles. Stiles are generally 100mm wide and as far as thickness is concerned, it should be equal to the combined thickness of ledge and batten, preferably 40mm.
Battened, Ledged, Braced and Framed Doors; with this type, the door is made up of battens, ledges, stiles and braces. Hence, it is more rigid. The braces are connected diagonally between the ledges, at about 40mm from the stiles.
Framed and Panelled Doors; these are very strong and will give good appearance when compared to battened doors. These are the widely used doors in almost all types of buildings. Stiles, vertical members and rails, horizontal members are grooved along the inner edges of a frame to receive the panels. The panels are made up of timber or plywood or A.C. sheets or glass. These doors may be single leaf for narrow openings and double leaf for wider openings. Minimum width of stile should be 100mm and minimum width of bottom and locked rail should be 150mm.
INDEPENDENT HOUSES
Entry doors can be made of wood, metal, or fiberglass. They range from straightforward panel doors to windowed doors (the windows are sometimes referred to as "lights"), with attractive muntin or removable grills. These often have rails and stiles with a carved section in the middle. They are expensive, but make a memorable impression. Even the most tightly sealed entry door can benefit from the addition of a storm door. These are usually made of metal or vinyl, but wood models are also available. A security storm door can be locked to keep out intruders and may be heavier than a standard door. Self-storing storm doors have a window and screen. Inexpensive storm doors are often plain in design and can detract from the appearance of an entry door. You can pay more for a storm door that makes a design statement of its own, but perhaps the best choice is a storm door that unobtrusively frames your entry door. Patio sliding doors are typically made of large panes of glass encased in wood, vinyl, or metal frames. They are the ideal choice when you want to maximise your view of the yard. Compared to French doors, they take up no floor space when open. A possible disadvantage is that they only open half as wide as the doorway.
With doors, comes the great responsibility of securing the entire space. Hence, entry door hardware is crucial. Most door hardware manufacturers offer entire coordinated product lines of hardware for the doorbell, door knocker and even exterior lights. Finishes range from polished brass to oil-rubbed bronze, and styles range from Victorian to Arts and Crafts, to sleek modern examples. A style of doorknob and lockset that enhances the look of your chosen door, and the rest of the house facade is advised. If you are replacing entry hardware on an existing door, make sure you take careful measures before you order the new set. Single-cylinder deadbolts are operated with a key from the outside of a home and a thumb turn from the inside. A double-cylinder deadbolt is operated with a key from both outside and inside the door. This offers a higher security option against the burglar who relies on gaining access to a house by breaking through the door glass and turning the thumb turn to open the door. Always keep a key near a double-cylinder deadbolt, in case of fire or other emergencies. While you may have a doorbell and not have a practical need for a door knocker, you may still want to select a door knocker as an accessory to enhance the style of your entry door. Door knockers lend a traditional appearance to any style of door and are available in a wide selection of finishes.
Other than the obvious technical uses of a door, it is a statement. Just how a person's style can say a lot about them, a door gives out the personality of a household. Which is why, a door's appearance is important after it has met the basic criteria. It is quite common here in Bangladesh, that a door is wooden and has the basic brown colour (shades usually differ). But not many play around with their options. Even though apartment entrances are limited to options, you can still paint the outside wall with shades of pastel (if the sun shines on your side) and have the door painted white (advisable only on wood) and if there is little to remote sunlight shining on your side of the house, choose dark colours (brick orange, reddish brown) and use plants around them to give your entrance an inviting look-- but playing around with lights is essential. It is always advised to use top lights or spot lights around dark entrances and white accent for lit entrances. Those who are lucky to still be living in independent houses are not limited to traditional wooden doors but can transform the entrance, be it with different heights or use of unusual materials as the door's facade.
Doors, whether light or dark, mirrored or wooden, will make the first impression of a house. Thus it needs a lot of careful consideration to get this part of the home just right.
Photo: LS Archive/Sazzad Ibne Sayed
Works Cited
https://theconstructor.org/building/types-of-doors/11898/
https://www.diynetwork.com/how-to/rooms-and-spaces/doors-and-windows/entry-door-styles-and-types-of-hardware
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