Why Choose Solid Wood Interior Doors Over Hollow Core?

http://blog.homespotagentpro.com/2013/01/why-choose-solid-wood-interior-doors-over-hollow-core/

Why Choose Solid Wood Interior Doors Over Hollow Core?

If you are currently thinking about replacing the interior doors in your home, you may be wondering whether or not you should splash out the extra cash for solid slab doors, or go for the cheaper option of hollow core or honeycomb style interior doors. It can be difficult to know which is best if you do not understand the pros and cons of each type.
It is widely accepted that the better option, if your budget allows, is to go for the solid slab interior doors. They may look pretty similar to the hollow core doors at first glance, but on closer inspection, you will find that this is not the case. Just a few of the features that a solid slab door can offer include:

• A better fire rating than a hollow core door.
• More durable and long lasting.
• Offer more in the way of sound proofing.

By comparison, a hollow core door can feel very light and many homeowners feel they are far too insubstantial. They feel that a door should be solid, impenetrable and block out noise! Of course hollow core doors are not truly hollow, they generally feature a thin plywood exterior with a cardboard honeycomb structure inside which is designed to act as a minimal sound block. These hollow core styles of interior doors do not have the same level of durability that a solid wood door can provide.
One key point to consider here is that even when you decide to opt for a solid wood door, there are some stumbling blocks along the way that you may encounter. A solid core interior door is not the same thing as a solid slab interior door. It is important that you understand what you are purchasing. A solid slab style door is constructed from a single piece of timber, primarily oak, pine, walnut or mahogany although other woods can be used. It may be dressed with a wood veneer exterior to give a range of styles and finishes, but overall it is mainly that one solid slab of wood. However, after 1949, the building code changed when it became more and more difficult to log the larger sizes of timber required for these solid wood interior doors. That is when the solid core door was introduced. These look like solid wood planks, but in fact they are most likely to be fiber-core or particleboard with a solid wood veneer. These are the midpoint between solid slab interior doors and hollow core doors as they are substantially heavier than a hollow style door, but not quite as durable as the solid slab style.
I recommend that you do a little research online and look for a supplier who offers solid slab interior doors at a reasonable price. Although the initial cost is higher, the added durability will mean that it is a worthwhile investment in the long term. Hollow core doors may seem cheaper, but are something of a false economy as you will need to replace them more frequently than if you go for a solid slab interior door in the first place.