The Ultimate Wood Door Buying Guide

Post by manhattandoor on March 23rd, 2020

If you’re a distributor in need of commercial wood doors, you have the opportunity to provide your clients with high-quality, durable doors made in a variety of sizes and styles. From the material to the size of the hardware, your options are almost endless.

This guide offers you a review of the different types of interior doors you can purchase for your inventory, some tips on what type of door might be best for your client base and how we at Manhattan Door can help you with the perfect customized doors for your clients.

Why Should You Offer Wood Doors?

Wood is one of the best materials for interior doors because of its:

• Insulation: Wooden doors are naturally more insulated than other types of doors, protecting against extreme temperatures.
• Security: Wood doors can be fire rated to prevent the spread of smoke and fire. They give peace of mind.
• Modern commercial design: Clients choose wooden doors for their versatile, functional design. Their natural beauty can enhance the aesthetic of any commercial building.

What Are the Different Types of Interior Doors?

You can choose either classic veneer or plastic laminate for your doors. The pros and cons of each type are as follows:

1. Wood Veneer Doors

Flush wood doors are basic doors with flat surfaces. Their clean, elegant lines complement the décor of any commercial building. Wood veneer doors are a great option because they are:

• Cost-effective: Wood veneer doors are more affordable than solid wood doors. If your clients want a solid wood appearance, we can attach a wood veneer finish to a core material. Many hotels benefit from wood veneer doors because they offer the natural look of wood while staying within a budget.
• Eco-friendly: Wood veneer doors are more sustainable than solid wood doors. Instead of using the whole log, we only use a small sheet of wood for wood veneers.
• Lightweight: A wood veneer door uses lightweight core material instead of heavy solid wood. Therefore, veneer doors are easy to carry and install.
• High-quality: Even though wood veneer doors contain less wood, they have the same quality as solid wood doors. We use the best wood for interior doors. Due to the versatility and fire rating of wood veneer doors, they work well in apartment buildings.

Those designing commercial office buildings appreciate the functional design of a wood veneer door. You can paint or stain flush doors any color you want, and their simplicity blends in with any décor theme of a commercial building. Any industry could use this type of wood interior door.

2. Laminate Doors

High-quality, affordable laminate doors are efficient for areas with high traffic. Commercial industries choose plastic laminate doors for their businesses because they are:

• Affordable: We can create a laminate wood door at a low rate because of its simple yet sturdy materials. Laminate doors can look like wood for a lower price. School buildings that need a lot of doors often use laminate doors.
• Versatile: Laminate doors are available to complement a building’s décor and theme. Apartment buildings and hotels that have unique designs will appreciate versatile veneer doors.
• Durable: Laminate doors are resistant to scratches and heat. They can also resist liquid and dirt stains. Hospitals commonly use these types of doors because they can withstand high traffic.
• Resistant: Laminated doors do not warp or bend in humid temperatures like solid wood doors do. Laminate doors are a more dependable option that can last through the seasons.
• Easy-to-maintain: The surface on a laminate door is easy to clean and resistant to stains. A plastic laminate door will last for years because of its resistance to stains and scratches.

You can choose from different design options for plastic laminate doors, including, among many others:

• Linear Graphite: A pattern of textured linear stone, with specks of red.
• Chocolate Ash: Wood graining with a charred look, complete with mid-tone browns.
• Lost Pine: Distressed wood with taupe and gray tones.
• Shadow Ash: Warm gray ash with hints of cathedrals.
• Stone Alona: Dark gray oak with plain, sliced open grain and cathedrals.
• Planked Texas Walnut: Variations of light and dark wood with full cathedrals.

What Is the Best Core Material for Your Interior Doors?

A door’s core is what’s between the two sheets of material that brings the door together. As you consider which is the best core material, think about the function of the type of door you need. All the cores we offer are reliable and safe for companies of various industries to use. We also use materials that are compliant with the Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) standards.

1. Hollow-Core Honeycomb

Hollow-core honeycomb consists of four-by-four inch corrugated wood cells in hexagonal shapes. This five-ply core is affordable yet provides a sound structure for your door. Lightweight hollow-core doors are easy to maintain and install.

This type of core also meets the standards of the Window and Door Manufacturers Association (WDMA). It also complies with environmental/LEED standards because of its renewable material. Hollow-core honeycomb doors perform well in bathrooms, closets, bedrooms, apartment buildings, office buildings and hotels.

2. Diet Core

Diet core is a unique type of core designed by Manhattan Door Corp. Made from lightweight natural wood, diet core combines the benefits of both hollow-core and solid wood core doors. While it has more structure than a hollow-core door, it is also more lightweight than a solid wood door.

Diet core complies with LEED standards for an eco-friendly core. It has low carbon emission rates and uses all-natural renewable materials. Diet core measures more than 50 percent lighter than particleboard and SCL door cores.

3. Fire-Rated

Fire-rated door core insulates a building from spreading fire and smoke. Federal and local regulations often require commercial doors to be fire-resistant to some degree. Our fire-rated doors have been tested to last up to 20, 45 and 90 minutes before a fire breaks out.

• 20 minutes: Door core fire-rated at 20 minutes, according to Warnock Hersey Listing, is made from five-ply particleboard LD-1 or LD-2. It meets the American National Standards Institute (ANSI) and WDMA regulations. You could use this type of door core in an office building because there is less risk of a fire.
• 45 minutes: Door core fire-rated at 45 minutes, according to Intertek Testing Services and Warnock Hersey. is made from five-ply structural composite lumber (SCL). It meets the standards of the WDMA for safety and durability. You could use this type of door core in an apartment building or office building because of the chance of a fire with high traffic.
• 90 minutes: Door core fire-rated at 90 minutes, according to Warnock Hersey, is made from incombustible, non-asbestos mineral core, engineered to meet label requirements. You could use this type of door core in a hospital, restaurant or school because of their high traffic and use of kitchens.

4. Structural Composite Lumber Core

Structural composite lumber (SCL) core consists of various woods held together by resin. SCL provides more structure than particleboard but is also cost-effective. SCL core is fire-rated up to 20 minutes, according to the Warnock Hersey Listing. Since it is resistant to warping in humidity, a SCL door would perform well as a bathroom door or the door to a break room.

5. Solid Core

A solid core provides a door with the most structure. Since they are heavier and sturdier, they provide the best sound reduction. Solid core doors look and feel like solid wood doors without the cost. They are fire-resistant, and they offer good insulation.

You can choose a plastic laminate solid wood core or a lightweight wood core. A lightweight wood core is easy to carry and install. A solid core door could benefit any industry, especially an office building. Employees need their privacy, and they need to know they are safe as they come to work every day.

6. Particleboard

Particleboard is the most cost-effective type of door core. While it’s lightweight, five-ply particleboard LD-1 and LD-2 complies with ANSI and WDMA standards. Manufacturers create particleboard with wood chips and resin. Particleboard is easy to maintain and install.

How to Choose a Wood Veneer for Your Interior Doors

Wood veneer involves covering over the door’s core with two panels of thick wood. Wood veneer doors give you the same texture of solid wood but at a fraction of the price.

We offer a variety of cuts, colors and matches. Use these steps to figure out what type of veneer you want for your custom-made doors.

1. Choose Your Cut

Create a wood veneer cut that will enhance the aesthetic of your client’s office building. The panel slices that the manufacturer creates with these cuts are called leaves. At Manhattan Door Corp., we offer the following cuts for your wood veneer door, including:

• Rift cut: This type of cut uses different species of oak. Our manufacturers achieve the rift effect by slicing across the medullar rays. This process minimizes the flake and highlights the vertical grain that appear in quarter cut oak.
• Plain sliced cut: This type of cut is the most popular. We create this cut by moving a half log along a stationary knife in an up-and-down motion. The pattern we create is straight grain mixed with cathedrals.
• Quarter cut: Instead of using a half log like in a plain sliced cut, we move a quarter log along a stationary knife in an up-and-down motion. The resulting pattern is a straight grain or ribbon-striped mahogany appearance.
• Rotary cut: This type of cut involves rotating a log around a stationary knife. As a result, the cut takes on a wide, bold grain pattern.

2. Choose Your Match

After the manufacturer cuts your leaves, the pieces of wood are about the size of a two-by-four piece of plywood. The manufacturer needs to match the leaves to create a wood veneer interior door. The type of match you choose depends on the type of appearance you want the door to have.

Door manufacturers match separate pieces of wood veneer together in the following types:

• Book match: The manufacturer pieces together alternating panels like a book. As a result, a book-matched veneer creates a symmetrical pattern.
• Slip match: Slip-matched veneer joins pieces without switching the pattern. Doing this keeps the joints hidden for straight-grain pieces.
• Balance match: Balance-matched veneer is when the manufacturer keeps the leaves of the panels consistent.

3. Choose Your Color

The color of your wood veneer door depends on what type of material you want to use. You can stain natural wood veneer doors, or you could also appreciate the natural beauty of the wood. Our wood veneer doors are available in various wood materials, including:

• Maple
• Oak
• Cherry
• Walnut
• Ash
• Mahogany
• Birch
• Bamboo
• Anigre

We can also make doors from other wood veneers which can be specially ordered upon request:

• Douglas fir
• Rosewood
• Eucalyptus
• Ebony

How to Choose Door Sizing

The size of the doors should also be a consideration. Before choosing a door size, you should consider:

• The thickness of your door
• The height of your door
• The width of your door
• Wheelchair accessibility

Common Sizing Choices

Interior doors are a standard size of 1 3/8″ thick. Depending on your door core, you can get a thickness of up to 2.25″. Most interior doors are two to three feet wide and seven feet tall. Each type of door follows a different standard of sizing. Clients now request doors that are taller and narrower than traditional interior doors.

Modern interior doors follow a standard size of six feet and eight inches tall and three feet wide. The standard size for closet doors is eight feet tall by two feet and six inches wide.

Here are the standard sizes for our wood doors:

• Hollow core: The maximum size for our hollow-core doors is 48″ wide x 120″ inches. You can get pairs for 96″ wide x 120″ inches. The standard thickness options for hollow-core doors are 1.375″ and 1.75″.
• “Diet” core: The maximum sizes for our diet core doors are 72″ wide and 108″ high or 48″ wide and 144″ high. The standard thickness options for diet core doors are 1.375″, 1.75″, 2″ and 2.25″.
• Fire-rated 20-minute core: The maximum size for fire-rated doors is 48″ wide x 120″ high. You can get pairs measuring 96″ wide x 120″ high. The standard thickness options are 1.375″, 1.75″, 2″ and 2.25″.
• Fire-rated 45-minute core: The maximum size for fire-rated doors is 48″ wide x 120″ high. You can get pairs measuring 96″ wide x 108″ high. The only standard thickness option is 1.75″. You can request doors made 2″ and 2.25″ thick.
• Fire-rated 90-minute core: The maximum size for fire-rated doors is 48″ wide x 96″ high. You can get pairs measuring 96″ x 96″. The standard thickness options are 1.75″, 2″ and 2.25″ for a maximum height of 96″.
• SCL core: The maximum size for SCL core doors is 48″ wide x 120″ high. You can get pairs measuring 96″ wide x 120″ high. Standard thickness is 1.375″, 1.75″, 2″ and 2.25″.
• Solid core: Solid core doors are available in the following widths: 1’0″, 1’2″, 1’3″, 1’4″, 1’6″, 1’8″, 1’10”, 2’0″, 2’2″, 2’4″, 2’6″, 2’8″, 2’10”, 3’0″. They can be made in the following heights: 6’8″, 7′, 8′. They can have the following thicknesses: 1′ 3/8″, 1′ 3/4″.
• Particleboard core: The maximum size for particleboard core is 48″ wide x 120″ high. You can get pairs measuring 96″ wide x 120″ high. Standard thickness is 1.375″, 1.75″, 2.0″ and 2.25″.

For any of these types of doors, call us to find out if we have a larger size available for your custom-made wood door.

Trends in Wood Door Sizes

Give your clients plenty of door options to choose from. They will know what size door they need after they measure the width and height of the space in which they need a door.

The style of the room will also influence the size of the door. Modern interior design frequently utilizes high ceilings and more space. Spacious rooms give an office space a peaceful atmosphere — and they also provide more comfort for residents of an apartment building.

Wood interior doors should also follow the American Disabilities Association (ADA) standards. For wheelchairs to fit through a door, the frame needs to be wider than the standard 36 inches.

Why Custom-Made Doors Give You More Flexibility

With a custom-made door, contractors can install a door in an unconventional space. Unconventional spaces are commonly found in older buildings that have an outdated layout. Additionally, ceilings in older buildings tend to be too high or low. A custom door can also help you meet building regulations.

Planning for Hardware

Knowing what hardware you want to have on your doors tells us what kind of holes and notches to make in the door. These are the types of hardware to consider as you design your commercial wood door:

1. Locks

Most interior doors use locks to protect valuables or provide privacy for employees. Locks within doorknobs are convenient and easy to use. These are the most common types of locks for interior wooden doors in a commercial building:

• Knob locks: This type of lock has a spring bolt controlled by a doorknob. You could use a key on one side of the door and a manual lock on the other side.
• Lever handle locks: This type of lock has a bolt controlled by a lever on both sides of the door. Often, only one side of the door can be locked.

2. Knobs and Handles

The doorknob of an interior door is determined by its function. Some common doorknobs and handles include:

• Privacy door knobs: These types of doorknobs could be locked with a button or turn piece. You could use a doorknob or a lever handle.
• Dummy door knobs: Dummy doorknobs don’t turn. They are more for decoration than for function.
• Passage door knobs: These types of doorknobs turn, but they don’t lock. You could use these types of doorknobs for a closet door.

3. Hinges

The hinges on an interior door are determined by the space in which the door exits and how it is meant to open. Generally, hinges can go on either side of a door. Some common options are:

• Double action spring hinge: This is the most popular type of door hinge – it can be adjusted to close from either direction.
• Butterfly door hinge: This is a decorative hinge that will add a creative flair to a wooden door. Butterfly door hinges work best with lightweight doors.
• Bi-fold door hinge: Bi-fold door hinges have several pivot points, so the door will have a bigger range of motion.

How Much Time Do You Have?

After you have decided on a design, begin the process of designing and buying your wood interior door. At Manhattan Door Corp, we pride ourselves on our quick turnaround rate. Here is the process for ordering doors with Manhattan Door Corp:

1. Call us for a quote based on the project you are working on.
2. Our customer service representatives will have you fill out a quick questionnaire.
3. We give you a quote for your job.
4. After we discuss your design preferences, we will begin working on your door.

Manhattan Door Corp. will create your door in one day or less. While the industry’s standard is a few weeks, we will have your door ready in two to three weeks. We can also accommodate rush orders to get your doors done to meet quick deadlines.

How to Order Your Custom Doors With Manhattan Door

Complete the process by ordering your custom doors with our team at Manhattan Door Corp. If you want a door without having to wait too long, we’ll give you exactly what you want. Call us at 718-963-1111 to speak with one of our professionals. You could also fill out a contact form online for more information.