Exterior doors protect us from the world that lies outside our homes, while interior doors give us space from the people inside. Yet, have you ever wondered if there is any real difference? After all, they are both doors with the same job: to open and close. The truth of the matter is they are different – not the same product sold under two different names. There are three primary differences between interior and exterior doors.
Core differences
Since exterior doors close our homes off to the elements outside, they have to be insulated properly. These doors need to be able to withstand snow, rain, hail, sun and other weather abuses. They are usually more expensive than interior doors because the core is insulated, whereas interior doors are usually hollow – since it has no insulation purpose or need.
Material differences
Interior doors, as mentioned above, only serve one purpose: to open up and close off rooms inside the house. For this reason, they are usually made of only one material, such as wood or fiberboard. Exterior doors are typically made of two materials for durability: a metal or steel frame and a heavy, wooden door. This structure also helps it protect against drafts, which saves you money on your energy bill.
Appearance differences
Since exterior doors are usually focal points on your home, the side a person looks at when knocking on your door is the only side with ornate decoration. The face inside your home will typically have some design to it, but the majority of decoration will face the outside. However, interior doors have design on both sides, since one faces a room and one faces a hallway or other room. Also, interior doors are smaller, usually around 30” wide, while exterior doors are slightly larger, around 36” wide.
Since exterior doors are heavier and more durable, they cost more than an interior door. While you could potentially put an exterior door inside your home by widening the doorway frame, you would not want to put an interior door as the entry door to your home.
Call Window World TX today to custom design and install exterior doors to match interior doors or vise versa in a variety of materials!
