A door serves as a barrier separating the outdoors from the indoors or separating two rooms in a living space. It plays a significant role when it comes to the security and safety of people inside a home. A door may be in the form of the traditional swinging type and there is another type which is the sliding door. So, which is the best door for your home?
Swing Door vs Sliding Door
Swing doors are the traditional type of door that has been around for a very long time. The swinging part is attached to a frame through hinges. They are also known as single-action doors or hinged doors designed to swing in or out. They open and close with a single push. The swing door is a more popular choice as an exterior door for many homes, offices, and commercial spaces. These types of doors are classified as single, double, or bi-folding doors.
Sliding doors, on the other hand, are the type that glides horizontally on metal tracks to allow access to an area. This type of door is a preferred choice for kitchens, wardrobes, and patios. They may come in pairs with one fixed and one operational panel and there are some with two operational panels. They may be found in residential homes, offices, as well as in commercial buildings.
Pros and Cons
Swing Doors
While swing doors remain to be the conventional choice for a door, here are the pros and cons of choosing this type of door.
Pros of Swing Doors
- They are easy to open and close and definitely user-friendly.
- They last long. Because of their simple mechanism, they are durable and reliable.
- Their fittings come at reasonable prices. They are less expensive compared to the sliding door and other types of doors.
- They can endure abrupt closing and have less possibility of breaking or jamming in case of abrupt closing.
- In terms of installation, they are rather easy to install and may be a DIY activity.
- In terms of aesthetics, this type of door may be customized according to the desires of homeowners.
- They may come in either wood or glass designs.
Cons of Swing Doors
- They may be best for areas with bigger spaces since the swinging movement of this type of door requires more space. They require unobstructed space for them to open and close at a 90-degree angle.
- Over time, hinges may make a sound. Hence, they require periodic maintenance and routine checkups.
- There is a need for this type of door to be installed with the correct balance. Otherwise, it will be difficult to open and close the door.
- This door may hurt an individual during abrupt closing brought about by strong winds or by another individual who may be careless in shutting it.
Sliding Doors
This type of door is gaining popularity, particularly for those who want an open floor plan in their homes. This type of door is great for condo living.
Pros of Sliding Doors
- They are space savers and are a preferred choice for small spaces to maximize the use of available space.
- They may be custom-built according to the size of the opening.
- They are versatile since they may be kept fully opened or partially opened without affecting the aesthetics of a room.
- They are ideal for wardrobes and in separating the dining room and kitchen and may be used as bathroom doors.
- They may be best for homes with little children and pets since there is no possibility for it to slam and hit somebody accidentally.
- They offer convenience to those with disabilities.
- They are perfect for small space separators.
- They may be a source of perfect or enhanced ventilation.
- They may allow natural light to seep through the indoors.
- They can be automated.
Cons of Sliding Doors
- Sliding doors are more practical compared to swing doors
- They may not be ideal in terms of insulation particularly when the closure is loose.
- They tend to jam a lot and may need their tracks to be constantly cleaned to keep dust from settling in and causing obstruction.
- In cases of poor material being used, reliability and durability may be in question.
- There is a need for proper installation for this type of door. They may jam and not last long if not installed properly by a professional.
After looking into the pros and cons of sliding doors vs swing doors, here are some of the factors that will further help in decision-making when choosing a type of door for a living space.
Factors to Consider
Space
When it comes to choosing a door, it is important to consider the space as it will play a significant role in decision-making. For living spaces with larger areas, a swing door may be a good choice as it requires a wider space to swing open. The space should be freed from anything that will obstruct its swinging action. Sliding doors, on the other hand, are a practical choice for smaller spaces as they only require sliding from one side to another on a single track. Swing doors are space-saving since anything may be placed near it and they will still be operational so long as there is no obstruction on the tracks and they can still slide open and close.
Design
The design of the home may also be taken into consideration in choosing the type of door. The swing door, in its traditional nature, maybe a preferred choice for luxurious-styled homes or specifically for Victorian and Colonial styles. Sliding doors, on the other hand, maybe an appropriate choice for modern-styled homes.
Ventilation
Sliding doors may come with screens. Hence they may be left open for unrestricted airflow without worrying about bugs and anything from the outdoors to enter the indoors. However, the amount of opening is limited which will only allow limited airflow as well. Swing doors, on the other hand, do not have screens that would block elements from the outdoors to enter. A strong wind may also abruptly shut this type of door which may cause harm to someone standing near it.
Maintenance
Both types of doors require periodic checkups and maintenance to keep them operational. Neglect of maintenance would hinder both the swing door and sliding door to function efficiently over time.
View and Natural Light
The more practical choice to satisfy this factor would be the sliding door as it allows the outdoors and the natural light to enter the indoors without actually sliding them open, particularly for sliding doors made from glass. Swing doors with their wider frame, on the other hand, may only offer limited viewing even when they are made of glass.
Operation
Both types of doors are easy to operate. Swing doors open with a single push and may be opened with a single hand. Hence, it may be opened and closed when carrying something. Sliding doors glide easily from side to side so long as tracks are not obstructed and may also be opened and closed with one hand.
Security
When it comes to security, swing doors may be more reliable.
Cost
Swing doors come at reasonable prices as compared to sliding doors as sliding doors may be more expensive if durability and reliability should be considered.
Need
Depending on the needs of the residents, sliding doors may be considered as small space separators, particularly for condo-living residents of a condo in Muntinlupa. Residents of homes with larger spaces may have wider options when it comes to separating rooms as they may choose either a swing door or a sliding door.
In order for a homeowner to make sound judgment when it comes to choosing the type of door for the home, careful planning and weighing of their advantages and disadvantages should come into play to arrive at an objective decision. The verdict still lies in the homeowner’s hands after considering all the factors.
Read more: What are the Different Types of Doors
