Toggle Nav

The Difference between Exterior and Interior Doors

The Difference between Exterior and Interior Doors

Whether you’re building a new construction project or are looking to replace your existing doors, you have to do the basic ground work before you start. The most important thing when installing doors is to differentiate between interior and exterior doors. While they might look the same in some cases, these doors are vastly different and the construction of each is done though very different processes. It is imperative to know the difference and importance of the characteristics of each type of door so you make the right decision when the time comes.

If we start with the basic use of the doors, exterior doors are meant to act as the main entrance to your building and are made to be able to withstand all the natural elements they have to face every day. Interior doors are in a much safer environment so their construction can be pretty basic and can be done at a fraction of the cost. This is why exterior doors are made with solid wood and a solid core while interior doors normally have a hollow core. This makes the exterior doors much heavier while the interior doors are much lighter. Interior doors don’t need to be as sturdy as exterior doors as no one wants to be opening and closing heavy doors all the time, the use of solid wood is just wasteful in this case. The heavier nature of exterior doors means they provide extra insulation and keep out wind drafts and cold weather from outdoors.

Another major difference between the two door types is that interior doors don’t need to be treated while exterior doors have to go through special treatment to be able to withstand all the natural elements. After an exterior door is painted or stained, a special treatment is performed that makes it more durable and so that you don’t have to re-treat it after every rainfall. Interior doors can just be painted or stained and they will generally last very long without any special treatment or varnish.

While the special treatment preserves the wood, the glue used in the external doors also has to be able to endure extreme temperatures and high levels of moisture. That is why special, tougher glue is used in external doors while internal doors can be built using normal glues without any concern.

Due to the larger amount of wood being used, more expensive glue, and the extra treatments required, exterior doors are normally priced much higher than interior doors. The fact that interior doors are cheaper might sway you to use them as exterior doors but doing that is not a good idea. If you are looking for interior doors in Miami, Florida Lumber has helpful staff on hand to assist you with your needs and guide you to the best solution. We also provide great deals on exterior doors in Miami so if you have a project in mind, we would be more than happy to make the selection and purchasing process as easy as possible for you. 

Share :
← Previous Next →