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melenie5

What kind of interior doors are best?

Melenie5
11 years ago

I'm trying to make a budget to determine what building my house is going to cost, where we can trim and what quality of materials to use. I'm going for a a traditional style, because I've always lived in older houses and like the way they look.

To keep costs down we'll be using vinyl flooring and laminate counter tops in the kitchen. There are some very nice products that will suit our style just fine.

I'm a little lost on what kind of doors to get though. The doors and all woodwork will be painted white.We're probably going with classic four panel doors and solid wood seem to be the best option, but can be expensive. So far I've only looked at doors at Lowes and the cheap doors looked, well cheap. The pine doors looked a little better and only cost about $100 each. I found some very nice looking doors at vintagedoors.com for a little over $500.

My questions are: What kind of door material is best? and

What is a reasonable price to pay for good quality doors?

Any advice would be so helpful. Pictures of your doors would be super!

Comments (25)

  • virgilcarter
    11 years ago

    In a traditional house, paneled doors are very appropriate. They come in various materials, as you have discovered, but it's hard to beat the traditional appearance, feel and durability of traditional painted wood.

    One option might be to look for recycled older doors at building salvage or other sources.

    Good luck on your project!

  • dreambuilder
    11 years ago

    I have looked at old doors as well but my question is are those going to have trouble being leveled? Will they not "shut" as properly as a new door or would a skilled carpenter be able to use a very old door in a new space?

  • virgilcarter
    11 years ago

    Dreambuilder, your raise a good point. It is important to check to see if the used doors are plumb and in alignment.

    That said, older doors may have paneling and detailing that is so unique and appealing that some flaws are acceptable.

    After all, new and old wood doors are wood: they can expand and contract with mositure and temperature, just as can the frames and stops. Wood is wood!

    A skilled finished carpenter can take a lot of the risk out of reusing older materials, but at the end of the day, houses are houses and they all move over time, humidity and temperature. I think that's a great thing!

  • Melenie5
    Original Author
    11 years ago

    That is a good idea virgilcarter. Thanks for suggesting older doors. I'll look around and see what I can find.

  • Laura517
    11 years ago

    Our contract calls for 6 panel semi-solid Masonite interior doors. DH questioned the term "semi-solid" and was satisfied with response though I don't remember what the builder said.
    I am wondering if it's worth spending $3500 more for 3 panel shaker style interior doors? It's a new build and we are having shaker style wainscoting in the foyer, dr and stair well. Also my kitchen cabinets are a shaker style.
    How important is it from a design standpoint to have a cohesive look with the doors and wainscoting?

  • hlechat
    10 years ago

    Laura517

    I am sure by now you have long decided, but yes yes yes, interior doors should match overall theme.

    am so curious as to what you chose! :-)

    All,
    I am looking at some solid pine doors from a big box store. am not sure if that is ok or i should keep looking.

    the MDF idea sounds good -- makes me think i could build some... :-)
    if the surround and jam are in good shape, that is...

    so, pine, yay or nay?

  • worthy
    10 years ago

    There's a bit of marketing from the builder. Masonite interior doors come in either hollow core or Safe âÂÂN Sound solid core. No such thing as semi-solid.

    I've been happy with Masonite solid core for passageways and hollow core for closets.

    Recycled doors would be wonderful in a heritage style home. But finding a salvage dealer with enough doors in matching styles for an entire house would be very difficult.

    For the market I build for, even a recycled mantle or surround would be looked at askance. I'll probably put one in my next home just to be different!

  • galore2112
    10 years ago

    I think good quality doors add a lot to the feel of a house.

    I'm always surprised that cheap hollow core doors with imprinted wood grain are so popular. If money is not super tight, I would go for the best door possible.

  • millworkman
    10 years ago

    Actually Worthy the sold core masonite doors used to be made with the panels hollow and the stiles and rails were solid hardboard (masonite). Not certain if that is still the case but that was definitely the way they were made a few years back.

  • popeda
    10 years ago

    I don't know your age and overall perkiness, but we have regretted some of our "Shaker" decisions. The frames on the cabinets collect crumbs and dust like nothing we ever had before (raised panels). Our tall, plain baseboard requires extra work, too. Our doors are five-panel and fit right in with other Craftsman touches, but I notice that they are actually five slightly raised framed panels. They are collecting some dust, but nothing like the Shaker things we thought we had to have.

    If you are young and energetic, or feel as I am beginning to that dust is provided to us as a protective coating, then ignore this comment.

  • worthy
    10 years ago

    sol[i]d core masonite doors used to be made with the panels hollow and the stiles and rails were solid hardboard (masonite).

    You mentioned this before. But they've been sold as either hollow or solid core since at least 2005, when I started using them. (See link above for current offerings.)

    Oddly enough, as discussed on another thread, the solid core doors really don't contribute much in the way of sound deadening. But they just feel so much better that you're convinced they must be making your home quieter too.

  • millworkman
    10 years ago

    OK, then that would be new to me then as I have not been in the residential market with shop capabilities for those types of doors since 2004. I thought we had also discussed that prior and I am glad they have changed the those doors are made as it was certainly somewhat misleading.

  • millworkman
    10 years ago

    OK, then that would be new to me then as I have not been in the residential market with shop capabilities for those types of doors since 2004. I thought we had also discussed that prior and I am glad they have changed the those doors are made as it was certainly somewhat misleading.

  • bobhood
    10 years ago

    We did a condo remodel 6 years ago, and used 6-panel solid core doors. At Lowes/Home Depot the upcharge from hollow core doors was then about $20 per door, and WAY worth it! All were painted so we used MDF/woodgrain.

  • renovator8
    10 years ago

    Painted MDF router cut from one piece ... 1.75 inch thick for sound if paneled. Not cheap.

    I prefer Bolection but I don't know if the quality or price has changed since they were bought by Masonite. It's sad to see the small innovators cut down by the big corporations.

  • kaylie15
    9 years ago

    I hope someone can help me. I am in the process of replacing all of my interior doors (plus closets) and putting in 6 panel doors. The problem is, I need to have 1 3/4" thick doors and I can't seem to find them under $400.00 each. They will be painted, so pine will do, but I still can't find the solution. Help!

  • millworkman
    9 years ago

    A real lumberyard or building supply house should be able to order a solid core hardboard (Masonite type) of door and it should be well under $400 ea. Personally I would stay away from box stores (HD, Lowes, etc).

  • Bridget19
    9 years ago

    We are going to building soon and we have been buying old doors for our house. I want everyone bedroom to have a different door. We are going for an antique farmhouse. It's going to be very different and I don't care. As long as you have the doors before you start the build it'll work fine. We are keeping the old doorknobs and everything. I can picture it all in my head.
    I say as long as you like it, do it.

  • RemodelMagician
    9 years ago

    I always prefer wood doors over MDF. MDF can easily expand when exposed to humidity/water. In my latest project I used shaker style doors. I usually shop online as the big box stores are limited with selection and quality. See the link below of the shaker style doors I recently purchased:

    Here is a link that might be useful: Interior door model SH-18

  • millworkman
    9 years ago

    Spam, and more than likely you will end up with a virus if you click the link.......

  • renovator8
    9 years ago

    This is a good opportunity to recommend TruStile MDF paneled doors from Colorado. They have worked very well for me and their web site is the best I have seen for designing doors.

  • nanasuesto10
    7 years ago

    I'm seeing a "Houzz recommended "...'Supadoor' door vs TruStile. It seems they are both MDF and well made. They both have the 8 foot interior doors I need but do not know if the quality is similar and if one is better price wise than the other. Does anyone have any words of wisdom as I'm hitting a brick wall! Thxs!!!

  • millworkman
    7 years ago

    Quality wise from my past experience, six of one half dozen of the other. On pricing I have no clue.

  • reaganreilly
    4 years ago

    Anyone have experience with the Doormerica Millennium MDF series?

    We're looking at the Ovation Style... Would love to hear feedback.