Internal doors - features and door hardware

The features added to doors will differ depending on their usage, positioning and style, as well as budget and personal preferences.

There is also a huge variety of hardware available for adding to your interior doors  for practical and decorative reasons, in addition to their opening mechanisms, such as hinges or rollers.

What additional features can internal doors have?  

Doors with air vents 

Air vents might be fitted into a door to help improve the air circulation in a certain space. They can be used to prevent damp and condensation build-up in rooms such as kitchens and bathrooms. Different sizes and styles of air vent can be installed at various positions within the door leaf or frame. 

doors with fire resistance

Fire doors look like standard doors but are specially constructed to resist fire. When closed, they should reduce the speed at which fire and smoke can spread through a building. Individual doors will have a rating for the amount of time they can resist a fire, and sometimes manufacturers will detail the highest temperature they can reach before heat begins to transfer through the door.

For more information see: Fire doors  and Internal door collections - Fire doors

Doors with soundproofing 

For extra sound reduction, you might want to choose a door which has been soundproofed, usually called an acoustic door. Different grades are available, which offer different levels of soundproofing.

What hardware can be fitted to internal doors?

Door handles

Most doors have some kind of handle or knob on them. They usually employ a latch which holds the door shut when it's closed, but can easily be released to open the door. Some handles don't have a latch, they are simply used as a place to grip a door to pull it, and others have locks built into them. There are many types and styles of handle available; the two basic designs are a lever handle or a round, turning doorknob. We have a range of stylish chrome handrails that come in packs  with hinges and latches, so you have all the hardware you need to fir a new internal door.

Lever door handles

The lever door handle is a popular choice as it is easier to open than a doorknob, especially for people with weaker grips. The handle is a lever and is simply pushed down to release the latch. It will then automatically return to position and re-employ the latch.

Doorknobs

Doorknobs usually have a circular or oval handle which needs to be gripped and turned to release the latch. This mechanism is generally more difficult to open as it requires gripping and twisting actions. 

Mirrors

Some doors can have a mirror attached to one or both of their faces. This feature is popular for wardrobe doors and bedroom doors. Various shapes and sizes of mirror glass can be used. Mirrors can help to make a space look lighter and larger than it actually is. Our range of mirrored doors  comes with a mirror already fitted to one side, making them ideal for bedrooms or dressing rooms.

Latches

Door handles usually have a latch mechanism built into them, but you can also get separate latches. Latches secure a door closed in its frame but allow it to be opened by hand if it needs to be. Some latches can be locked with a padlock, or another device, while others are just operated by hand and offer limited security. Our handle packs  contain hinges and latches so you have everything you need to fir a new internal door in one pack.

Bolts

A bolt is a basic type of locking mechanism which is hand operated. They're usually attached to just one side of a door leaf and bolt into the frame. They are used in rooms where extra privacy is desired, like the bathroom, or when a door may need to be held in place more firmly.

They generally allow the door to be secured from one side so as to block access from the other side without needing a key, or similar device, to open it. However, this can pose a risk of someone being locked into a space, so many modern locks and bolts used on internal doors can be unlocked from the other side using a coin or screwdriver.   

Door stops

These simple devices are often attached to the bottom of a door, the wall that a door opens against, or the floor. They are usually used if a door is likely to hit a wall or another surface when it's opened. They are designed to prevent damage to the wall or door by taking the impact and restricting how wide the door can be opened. 

Door guards

A door guard, often known as a finger protector, is a flexible piece of material which covers the gap between the hinged edge of a door and the frame. This gap is usually just the right size for fingers, and if the door shuts they can be trapped. Door guards are popular with parents to prevent little fingers getting damaged.

Door closers 

Some doors are fitted with a closer which will automatically close a door carefully, keeping it shut until it is manually opened. These are usually used on large, heavy doors, to assist with shutting them, or on fire doors to make sure they shut if an alarm sounds. They use a spring or hydraulic mechanism to shut doors.

Locks

You won't normally require a lock on internal doors, but you can have one installed if it's needed for some reason. The door will need to be constructed in the right way for a lock to be fitted, as it needs a solid area to be fitted into. It's worth checking the door's construction as not all internal doors will have suitable areas for locks to be installed.

Finger plates and kick plates 

Finger plates and kick plates can be fitted to a door to protect it in areas it might be vulnerable. A kick plate fits to the bottom of a door, where feet might hit it. Finger plates are usually around the area a handle is fitted, at the part of the door which gets touched the most.

Coat hooks

These simple hooks are popular additions to the face of a door. They give you a handy place to hang coats and other items, such as hats and scarfs. The type of hook which can be added will depend on the door, how strong it is, and what you intend to hang from the hook.

Cabin hooks

This is another simple hook which is usually fitted to the face of a door. It engages with a loop, usually attached to a wall, and this holds the door open. Releasing the hook will release the door so it can be closed. This can be useful for ensuring a doorway remains clear and easy to access. Alternatively, they can be used to hold a door closed.

Draught excluders 

Draught excluders are not as common on internal doors, as they don't have to face the weather like external doors. However, you might find that some of the doors in your home are letting cold draughts through. Fitting a draught excluder should reduce this and improve the insulating properties of the door.

Toilet roll holders

Many bathrooms, or toilet rooms, have very limited space. Attaching a toilet roll holder to the door is sometimes a way to save space. This hardware is probably not as useful in any other rooms, and is not such a good idea if the door is not very close to the toilet!