When you are in the market for new doors, you need to consider what your priorities are. There are typically three types of wooden doors available: solid wood, solid core and hollow core. The biggest difference between these three types of doors is what type of core they have. The core is what makes the biggest difference in terms of soundproofing, insulation, strength, longevity and cost.
From a distance, all three types of doors look like they are made of solid wood, but often they are cleverly engineered imitations. Being informed of their differences will help you make the best choice for you and your home.
Before you can decide if a solid core door is worth it, it helps to know exactly what a solid core interior door is!
What Does Solid Core Mean?
Solid core doors are cleverly designed to look and feel like a solid wood door, but are actually made of engineered or composite wood (HDF or particle board) with a veneer of high quality wood glued to the outside. They look just like a solid wood door and when made out of engineered wood, are as robust as a solid wood door. The engineered wood is made of real wood that is carefully joined together to create one unified piece of wood. Because just the outer veneer can be made of higher quality wood than the inside wood, you can get a door that looks great and is durable but isn’t as heavy as a 100% hardwood door.
EightDoors uses a stile and rail solid core construction. Wood veneered stile and rail doors have a solid core for decreased sound transmission and increased strength and durability.
The interior wood can be treated with a flame retardant, making it an optimal and safe option for interior or exterior use.
Pros
- This type of door is more resistant to humidity related damages than a solid wood door. This means that they don’t shrink or expand with the seasons like a solid wood door.
- These doors are often made of high density engineered wood, making them extremely durable.
- Has the look of a solid wood door.
- They are not entirely hollow, so these wood doors provide excellent heat and sound insulation.
- Solid core interior doors are less expensive than solid wooden doors.
Cons
- Because the exterior is only a veneer, style options can be more limited.
- These robust doors are heavy which requires more coordination to install.
- You may need new mounting hardware to accommodate this hefty type of door.
- This type of door is more expensive than a hollow core door.
What are the Alternatives?
Like a solid core door, hollow core doors are also made out of a thin veneer that doesn’t always match the inside content. Hollow core doors are filled with paper or plastic formed into a honeycomb pattern for added structural integrity. The veneer can be made out of composite wood, like particle board, which is a low density product made of engineered wood. This is often the only part of the door that is made of wood.
Hollow core doors are a common choice for interior doors due to their low cost. This can be a highly influential factor when considering outfitting a three bedroom home with new doors. Whereas their lightweight design makes for an easy installation, it also means they are less durable.
Pros
- Because they are not made entirely out of wood, hollow core doors are relatively stable in environments with changing humidity levels.
- When considering the quantity of internal passage doors of an average house, this type of door can save you a lot of money. However, you get what you pay for.
- They are lightweight, easy to transport, fit and install
Cons
- They offer little in the way of fire resistance, providing less security than a solid core or solid wood door.
- They do not provide a lot of acoustic or thermal insulation.
- They are not made of highly durable materials, which dramatically decreases their longevity and function.
So, are solid core interior doors worth it?
If you value durability, longevity, privacy AND economy, a solid core door is certainly the best choice over a wooden door. EightDoors sturdy rail and stile construction is a superior method of door craftsmanship. Dowels are used for making strong and tight joints where rails meet the stiles for ultimate strength and durability. As if the dowel construction weren’t sturdy enough, glue is also applied in the dowel hole for an even stronger bond. This is a key difference from hollow core doors, where the skin or mold is literally glued together with only spacers in between each skin.
Check out EightDoors’ collection of durable solid core rail and stile doors here.
