From this article you can find out what features an entrance door with a thermal break has. Consider the internal structure and purpose of these products, the classification of existing structures and the technical characteristics that are inherent in them. The article contains a brief overview of the products of the most popular manufacturers, a comparison of prices for thermal doors, as well as their parameters.
Content
- 1 Entrance door with thermal break: basic information on products
- 2 Technical and operational characteristics of doors with thermal break
- 2.1 Characteristics of materials for insulated entrance doors
- 2.2 Thermal insulation materials for metal entrance doors with thermal break
- 2.3 Varieties and photos of entrance doors for country houses
- 2.4 Comparative characteristics of thermal doors from different price segments
- 2.5 Consumer opinion about doors with a thermal break: customer reviews
- 3 Popular manufacturers of entrance doors: rating of the best companies
Entrance door with thermal break: basic information on products
Main function front door is to protect the premises from the penetration of strangers. Most often, such structures are made of metal, which in itself is both an advantage and a disadvantage. On the one hand, such doors are reliable, safe and durable. They are able to withstand the long-term influence of atmospheric phenomena, for example, frost, wind, precipitation. On the other hand, a metal door becomes a source of heat loss, due to which the microclimate inside living rooms can be disturbed.
Not all customer reviews left on metal entrance doors are positive, since all the advantages are inherent only in high-quality and expensive structures. In other cases, the owners of cottages and private houses are dealing with a partial loss of useful qualities during operation, rapid paint fading and even icing of products.
To avoid unpleasant surprises, as well as get rid of the flaws that are inherent in metal structures, you can buy outdoor doors with thermal breaks, which in many ways surpass conventional product options.
Features of doors with a thermal break: what it is and how it works
A street door with a thermal break is manufactured using a special technology. Due to this, the structure acquires increased resistance to the effects of atmospheric precipitation and temperature extremes, as well as damage caused by mechanical loads.
Such designs work based on simple laws of physics. The difference between the temperature conditions on the street and inside the house is leveled by the door, the thermal break occurs due to the presence of an insulating layer. It is made of a material with low thermal conductivity. In most cases, this interlayer is a polyamide insert that is sandwiched between several thermal insulation materials.
Note! According to GOST standards, the maximum allowable temperature difference between the living quarters and the street is 40 °. It is highly undesirable for the difference to exceed this figure.
The insulating layer is mounted on the inner surface of the door so that the entire area is covered with it. This insulating cake slows down the rate of heat transfer between adjacent materials and prevents the outside of the product from heating up. As a result, heat losses are reduced. Previously, a similar effect was achieved by installing two doors with an air gap between them or arranging a vestibule. Today it is enough to buy entrance doors with a thermal break to keep the heat in the house.
Why is it profitable to buy a door with a thermal break
In some cases, the installation of two air-spaced structures may be appropriate. The empty space between the doors will serve as a kind of buffer, not allowing the cold to enter the room. Most often, for the installation of paired structures, products are taken made of materials with different thermal conductivity, for example, wood and metal.
However, the use of paired structures also has disadvantages:
- the tightness of the closing of the sash is broken;
- doors are sagging;
- it is more difficult to enter and exit the room, since you will have to open two doors;
- the technical requirements for the wall become more complicated, since a double box or two standard boxes for each door will be mounted in the opening;
- useful space is lost.
Installation of outdoor doors with thermal break in a private house offers significantly more advantages:
- no freezing of both the door itself and the block with the lock;
- high level of noise isolation;
- suitable for regions with harsh climatic conditions;
- there is no need to equip additional thermal protection around the structure;
- no need to use additional insulation and sealant.
In the positive reviews of the owners of doors with a thermal break, other advantages are noted that distinguish these products from conventional designs:
- reinforced structure by increasing the stability of the frame and heavy door leaf made of dense material;
- increased safety margin for fittings;
- reliable frame with a solid base;
- high quality workmanship.
In addition, insulated outdoor metal entrance doors with a thermal break have additional functionality such as resistance to high pressure and tightness.
Note! In the photo of standard type metal entrance doors, you can see many design variations. Unlike conventional designs, thermal break products are not as diverse. With a preference for secondary design, manufacturers pay more attention to quality control and maintaining technology standards.
Technical and operational characteristics of doors with thermal break
By installing an entrance metal door with a thermal break, you can significantly reduce the cost of heating your home, because the efficiency of keeping heat increases. This advantage will be especially beneficial for homes that are heated by electricity.
Consider the characteristics and advantages of outdoor entrance doors with a thermal break:
- profitability due to lower heating costs;
- reliable build system;
- ease of use;
- high quality coating;
- resistance to the appearance of frost and ice;
- the likelihood of condensate formation is excluded;
- high level of sound insulation;
- high degree of fire safety;
- endurance before the influence of low temperatures.
Despite the large number of advantages, steel doors with a thermal break also have disadvantages. The presence of all the above benefits depends on several conditions, which must be adhered to. First, if the operating conditions of the doors are accompanied by high humidity, there will be a risk of ice formation. To avoid this, you will need to organize a supply and exhaust ventilation system.
Secondly, entrance doors for a country house with a thermal break put forward increased requirements for the quality of installation work. Slope, skew, deformation changes in the web - any error made during installation can negate the thermal insulation qualities of the structure.
Thirdly, you will definitely need to buy handles with a similar function as an additional set to the front door with a thermal break. Regular fittings will leak heat.
Characteristics of materials for insulated entrance doors
When choosing a product, it is advisable to pay attention to the quality and characteristics of the heat-insulating material. The frame of reliable structures is made of thick sheet steel. At the same time, the width remains standard - about 86 cm. Steel has more favorable characteristics than PVC or wood.
There are products made of thin steel on sale. You should not buy at the low price and low weight of such doors, since they are very easy to open. To do this, just use a can opener. It is desirable that reinforcement is present on the canvas. A door with this design will be more difficult to break.
Note! If the steel sheets are on both sides of the sash, then before purchasing the door, you should check their integrity and make sure there are no holes. Typically this material is 1.8 mm thick.
Most of the entrance doors with a thermal break for a private house have a heavy structure, which cannot but affect the performance and service life. To extend the period of effective use of the product, it must be equipped with reliable and durable hinges. Standard fixing elements are not suitable for this purpose. The best option would be special levers that secure the canvas in a stable position.
Thermal insulation materials for metal entrance doors with thermal break
Various materials are used to fill the interior of the doors. It is on them that the thermal insulation qualities of products and their cost depend.
The main types of thermal insulation materials:
- Polyvinyl chloride.
- Mineral wool.
- Styrofoam.
- Fiberglass.
Related article:
How to choose an entrance metal door to an apartment
Algorithm for assessing the quality of metal entrance doors according to several criteria. What they pay attention to.
Polyvinyl chloride belongs to the category of budget materials with excellent insulating qualities. Its structure looks like chambers that trap the heat coming from the living rooms. Doors with PVC filler are suitable for regions where winters are warm and the climate is mild. Exposure to severe frosts will deprive the plastic of half of its useful properties.
Mineral wool and foam are used to create a sealed structure. Doors with such a filler can be installed in regions where the air temperature does not drop below -25 ° C. Buying front doors to a cottage with fiberglass filling will be beneficial for home owners located in the northern regions with a harsh climate. It is not recommended to use fiberglass if the air temperature is very high during the summer.
On sale you can find designs made of two materials. Such doors have a metal box, inside of which a solid solid wood is installed. Their quality, as well as the cost, are very high. Wood prevents the penetration of cold into the house, it is environmentally friendly and safe.
Varieties and photos of entrance doors for country houses
There are a sufficient number of manufacturers of doors with thermal breaks on the market, offering designs of various modifications. Before buying this or that model, you should definitely familiarize yourself with its technical characteristics and find out how suitable it is for installation.
The range of low-cost metal doors with thermal break includes products made of thin sheet metal. Reliable structures have a sheet thickness of more than 3 mm. It is advisable to pay attention to just such models. MDF can be used as an exterior finish. These panels are practical and lightweight.
Useful advice! ANDThe use of a pre-compressed self-adhesive sealing tape (PSUL) will eliminate drafts and precipitation into the room. It is attached to the gap where the metal platband adjoins the wall before being installed in the house Entrance door with thermal break.
The middle price category includes structures with external finishing in the form of laminate. This type of material realistically simulates a natural wood surface. In terms of decorative qualities, it looks much better than polyvinyl chloride and MDF. The most expensive will be buying doors made of natural wood. For most consumers, this purchase is too expensive.
The most demanded on the market remain models finished with powder dye. Such products look aesthetically pleasing, have fire-fighting properties and are highly resistant to weather conditions.
Comparative characteristics of thermal doors from different price segments
The comfort of further door operation depends on the quality and technical characteristics of the structure. For homeowners living in regions with harsh climatic conditions, it is advisable to select modern models that have a heat saving function. Some modifications provide for the presence of 5 layers of insulation material and several contours of the seal.
Comparative characteristics of door structures by classes:
Characteristic | Product class | ||
Economy | Business | Premium | |
Sheet material thickness, mm | 1,2-2 | 3-4 | 4-5 |
Thermal insulation material in the door leaf | expanded polystyrene, izolon with foil coating, expanded polystyrene | Isolon, expanded polystyrene, Isolon with foil coating, expanded polystyrene | Isolone with foil covering, sheet cork, expanded polystyrene (2 layers), Isolon with foil covering, expanded polystyrene |
Finishing material (external) | dermantin | vinyl leather | powder painting |
Finishing material (internal) | MDF, lining | laminate for wood | natural wood |
Additional locking mechanism | — | — | + |
Night valve | — | + | + |
Additional functions | — | — | anti-removable clamps, duct heating |
Additional decor | — | two-tone painting or drawing over metal | two-tone painting, drawing over metal, forged or steel elements in the form of overlays |
Note! The function of additional heating of the box is paid separately. The cost of this option is 7000-8000 rubles.
Consumer opinion about doors with a thermal break: customer reviews
The advantages of structures that retain heat in the house have already been appreciated by many buyers of entrance doors with a thermal break, consumer reviews from the forums confirm this:
“I would like to tell you in a few words about Torex doors with thermal break, which I installed in my house. Those who live outside the city will agree that drafts and cold are the main problems of the private sector. In any case, you will need to install an insulated door. I didn't look for foreign firms and decided to focus on a domestic manufacturer. Since last winter, I forgot what drafts and frost from the street are. The structure does not freeze and keeps heat well. "
Andrey Vasnetsov, St. Petersburg
“My family and I live in a cottage outside the city all year round. Small children are constantly ill due to drafts from the street. At home, you want to feel comfortable, and not walk, wrapped in ten clothes. More than once I heard about the new entrance doors from neighbors, I decided to order one for myself. I don't know all the features of this technology, but the long-awaited warmth appeared in the house. My husband and I bought Argus doors with thermal break. Now you don't have to worry about children's health. We are very pleased with the result. "
Ekaterina Strelbitskaya, Moscow
“I own a small office space where several people work. In winter, staff and visitors complained a lot about the cold and drafts from the street. Had to spend money on a new door. It was very important for me to choose a model that would be both warm and not expensive. I stopped at the door of a bullfinch with a thermal break. The model is relatively inexpensive, does not freeze, and the reviews about it on the Internet are quite good. This door solved all my problems. "
Stanislav Degtyarev, Yekaterinburg
Popular manufacturers of entrance doors: rating of the best companies
Having familiarized yourself with the features of entrance doors with a thermal break function, as well as having studied the characteristics, you can safely go to the store. According to buyers, the Nord brand (LLC "ProfMaster") leads the domestic rating of door manufacturers. The company has its own trademark and the largest plant in the capital. Products are delivered to various cities in the country. The assortment is not limited to one price segment. Buyers can purchase both budget models and premium ones.
In second place is the Argus company. The manufacturer launches doors with the highest quality powder-polymer coating on the market. For cutting, laser technology is used, which ensures the maximum accuracy of cutting metal.The company has its own production of MDF panels used for decorating structures.
The third position is reserved for doors with Guardian thermal break. Products are sold throughout the country. The company has an expanded network of branches, so consumers do not experience difficulties in purchasing quality doors from this company.
Average prices for doors with thermal break:
Ranking place | Brand name | price, rub. |
1 | North | 21500-31000 |
2 | Argus | 18500-38500 |
3 | Guardian | 15000-35000 |
4 | Lex Thermo | 25000-34500 |
5 | Torex | 30000-40000 |
6 | Thermo | 31500-89300 |
7 | MeDoor | 28200-32000 |
The modern assortment of insulated doors allows you to choose a design with optimal characteristics. The most important of these are the thickness of the metal and the type of heat-insulating filler.
Not all manufacturers that produce products with a thermal break function are represented here, but only those who are popular with buyers and are actively increasing their dealer network. Many of them offer doors of various prices and classes. Therefore, each buyer can choose designs in accordance with their budgetary capabilities and climatic features of the region in which they live.