How to Choose Between Solid Wood and Hollow-Core Doors

Solid wood doors used to be the gold standard for residential properties.

But this door replacement myth has been debunked. In fact, hollow-core doors along with other materials are emerging as a more affordable alternative that is as equally stylish and excellent in quality.

If you are shopping for a new door and feel confused about which one to get, this article is for you. We’ll break down the differences between solid wood doors and hollow core doors along with their advantages and disadvantages. Let’s dig right in!

Solid Wood Doors

Solid wood doors are produced with either hardwood or softwood. Most wooden doors are made from trees like maple, pine, alder, cherry, mahogany, and red oak. Despite their heaviness, only a handful of solid wood doors available in the market are made of a single slab of wood. The majority are typically frame and panel attached made of all-natural wooden materials. Their vibrant and traditional door design can give any home an impression of luxury. They can be installed either as an exterior or interior door.

Advantages of Solid Wood Doors

• Solid wood doors are strong, sturdy, and heavy.
• They come in a variety of designs, finishes, and types of wood.
• They have impressive insulation properties.
• They have excellent soundproofing quality, depending on the type of wood used. Hardwoods like maple offer maximum noise blockage.
• Solid wood doors are thick and fire-resistant.
• They boost your property’s resale value.
• They look attractive to potential buyers.
• They can be easily repaired if they get damaged. Because they are made of solid wooden material, you can have the door sanded, planed, and painted anew to update it.

Disadvantages of Solid Wood Doors

• Solid wood doors are twice more expensive compared to hollow-core doors.
• Because of their considerable weight, new doors made of solid wood can be challenging to install.
• Over time, they tend to expand, shrink, or warp due to sudden changes in temperature, humidity, and moisture.

Hollow-Core Doors

Hollow-core doors feature a honeycombed cardboard or plastic material covered with a thin layer of wood or fiberboard. A veneer finish is then applied to it afterwards.

As opposed to solid wood doors, hollow-core doors are only recommended as interior passage doors for homes. These interior doors are lightweight, effortless to install, and easy to swing, but they offer less soundproofing capability.

They are a cost-effective substitute for solid wood doors as they are inexpensive. If your home has several rooms that require new doors, you will definitely save a lot of money with hollow-core doors. You can use them as an interior door for the kitchen, bathroom, pantry, and wardrobe.

Advantages of Hollow-Core Doors

• They are cheaper than solid wood doors.
• They rarely change their shape even if they get exposed to various temperatures.
• Hollow-core doors are a breeze to paint by yourself because they are frequently sold pre-primed.
• You can install them by yourself because they are lightweight and not a problem to transport.
• There are some elegant-looking designs that do not reveal their cheap price tag.

Disadvantages of Hollow-Core Doors

• Unlike solid wood doors, hollow-core doors offer minimal sound-blocking benefits.
• They are not fire-resistant.
• Hollow-core doors are not reliable in insulating rooms.
• Their edges are usually exposed and not covered with veneer.
• They’re not as stable and durable as a solid wood door.
• They can negatively impact the resale value of your home.

Factors to Consider When Choosing a New Door

Below are essential aspects to think about when shopping for a new door, and that can help you decide between a solid-wood door or a hollow-core door.

• Location – Are you shopping for a new exterior door or interior door?
• Price -How much is your spending budget?
• Condition – Where do you plan to install your new door? Think about moisture and temperature.
• Door Sound Rating – Does the room require soundproofing?
• Energy Efficiency – What are the Energy STAR Ratings?
• Aesthetic Appeal – What are the design options, and will they fit your home’s overall look?

If you’ve got the money to burn and looking for an exterior door, solid wood doors are obviously the better choice rather than hollow-core doors. They can last you a lifetime and can be a worthwhile investment.

On the other hand, if you have a limited spending budget, have to replace many interior doors for your home, and would be installing them by yourself, hollow-core doors are reasonably viable options. As mentioned, you can have them installed in rooms that are not intended for relaxation like the kitchen or pantry, and where outdoor noise permeating through the door won’t be a significant problem.

Whatever you choose, make it a point to work with a reliable provider that guarantees high quality in all their products.

Fiberglass and Steel Replacement Doors

But beyond the two, fibreglass door systems and highly customized steel doors are your best bet for entry doors in terms of security, privacy, and durability. They are low-maintenance and can weather extreme conditions brought by the summer or winter season without warping or developing damage. A new door made from these materials will also save you in utility costs since they have remarkable insulation features.

Contact Burano Doors Today!

Burano Doors have been in the industry for 40 years. We take pride in giving our customers give our customers the best value for their money with our vast collection of premium-quality customized steel doors and fibreglass door systems.

Find the perfect new door for every room in your home. Reach out to us now to get our expert’s opinion on solid wood door versus hollow-core doors. Check out our latest designs and avail of our free home estimate today.

Contact Burano Doors now!