Metal-plastic Doors: Entrance, Interior And Their Varieties, Components, Installation And Operation Features

2024 Author: Bailey Albertson | [email protected]. Last modified: 2023-12-17 12:53

Types of metal-plastic doors, their characteristics, installation and operation features

Compared to other types of doors, metal-plastic structures have appeared on our market relatively recently. Despite this, they gained popularity very quickly. Such doors can be installed both at the entrance to the premises and inside, and for a modern balcony this is practically the only solution. Depending on the purpose, such a structure will differ in the profile of the sash, the method of reinforcement, the fittings used and the size.

Content

• 1 Arrangement of metal-plastic doors

• 2 Varieties of metal-plastic doors

  • 2.1 Interior doors made of plastic with a metal base
  • 2.2 Entrance doors
  • 2.3 Sliding doors
  • 2.4 Balcony doors made of metal-plastic
  • 2.5 Metal-plastic doors for the bathroom
  • 2.6 Sliding doors

  • 2.7 Blind plastic door

    2.7.1 Video: types of metal-plastic doors

• 3 Manufacturing of plastic doors

  3.1 Video: manufacturing of metal-plastic doors

• 4 Features of installation and operation of doors made of reinforced PVC

  • 4.1 Video: installation of metal-plastic doors

  • 4.2 Repair and adjustment

    • 4.2.1 Video: adjusting the plastic door
    • 4.2.2 How to remove a metal-plastic door
    • 4.2.3 Video: Re-hanging the balcony door
    • 4.2.4 How to remove the handle from the entrance plastic door
    • 4.2.5 How and what to paint a metal-plastic door
    • 4.2.6 How to shorten a metal-plastic door yourself
  • 4.3 Care of PVC doors
• 5 Components for metal-plastic doors
• 6 Reviews about PVC and metal doors

Installation of metal-plastic doors

Although metal-plastic doors have a similar design to plastic windows, they are manufactured in accordance with higher requirements.

A metal-plastic door consists of the following elements.

1. Frame. For the manufacture of the entrance door, a five-chamber profile is used, and a reinforcing belt is used to strengthen it. Interior and balcony doors can also be made from a three-dimensional frame, but the more chambers, the higher the strength, heat and sound insulation characteristics of the frame will be. The presence of an armored belt allows you to install reliable locking devices, as well as powerful hinges.

   

   For entrance and balcony doors, it is better to choose products from a five-chamber profile

2. Door leaf. As in the manufacture of the frame, only a five-chamber profile is used for the entrance structures. To fill the canvas, metal sheets are used, between which insulation is laid. Metal sheets are not installed in balcony and interior doors, but they are also filled with insulation, which improves their heat and sound insulation characteristics. If a double-glazed window is required, then armored glass is usually installed on the entrance doors, and tempered glass or triplex is usually installed on the interior and balcony doors.

   

   The door leaf can have glass inserts made of tempered or armored glass, depending on the purpose of the structure

3. Locking devices. To ensure safety, crossbar locks are installed on the entrance doors, which lock the canvases around its entire perimeter. Other, less reliable types of locks can be used for balcony and interior doors.
4. Handles, hinges. There is a large selection of fittings that differ not only in appearance, but also in the quality of performance. For entrance doors, three hinges are used, since the weight of their canvases is greater, in other cases there can be two hinges.

5. Sealing elements. They provide a high tightness of the structure.

   

   Quality doors usually contain two sealing circuits - one on the frame and the other on the door leaf

6. Threshold. For entrance metal-plastic doors, this element can be frame, steel and aluminum.

   

   Depending on the purpose of the door and the height, the thresholds can have a different design

7. Decor elements. There are many options that allow you to implement various design solutions. Plastic can be painted in different colors, so it will be easy to choose such doors for any home. In addition, on the surface of the structure, it is possible to perform decorative processing resembling wood carving, so that an ordinary person cannot distinguish a polymer canvas from a natural solid wood.

If we talk about the entrance metal-plastic door, then a high-quality product should weigh at least 100 kg and have a profile thickness of at least 70 mm

The main advantages of metal-plastic doors:

• high thermal insulation characteristics of plastic and the presence of seals. Entrance doors effectively save heat in the house, interior doors provide good sound insulation;
• a large selection of colors. You can choose a canvas for any interior, as well as imitate different types of wood or other materials;
• long service life. Even after 5–10 years of correct operation, such structures do not lose their original characteristics;
• the convenience of use. Metal-plastic doors do not need to be painted periodically, and regular cleaning is just wiping with a damp sponge;
• relatively light weight. For transportation and installation, no special equipment or special tools are needed;
• maintainability. If the canvas has subsided, you can restore its original position yourself by adjusting the loops.

Varieties of metal-plastic doors

Modern technologies make it possible to make doors of any size and for different purposes from a metal-plastic profile. They are classified according to several criteria.

1. Appointment. Doors can be entrance, interior or balcony. The latter are practically no different from the entrance ones, but they usually have a ventilation function. Double-glazed windows with impact-resistant glass are installed on the entrance canvases, but if the safety requirements are low, then the glazing can be ordinary.
2. Opening method and design features. Metal-plastic doors are swing, sliding and folding with one- or two-leaf rectangular or arched canvases.
3. Design solution. The appearance may differ depending on the selected design, color, position and direction of the profile, the presence or absence of glass or a pattern on the surface of the canvas.

Interior doors made of plastic with a metal base

Reinforced-plastic doors are the most common and affordable solution, with the help of which doorways are framed inside the premises. The door leaf can be blank or have a glass insert. For interior doors, a three-chamber profile is used, the installation depth of which is 60 mm.

Interior doors often have glass inserts, and sometimes they are completely filled with a glass unit.

This solution would be an excellent option when decorating a doorway in:

• utility rooms, bathroom and toilet;
• administrative or office premises;
• medical institutions;
• partially heated or unheated buildings.

The popularity of interior metal-plastic doors is explained by the presence of the following advantages:

• high soundproofing characteristics - the room can be well insulated from extraneous noise;
• resistance to temperature extremes and high humidity;
• lack of fading under the influence of sunlight;
• high rates of fire safety;
• ease of care;
• high resistance to aggressive chemicals;
• a large selection of colors.

If we talk about the disadvantages of such doors, then they will largely depend on the quality of their production. The main disadvantages of products made of reinforced PVC include a relatively low mechanical strength, due to which scratches and abrasions will be clearly visible on the surface, and with a strong impact, even damage to the canvas is possible.

Entrance doors

In contrast to the balcony and interior structures, entrance metal-plastic doors are made of more durable materials and using a different technology. Their main features are the presence of a reliable locking mechanism and high resistance to the negative effects of external factors, as well as to temperature changes. The presence of special amplifiers makes such structures especially durable, so they reliably protect the home from possible penetration of unauthorized persons.

Entrance metal-plastic doors usually have a blank panel at the bottom, and a double-glazed window is sometimes installed in the upper part

The main differences between entrance doors and balcony or interior doors are as follows:

• high resistance to temperature changes allows them to be installed in regions with severe winters;
• the presence of a reinforced and reinforced frame, metal inserts, as well as special welded connectors makes such structures resistant to mechanical damage;
• good noise and heat insulation characteristics;
• the presence of reinforced fittings that have a long service life and are designed for frequent use;
• the locking device reliably fixes the door leaf along its entire perimeter;
• the aluminum threshold increases the service life of the doors and protects the interior from drafts;
• the ability to create different designs, as a result of which such doors are suitable for houses built from different materials.

The disadvantages of the products under consideration include lower strength than similar metal structures, as well as weak thermal insulation characteristics of inexpensive models due to insufficient insulation of sandwich panels or the use of double glazing instead of triple. Therefore, when buying a metal-plastic entrance door, you should give preference to products from trusted manufacturers and be sure to pay attention to their quality - this is the only way you can acquire strong and reliable doors that will protect your home for many years.

Sliding doors

If it is necessary to arrange a wide doorway or it is not possible to install swing doors, sliding metal-plastic structures would be an excellent solution. The use of special fittings allows you to move the sash a little towards yourself, and then to the side or open it for ventilation, therefore they are also called tilt-sliding systems. The sash moves away from the frame by an average of 12 cm, and then slides along the guides and stops after it hits the stopper.

To move such doors to the side, you need to turn the handle by 180 ^o, for ventilation it is enough to move it by 90, and in some models by 45 ^o. The width of the door leaf can be from 60 to 150 cm, and its height is up to 230 cm, while the weight of individual structures reaches 180 kg.

Sliding metal-plastic doors can have a leaf width from 60 to 150 cm

The presence of a reliable support at the sash eliminates its sagging, but the durable operation of such a structure will be possible only if it is correctly installed. To design a wider opening, you can use the bobbin system, which includes two flaps that open in different directions. The installation of anti-burglary handles, hooks and shockproof glass makes such structures safe and protected, so they can be used both indoors and on a balcony or terrace.

The main advantages of metal-plastic sliding systems over similar aluminum ones are:

• higher thermal insulation characteristics;
• the presence of two contours of seals that increase the tightness of the porch. Lint brushes are installed on aluminum systems, so the tightness will be worse;
• uninterrupted operation in winter, since the sash is retracted to the side and opens easily, and aluminum guides can be clogged with snow and ice;
• the ability to open the doors completely or only to ventilate the room.

Despite the large number of advantages over aluminum systems, metal-plastic structures also have their disadvantages: they are heavier, their strength is slightly less, and the cost is higher. But all of them are compensated by simplicity and ease of use, as well as a long service life.

For use in the kitchen, the structure can be equipped with a window sill on which it is convenient to store various items, but when opening the sash for airing, they will need to be removed. It is very convenient to use sliding canvases on a loggia or balcony - they do not require free space near the doors, so cabinets or shelves can be installed next to the doorway.

Metal-plastic balcony doors

Balcony metal-plastic doors can be made as a single block with a window or separately. This solution is used not only for decorating a doorway on a balcony or loggia, but also in a greenhouse, greenhouse, on a veranda, etc.

A feature of such structures is that they are usually locked only from the inside, and from the outside they have a special latch that allows you to fix the door tightly when closed. At the request of the customer, a double-sided handle, a child lock, a folding mechanism can be installed. Balcony metal-plastic doors have a number of advantages:

• not afraid of moisture and temperature changes;
• they are simple and easy to care for;
• are highly durable;
• provide good tightness and high heat and sound insulation characteristics;
• have a beautiful appearance;

• withstand a long period of operation.

  

  Metal-plastic balcony doors, made in the same style with the windows, look very beautiful

For metal-plastic balcony doors, the same materials are used as in the manufacture of windows, so the designs are similar, although with certain differences:

• fittings are of higher quality;
• the profile is reinforced with galvanized steel;
• the strength of corner joints is increased due to a high-quality welded joint;
• a double glazing is installed.

There are several types of balcony doors: single-leaf, double-leaf, sliding and accordion doors.

Metal-plastic doors for bathroom

When choosing wooden or MDF doors for a bathroom, be prepared for the fact that in 5-6 years you will have to change or restore them. Reinforced-plastic doors are an excellent solution for a bathroom or toilet, as they reliably serve for many decades and do not require special maintenance.

Since high humidity often occurs in the bathroom and the temperature changes sharply, the best solution would be to install a metal-plastic door here.

High humidity is often set in the bathroom and temperature drops occur, therefore, increased requirements are imposed on the materials used in the manufacture of doors for it. Reinforced-plastic structures have all the necessary characteristics for use in wet rooms:

• do not corrode and are not afraid of high humidity;
• are lightweight, so installation can be done by hand;
• are not afraid of exposure to chemically active substances;
• do not require complex care;
• are available in a wide range of design and color solutions, so the door can be matched to any interior.

The only drawback that metal-plastic products have is their low elasticity, therefore, with serious shock loads, the canvas can deform.

When choosing a swing structure, the size of the leaf in comparison with the size of the doorway must be rounded down, and for sliding doors this is done, on the contrary, up

It is recommended to make a threshold for the door in the bathroom, since in the event of flooding, its presence will help prevent water from entering other rooms. When determining the size of the door leaf, do not forget to take into account the height of the threshold. It is much easier to care for a smooth surface, and a fine-grained structure will require more careful maintenance.

Since the metal-plastic structures have a high tightness, it is recommended to make a grill for the bathroom and toilet in the lower part of the canvas, which will provide ventilation of the room with closed doors. In order to determine the quality of the plastic, you can press your finger on the door leaf: good material will not bend.

Sliding doors

If you need to install doors in a wide doorway and it is not possible to use a sliding system, sliding metal-plastic doors are the best option. This design is folded near the doorway, and since it consists of several elements, it takes up very little space. The width of one sash cannot be more than 90 cm, and the height of the leaf can be up to 230 cm.

It is very convenient to use an accordion door to decorate wide openings

The design features of the accordion door allow you to use it to decorate the exit to the terrace, winter garden or backyard, as well as in office, shopping and entertainment facilities.

For interior rooms, sliding structures without a threshold are usually used, and for entrance doors, a canvas is mounted with a lower support roller

The main advantages of sliding metal-plastic doors:

• despite the large number of sections, such doors provide high heat and sound insulation characteristics;
• they can close openings of large width;
• for the manufacture of doors, a profile system with a thickness of 60 to 86 mm can be used, which allows making both interior and entrance structures;
• this solution allows you to make the room brighter and more spacious.

The disadvantages of sliding doors are associated with their high cost and the fact that the presence of a large number of leaves reduces their strength.

Sliding door opening schemes are indicated by a three-digit code, in which the first number indicates the total number of leaves, and the second and third - the number of leaves moved to the left and right, respectively

If you need to use a sliding door every day, then it is possible to install one swing door in it, which you will basically open. If it is necessary to free the entire doorway, the sliding system unfolds completely.

Blind plastic door

Reinforced-plastic doors can have a double-glazed window or consist of sandwich panels. To create them, high-quality PVC sheets are used, the distance between which is filled with extruded polyurethane foam. Such structures are lightweight, durable, have high heat and sound insulation characteristics, as well as a guaranteed service life of 25-30 years.

Deaf metal-plastic doors are usually used at the entrance to the house

If it is necessary to install opaque doors, then filling metal-plastic structures with sandwich panels is one of the best options. This solution has the following advantages:

• high heat and sound insulation;
• relatively light weight;
• ease of transportation and installation;
• high resistance to the negative effects of external factors, corrosion and fungus;
• resistance to moisture and temperature changes;
• affordable cost.

A deaf metal-plastic door can be installed both indoors and on the balcony or at the entrance to the house. The main disadvantage of such doors is the possibility of their mechanical damage, and if the abrasions or scratches are significant, then it will be difficult and almost impossible to restore such a door.

Video: types of metal-plastic doors

Manufacturing of plastic doors

It is almost impossible to independently manufacture metal-plastic doors, you can set up a small production, but this will require the purchase of special equipment and significant investments.

The production technology of metal-plastic doors consists of several stages.

1. Sketch creation. At this stage, the dimensions of the doorway are taken, the size of the doors, their shape and color are determined. With the help of a special program, the entered data is processed, the computer produces a finished drawing, according to which the materials are cut.
2. Preparation of materials. Before working with materials, it is necessary that they lie in a room with a temperature above 10 ^o C.

3. Profile cutting. It is made using a special saw.

   

   A special circular saw is used to cut the profile

4. Cutting and assembly of fittings. To strengthen the frame, reinforcement is used, which is also cut into blanks of the required size, and then inserted and fixed inside the PVC profile. For assembly, a specially equipped table and a screwdriver are required.
5. Creation of drainage holes. If entrance or balcony doors are made, then drainage holes are made in the profile through which water will be drained from under the glass unit.

6. Crossbeam milling. This requires a face milling machine. After processing, the cross member is welded and inserted into the frame.

   

   Crossbeam milling is performed on a face milling machine

7. Creation of places for fixing fittings. In the reinforced profile, grooves for locks and holes for handles are created. This is done using a copy-milling machine with a three-spindle gearbox, in which the upper platform is movable, and there is a cutter on it.

8. Welding of workpieces. Welding of all parts of the profile into a single structure is carried out on special machines.

   

   During welding of all parts of the profile, their perpendicularity is controlled, for which special equipment is also used

9. Cleaning corners. After welding, the seams are processed on a multifunctional stripping machine.
10. Installation of fittings. Install all fittings and check their performance.

11. Glazing and installation of sandwich panels. Installation of a double-glazed window and sandwich panels is carried out in accordance with the sketch of the doors. This is done on a special stand, where the elements to be installed are fixed using glazing beads pre-cut to size.

    

    Double-glazed windows and sandwich panels are fixed with special glazing beads

12. Checking the door. The work of the fittings, the rectangularity of the structure and the absence of damage are checked.

Video: manufacturing of metal-plastic doors

Features of installation and operation of doors made of reinforced PVC

When installing metal-plastic doors, there are no special difficulties, the technology of their installation is practically no different from the installation of other similar structures, so this work can be done independently.

1. Tools and materials are being prepared: a tape measure, a hammer drill, a screwdriver and a building level, as well as wooden wedges for leveling the frame and polyurethane foam. The doorway is cleared of debris.

   

   Before starting installation, the doorway must be completely cleaned of construction debris

2. The door block is disassembled, while the canvas is separated from the box. The door frame is inserted into the opening and is aligned vertically and horizontally using wooden wedges using a building level.

3. With the help of a perforator, through holes are made in the side posts, which further deepen into the wall. Anchors are inserted into them and squeezed manually, all the time controlling the position of the door frame so that it does not move.

   

   To securely fix the door frame, three anchors are installed on each side

4. The door leaf is hung on the hinges.

5. The protruding parts of the wedges are cut off, the correct installation is checked again, and then the gap between the wall and the box is filled with polyurethane foam. After a day, the remaining foam is cut off. All this time, the doors must be closed.

   

   The gaps between the door frame and the wall are filled with mounting foam, which ensures the tightness of all joints of the frame with the doorway

Caring for metal-plastic doors is to periodically clean them, for which a damp sponge is used. If the dirt is strong, then the sponge is moistened with soapy water or dish detergent. In case of malfunctions, the fittings are adjusted.

Video: installation of metal-plastic doors

Repair and adjustment

Adjustment of metal-plastic doors is no different from a similar operation for plastic windows. Hardware for doors and windows has the same configuration, only for doors they use stronger and higher quality hinges and handles. Changing the position of a metal-plastic door is carried out using hinges. The blade can be shifted vertically or horizontally, for which there are special adjusting screws.

Adjustment of the metal-plastic door is carried out using special screws located on the hinges

Video: adjusting a plastic door

How to remove a metal-plastic door

Removing a metal-plastic door does not require special tools, for this it is enough to have a set of hex keys, a screwdriver and pliers. The whole process consists of several stages.

1. Protective caps are removed from the hinges, for which they are pry off with a screwdriver.
2. The upper loop is disassembled, for which it is pressed on its upper part so that the fixing pin is lowered, which is then pulled out with pliers.

3. The canvas is slightly tilted towards itself, lifted up and removed from the lower loop.

   

   To remove the metal-plastic door, first pull the fixing pin from the upper hinge, and then raise and remove the canvas from the lower hinge

Installation of the blade is carried out in the reverse order.

Video: outweighing the balcony door

How to remove the handle from a plastic entrance door

If it becomes necessary to replace the handle, it is very easy to deal with it on your own.

1. There is a plate at the base of the handle, which needs to be pulled back a little, and then rotated 90 degrees.
2. There are two screws under the cover, you need to unscrew them with a screwdriver and remove the old handle.
3. Install a new handle and secure with the same screws.

4. Turn the cover back into place.

   

   To get to the screws that secure the handle, you need to turn the decorative plate 90 degrees

How and what to paint a metal-plastic door

Sometimes a situation arises when a metal-plastic door needs to be painted. For this, you can use acrylic or water-based paints for plastic. Acrylic coatings are often used, which are thinned with water and dry quickly. Usually, white paint is bought, and colored powders are used to obtain the required shade.

To complete the work you will need:

• paint;
• roller, brush or spray bottle;
• plastic cleaner;
• lint-free napkin.

Painting a plastic door is carried out in several stages.

1. Using a special tool, the door surface is cleaned of dust and grease. It is applied with a special napkin. If there is no such agent, then the doors are washed well with warm water, after which they should dry completely.
2. The surface intended for painting is treated with fine sandpaper and wiped with a napkin.
3. An hour before painting, tinting is carried out to obtain the required color.

4. Staining is performed. It is not recommended to apply paint with a brush, as this leaves streaks. It is best to use a roller or spray gun as this will allow the coating to be applied more evenly. The paint is sprayed in a thin layer so that there are no smudges. It is necessary to apply several layers, while before laying the next layer, the previous one should dry well.

   

   Painting a metal-plastic door is best done with a spray gun, since it allows you to get a smoother layer without streaks

How to shorten a metal-plastic door yourself

It is quite difficult to shorten the door yourself at home. To do this, you need to have special knowledge and tools. To avoid such a problem, you must immediately take the correct measurements and order a finished metal-plastic door using them.

The pruning process can be briefly described as follows.

1. Dismantle the door block.
2. Cut off the bottom of the canvas and part of the frame.
3. An impost (reinforced lower insert) of the appropriate size is prepared and fastened to the frame using self-tapping screws.
4. Seams are sealed with sealant.

If you have a need to shorten a metal-plastic door, then it is best to do this in production

PVC door care

In order for the metal-plastic doors to serve as long as possible, they must be properly looked after:

• to clean the surface, special non-aggressive and non-abrasive chemicals or ordinary soap solution are used;
• rubber seals are periodically wiped from dirt and lubricated with special agents once a year;
• all moving parts of the fittings are lubricated 1–2 times a year;
• if the handle is loose, then it must be tightly fixed;
• in the balcony and entrance structures there are drainage channels, which are located in the lower part of the canvas, they must be periodically cleaned from dirt.

Components for metal-plastic doors

In order for the metal-plastic doors to work for a long time and without interruption, you need to use high-quality fittings:

• hinges must be strong to support the weight of the blade and have an anti-corrosion coating. Usually, metal-plastic doors are installed on three hinges;

  

  Since the weight of a metal-plastic door is quite large, it is recommended to install it on three powerful hinges

• handles must be durable to withstand a large number of open-close cycles;

  

  Handles must withstand a large number of opening and closing cycles

• the lock must have an anti-burglary pad and a high-quality secret;

  

  The lock on the entrance doors must be reliable in order to provide maximum security and protection against burglary

• the locking device must fix the door leaf along its entire perimeter;

• it is better to install a door closer on the entrance doors, which will ensure smooth closing of the canvas;

  

  The presence of a closer allows the door leaf to close smoothly, which greatly increases its service life

• for balcony doors, the most convenient are swing-out hinges, with the help of which the canvas can be fully opened or put on air.

High-quality fittings make up most of the cost of metal-plastic doors, so many manufacturers are trying to save money on it, which negatively affects the technical characteristics of products and their service life

Reviews of PVC and metal doors

When choosing metal-plastic doors, regardless of whether you purchase interior, entrance or balcony products, you cannot save on components. Only good fittings are able to provide the structure with maximum service life. Double-glazed windows should be at least two-chamber, and three-dimensional for entrance doors. The quality of the profile is also of great importance, for interior doors you can take a cheap profile, and for balcony or entrance doors it must be of high quality in order to provide high sound and heat insulation characteristics.