A bathroom is the most humid place in your house. This being said, moisture is the top concern in choosing materials to build your bathroom. While your bathroom design will play an important role, so are your materials. Surely, you would like a bathroom which is both attractive and functional for the years ahead.
Aside from bathroom fixtures, lightings, and furniture you should also have to decide in picking your bathroom door. But how do you choose the right door for your bathroom? This article will help you how to pick the right one for you.
What you need to know before picking a bathroom door?
Due to the bathroom’s humid environment, the primary feature in picking a bathroom door is the tendency to withstand it. This said, other factors will only come secondary. Consideration as to the swing of the door relative to your space is also important.
You also need to compare designs, as well as select a good finish, if you want your door to be appealing. In addition, you need to determine the size of your opening relative to your door, otherwise, you can have one customized.
Also remember that doors have a standard size depending on your place of residence. But the rule of thumb is that they should at least be wide enough for wheelchairs or adult walkers to pass through.
Do you need a special door to install in a bathroom?
Yes. For a bathroom, the material of your door is very important. While your standard wood maybe the sturdiest type of door you can choose for your home, the same doesn’t always apply to your bathroom. It will help to think that since a bathroom is very humid, a good door option is one that is not only durable but also moisture-resistant.
Why is a PVC door ideal for a bathroom?
Many builders agree that PVC or polyvinyl chloride is a popular choice as a bathroom door. Why?
Unlike wood, the surface of a PVC door is non-porous; thus, it doesn’t absorb moisture. This said, the door doesn’t tend to expand or contract during damp or even hot weather. In addition, PVC is a synthetic material unlike wood. As such, PVC doors are termite free since they don’t have any crevices that termites may have the chance to crawl and penetrate in.
Unlike metal, PVC material is also non-corrosive. It doesn’t build rust even when it comes in contact with corrosive materials or as a result of a chemical process.
PVC doors are also sturdy because of its tendency to absorb shock and a high tolerance to abrasions and damage. So, you can be assured that your door will remain standing despite all the banging, cuts, and scratches. Also, it can withstand possible rotting, rusting, and fading due to its thin plastic film coating which is not present in wood and metal doors.
PVC doors are not only very light, but it can easily be shaped, cut, or molded. This makes them very versatile as a pre-hung door, pocket door, or internal bath door. They can be fabricated in any design or style according to their use. You can even have one customized to meet your specifications.
Also, PVC doors come in numerous varieties, designs, and colors to choose from. Others are even coupled with frosted glass designs making it more appealing. You can easily pick one that would blend well with your bathroom theme or color.
Most of all, polyvinyl chloride material is very cost efficient. It has very low maintenance since it’s not prone to pest infestation and doesn’t need constant painting or varnishing to keep it looking new. Because of ease of manufacturing, PVC doors are lighter on the pocket compare to other doors of different materials.
Why should you choose an Aluminum door for your Bathroom?
Similar to PVC materials, aluminum doors are also resistant to corrosion. They will not rot or peel. Unlike wooden or steel doors which require painting and polishing to prevent corrosion, aluminum does not require that degree of maintenance since they don’t corrode.
Since aluminum is not only readily available but also easily recyclable, this is an eco-friendly option for bathroom doors.
How do you waterproof a wooden door?
As stated earlier, since wood is a porous material, it’s not moisture resistant. In case you already have an existing wooden bathroom door, how do you waterproof it?
Builders apply a thick coat of sealant on the wood surface to make it moisture resistant. You can try painting it with polyurethane, varnish, or lacquer.
Polyurethane
Polyurethane is a waterproof membrane that can practically have zero water absorption. They are water and mildew resistant. They come in either water or oil-based plastic resin. While water-based polyurethane is less toxic and odorless, the same can’t be said of its oil-based counterpart. However, despite their toxicity and odor, the oil-based variant is more durable and resist abrasions more effectively, giving an added protection. For best results, you need to apply the polyurethane waterproofing materials in at least 2 or more coatings.
Varnish
Varnish is also water resistant, but unlike polyurethane which has a transparent to yellowish finish, varnish is a little bit tinted and darker when applied. Also, since varnish has a higher ratio of solids and thicker in consistency, they are less susceptible to ultraviolet light damage. However, applying it is a bit of a challenge since it’s prone to cracking and bubbling.
Lacquer
Lacquer is another waterproof membrane you can apply on wood. In contrast to both polyurethane and varnish, it has a thinner finish. Because of this, it has the tendency to easily penetrate surfaces and is quick-drying. Also, its color easily blends with its original surface.
Would you prefer a pocket over a swinging door for your bathroom?
In some households, there may be more than one bathroom. A classic example are master baths or guest bathrooms. But oftentimes, a guest’s bath or master suite may have a smaller space than the main bath. If space is tight, then a regular swing door may not be a good idea.
It’s important to take note that a swing door eats up space when you open it. And due to restricted space, the door may reach the nearest furniture or fixture inside the bathroom next to the door. This may either be the toilet or the vanity.
Since a regular swinging door will pose more problem to an already cramped space, your other option is a pocket door. A pocket door has a sliding design that moves to a void within a wall. This design not only saves space but also gives a sleek look.
If you opt to install a pocket door, you need a sleeve in the wall where the door will move into. As the standard pocket wall is about 2 inches thick, the wall where you will install it must be at least 4 inches thick.
However, a pocket door has its disadvantages. It has the tendency to misalign or fall off from its track or even not smooth enough to slide open. And if it does slides open, it also gives a screeching sound. The lock system also poses a problem unlike a fixed conventional door. Also, it’s not user-friendly to children, the elderly, and people with mobility problems, since you will need a balanced force to roll it smoothly open.
