If you run a business that makes use of commercial doors, you should be aware that these doors often serve two primary functions. First, they establish limits and divides in the areas where you require them the most (function). Second, commercial doors have a significant visual impact on the exterior of brick-and-mortar businesses, which means that clients and customers will be able to see the interior of these establishments (style).
Therefore, when we are working with our commercial clients, we address both their function and style requirements in order to assist them in determining whether they would benefit more from conventional solid core wood doors or more contemporary hollow metal doors.
Hollow Metal Doors vs. Solid Wood Doors
First, let’s define each one:
- Hollow Metal doors: Doors that are composed of hollow metal are often made of steel. As a direct result of this, you will be required to choose between several steel gauges. When referring to steel, a larger gauge number indicates a thinner sheet. Therefore, door facades built from steel with a smaller gauge are thicker and stronger than those manufactured from steel with a larger gauge. You still have the option of selecting insulation materials to fit your needs and climates, despite the fact that they are labeled “hollow,” which can be misleading due to the fact that the name suggests otherwise.
- Solid Wood Doors. By now you may be asking “what is a solid-core wood door?” These are actually composites, made from two wood veneers on each side that are filled with varying infill materials. We should note that solid wood doors are not the same as solid core wood doors. The two are different and a fire inspector will be able to tell the difference in a single knock. The infill in a solid core wood door will create a more muffled sound, while a solid wood door will have a louder, more resonant knock.
When deciding whether to install hollow metal or solid core wood choices for the commercial doors at your company, the following are some of the factors you’ll want to take into consideration.
What’s Your Overall Budget?
A door made of hollow metal will, in nearly every circumstance, be available at a lower cost than a door made of solid core wood. If you are concerned about your finances in any way, installing metal doors will help you save money.
Additionally, doors made of high-quality hollow metal are very long-lasting and require little in the way of maintenance, which may help you save money in the long term. Even though they are a durable material, wood veneers are nevertheless more susceptible to harm than steel.
Which Style Are You Attempting To Achieve?
Don’t fall into the trap of thinking that commercial metal doors are boring and uninteresting. In point of fact, modern hollow metal doors are available in a broad variety of faces, including those that have ornamental panels installed in them. They can also be made to seem like genuine wood, which makes it much simpler to give the interior of your building a look that is more traditional or style-specific. However, in order to get the look of finished wood, a door made of solid core wood must have actual wood veneers applied to its surface. Doors made of solid core wood are nearly always the finest option to go with when you’re seeking for a more premium appearance.
What Kind of Weather Do You Have?
This is an important question to consider. You should be aware that commercial wood doors tend to warp more easily. This will, over time, reduce the doors’ functionality as well as their aesthetic value, and it will also increase the amount of responsibility you have for maintaining them. If changes in humidity or temperature are often in your environment, then metal is most likely the ideal material for you to choose.
Do You Require Doors That Are Fire-Rated?
The good news is that even solid core wood doors may come with fire ratings as high as 60 or 90 minutes. These values are determined by testing conducted by independent labs. The sole drawback is that they are considerably more expensive than a comparable regular metal door that has the same fire rating as these doors.
Keep in mind that you are not required to make a choice between the two options. You should consult the sales representative at the business door firm you choose to determine which doors will function the most effectively in each location. Installing hollow metal doors in sections that are only accessible to employees and staff can help save money while maintaining the elegant and traditional appearance of solid wood core doors in major offices and other spaces where customers and potential customers are entertained.
Conclusion
A solid wood door is your best option if you want a door that has a traditional appearance or if you just want something that is sturdy and dependable to use in your restaurant, retail or office space. Built to last and fabricated right here in Canada, you can have confidence that the product is both high-quality and long-lasting thanks to the use of Canadian materials. Our commercial wood doors are some of the longest-lasting options currently available on the market, and Boreal Architectural Products is proud to offer them. Want to speak with a Wood Door Expert about your project? Contact us
