Architectural Specifications for Interior French Door
French doors are a favorite interior door type for many homeowners and designers. The doors can divide space and open elegantly without the awkward sweep of single swing doors. There are many styles and features of interior French doors that can be defined by specifying the doors' dimensions, construction, finish, hardware and accoutrement. Does this Spark an idea?
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Dimensions
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Interior French doors are specified by their rough opening and clear opening dimensions. The rough opening is the size given to the carpenters to provide for installation of the door frame. The clear opening is the dimension through which a person can pass. The doors stand at least 6-feet-8-inches tall, and the openings are 2- to 6-feet wide. Rough opening dimensions are usually 1 1/2 to 3 inches greater than the clear opening dimensions.
Construction
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The French door can be hollow core, solid core or paneled construction.
Hollow core doors are composed of solid wood rails, or horizontal framing elements, and stiles, or vertical framing elements, infilled with blanks, strips, or grids of plastic, cardboard or scrap wood.
Solid core doors have the same rail and stile frame as the hollow core doors, but the cores are infilled with wood or particle board. These doors are much stronger and heavier than the hollow core doors.
Both hollow and solid core doors have a continuous veneer to hide the door frame and infill.
Paneled doors have rail and stile frames, but instead of infill, the doors' frames are integrated with inset panels. These panels are wood lumber, plywood or particle board. This is the most traditional type of door.
All three types of door construction can have windows composed of glass panels, called lights. Paneled French doors often have glass as paneling instead of wood or plywood.
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Finish
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A French door is specified by finish also. The finish can be premium, good or sound, depending on the chosen appearance or paint choices. Panel doors often have only the frame and panel surface to finish, so a higher quality wood or wood product should be used for these doors.
Hardware
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The hardware must be specified for interior French doors. The door handles, locks and latches must match the interior space and be appropriate for the door's use. Hinges must match the other door hardware and can be specified for different types of openings or swings. For example, a French door can swing in two directions or only one, depending on the hinge selection.
Accoutrement
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Other elements can be specified for an interior French door, including kick plates and stripping or soundproofing. There are many elements that can be included in the construction and implementation of the door, depending on the door's use. For example, French doors to a bathroom or closet may require hooks for articles of clothing.
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References
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