Open your door to all types of doors!
They say that first impression lasts, and what better way to create a splendid first impression than to make your doors, “you”? Open yourself up to the endless possibilities and choices of doors. Knock three times as we explore the door that fits you the most.
May you be the type who wants a relaxing first impression, the type of person who wants a little jolt of surprise, or you want a stable, sturdy look, wood doors will always be the best choice for your home. Wood transcends time, style, even budget! While steadily doing its primary task, of opening your home to those who knocks.
So now that you are in charge, how do you choose which type of door to install in your home?
Types of Wood Doors for Home Application
- Solid Doors
For: Those who value strength and durability without sacrificing aesthetic.
This type of wood door is the most popular amongst Filipino household. Its material came from a single specie of wood, like an exotic and prized hardwood such as Mahogany, Narra, and Acacia or white softwood like Spruce, Pine or Douglas Fir. It is perfect for Main Door application due its natural, exotic beauty while ensuring strength and durability. Solid doors tend to have sound insulating properties and gives off a very secured feeling, thus some use it for their Master’s bedroom.
Advantages
- Authentic; comes from a single specie of exotic wood
Nothing beats authentic. The timeless beauty of an exotic solid wood door will surely give a premium vibe to your home. - It is a status symbol!
Solid wood doors can be very expensive. It shows the ability to live a lavish lifestyle, indirectly showing your status and achievements. Imagine the look of your guests when they are being welcomed by your beautiful Mahogany Main Door in your next social gathering. - It provides a sense of security.
Solid doors are durable and can resist being kicked in or broken down. It also a good insulator of heat and cold, which makes it energy efficient. Lastly, it reduces noise or sound, making you safe and comfortable inside your home.
Disadvantages
- Price can go way up!
If you want something as premium as this, be prepared for the cost. Solid Door prices range from Php 10,000 up to Php 25,000 depending on the specie of wood, thickness and design. Be wary of those cheap exotic solid wood doors you find somewhere else as these might came from illegal logging (not all!).
- Timber used might come from our natural forests.
Exotic solid doors are really expensive and its raw material (timber) takes a lifetime (70+ years) to mature. That is why more and more illegal loggers are going after our natural forests to harvest these wild and exotic wood for trading. While you might think that you got a great deal in buying an exotic wood door or furniture at a very low price, there’s a big chance that the timber used for your prized possession was harvested illegally, fueling more demand to cut more trees in our natural forest.
- It needs regular maintenance
For a beauty to last a lifetime (yes, some can last a very long time), it needs to be maintained regularly. Same is true for solid wood doors. Maintaining a solid wood door not only keeps its natural beauty, but also protects it from rotting or infestation.
- Solid Engineered Doors
For: Buyers looking for top notch quality and versatile door at a better price
If you are looking for a door that offers most of the advantages of a solid wood door but is more budget friendly, then Solid Engineered Door is what you are looking for. Solid Engineered Door (or SED) is made of different wood specie that are combined to form a single component, and is covered with a hardwood veneer for a neat appearance. It is usually preferred for interior application (like bedroom doors) but can also perform well as a main door. SED are the popular choice among the home owners who put importance on security but still works within a range of budget.
Advantages
- It is sustainable
Majority of solid engineered doors are made of timber harvested from tree plantations. Tree plantations are just like a regular farms, except that instead of fruits or vegetables, farmers plant alternative hardwood like Rubber wood, Durian and Falcata, among others (which grows faster vs. exotic wood species), to harvest as timber within 5 – 10 years. Talking about the future of sustainable logging!
- It is paintable and stainable.
Fun thing about solid engineered door is that it can be painted and stained according to your preference. You can paint it over with your favorite color (neon green, perhaps?) and still won’t feel any regret about doing so (try to do that on a solid wood door that costs Php 20,000).
- It is budget friendly!
The cost of a Solid Engineered Wood ranges from Php 3,900 up to Php 5,500 thanks to its sustainable materials. This makes the door ideal for home owners who want the best quality and value for their hard earned money.
Disadvantages
- It is not a Solid Door at the end of the day
Solid Engineered Doors are usually covered with hardwood veneers that, although neat looking, is still far from the beauty of a Solid Wood Door. To address this, some are using wood stains similar to the color of exotic wood species to mimic its premium feel.
- Sanding the SED is a risky choice
Some doors need to be sanded to preserve and maintain its beauty (or for some other cases, remove the topcoat containing paint). Since SEDs are using thin veneers, sanding it would remove the wood veneer, exposing the engineered door that lies underneath. So make up your mind before you put a paint on it, okay? - Prime Moulded Door
For: Budget conscious buyers that value style
The popular choice for budget-friendly home renovations, Prime Moulded Doors are light, ready to paint doors that are usually seen in condos and low-cost housing. Unlike Solid Wood Doors or SEDs, Prime Moulded Doors are usually hollow (or with honeycomb in-filler cartons) and is supported with solid wood that acts as frame.
Advantages
- Functional yet economical
Prime Moulded Doors come with wide array of designs that compliment most of the interior home styles. Clean and versatile, these doors are ideal for any interior application (ex. kid’s room, utility room). Best of all, it is easy on the buyer, because it only ranges from Php 2,900 – Php 3,500 depending on size and type. - DIY friendly and easy to install
Prime Moulded Doors, as you guessed it right, has been painted white already. You may choose installing it immediately after purchase or customize it by painting it with another color. DIY installation is also possible because it is lightweight and can be easily lifted by one person.
Disadvantages
- It is not that durable
Since it is hollow, one cannot expect the same strength that Solid Doors or SED can offer. You might be able to put some hooks and hang some clothes on it, though.
- It is for interior application only
Prime Moulded Doors performs best when installed away from any outdoor and water exposure. They do not thrive in outdoor applications as these doors are fragile in nature and can be destroyed by harsh weather or even with a force.
- Flush Door
For: Looking for a door that has the basic functions
Flush Doors are best known to be the most basic door in the Philippines. This low-cost, plain, and simple door is usually hollow inside with solid wood frames and is covered with either plywood or veneer. It offers a basic and flat design and is commonly used in low-cost residential buildings.
Advantages
- The most affordable door
Flush Doors usually have a price tag of Php 1,500 – Php 2,000, making it an ideal door for low cost housing or for interior applications that require minimal security.
Basic, minimalist design
They say that simplicity is beauty, and flush doors offer just that. It is the dream design of any minimalist, but still allows its users to customize it through painting or staining.Lightweight, easy to install
Due to its light weight, it can be easily be handled and requires minimal effort to install which makes it perfect for DIY installation.
Disadvantages
- It offers minimal security
These doors are not ideal to use if you are into privacy and security as it allows sound to freely flow (remember, it is hollow). Also, its structure is not strong enough to withstand forces and weather. One punch from an adult may inflict an irreparable damage to the door.
- It is difficult to repair
Once it delaminates (due to exposure to weather or becomes frail because of age), it is hard or even more expensive to repair. Sometimes it is best to just buy a new flush door than to repair a delaminated flush door not only because it is cheaper but also much faster. In short, what you see is what you get.
While wood doors seem to be the perfect choice to any application in your home, remember that it also comes with disadvantages. Wood doors can be infested by termites, wood borers or it can even decay due to fungi. That is why it is really important to treat your wood doors before you install them. Some treatment includes brushing wood stains, oil, wax or varnish all over the door. While it provides protection, the treatment only touches the surface of the door, meaning the inner wood is still prone to infestation.
Good thing that there’s Matwood, a brand that offers treated wood doors using its patented double vacuum technology. By using the said technology, it forces the wood to absorb the wood treatment, providing protection that goes beyond the surface. What’s more interesting is that Matwood provides 10-year warranty against termites, wood borers and fungal decay, so you can be assured that your door is protected for the years to come.
We have unlocked the door for you, all you have to do is to open it wide! Take a look at Matwood’s treated doors (yes, they do have Mahogany Doors, too!) and other non-treated doors by checking our online store here.
