One、Which should be installed first, wooden doors or flooring?
(1) If you install the wooden flooring first
1、Doors are typically heavy, and during transportation and installation, they may scratch the floor. If this happens, it's frustrating. However, you can protect the floor by placing padding or other protective materials on it beforehand.
2. If metal strips are used, it can be difficult to accurately determine the pressure between the door and the frame. Without proper adjustment, this can affect the appearance.
3. This may prevent the skirting boards near the door from being flush with the frame. It is recommended to leave an extra length of skirting board on the side closest to the frame, and do not nail it in place. Adjust the length as needed after the door has been installed.
(ii) If doors are installed first
If the gaps are not properly controlled, it can lead to difficulty in opening and closing doors, requiring further adjustments, which can be very troublesome. However, this can prevent issues related to the connection between the door frame and the baseboard.
In practice, as long as you plan ahead and allocate sufficient space, and the contractor's skills are good, the choice of which material to use is not a major concern. However, when installing custom doors, the delivery time can be long. In such cases, laying the wooden flooring first can reduce the overall construction time. If the room already has tile flooring, you can directly install the door. Similarly, if the room has solid wood flooring, it is also recommended to install the door first, as it is easier to scratch. Therefore, considering all factors, installing the door first is the better option.
Two. What to do about large gaps between wooden doors and flooring?
The size of the door opening must meet specific requirements. For example, the gap between a wooden door and the floor must be between 5-8 millimeters. Therefore, the combined gap between the left and right sides of the door and the door frame cannot exceed 6 millimeters. If the gap is too large, it will not only affect the overall aesthetics but may also affect the soundproofing effect. Furthermore, it will not provide insulation during winter. Of course, leaving the gap too small is also not ideal, as the wooden door will experience shrinkage and expansion due to changes in humidity. This can lead to deformation in the summer, making it difficult to open the door.
When the gap below the door is too large, how should it be addressed?
Metal trim can be installed on the floor beneath the door, typically made of copper, which is both aesthetically pleasing and durable. It is commonly fixed with screws for a long-lasting solution. For traditional, simple wooden doors, consider placing a welcome mat at the entrance. This can effectively block dirt and dust from entering and exiting, providing a practical solution.
Additionally, to ensure the proper installation size of the door frame, homeowners should ideally hire a skilled professional for the installation.