Choosing the right internal doors for your renovation

Choosing the right internal doors for your renovation

Internal doors are one of those finishes that people spend thirty seconds choosing and then spend the life of the property living with. Get them right and the house flows. Get them wrong and every room feels slightly off. Here's what to think about before you order.

Fire rating: non-negotiable in certain situations

If your property has an integral garage, a room used for sleeping above a kitchen, or is subject to Building Regulations Part B (fire safety), specific doors must be FD30-rated fire doors - 30 minutes of fire resistance. This isn't aesthetic - it's a legal requirement. If your building control inspector requires it and your contractor hasn't accounted for it, expect a late cost. Ask the question early.

In HMOs and converted flats, fire door requirements are even more specific and are usually set out in the licence conditions. Check before ordering.

Sizing: measure more than once

Standard UK internal door sizes are 1981×762mm and 1981×838mm. Victorian and Edwardian houses almost never have standard openings. Measure the clear frame opening (not the door itself) and order accordingly. If you're having new frames installed, confirm the door size before the frames go in.

Doors ordered to the wrong size cannot be returned and cannot be cut down significantly without affecting structural integrity on panel doors or the veneer on pre-finished flush doors.

Primed vs. pre-finished

Primed doors require on-site painting - which adds labour cost and programme time but gives you full colour control. Pre-finished doors (white or colour) save time but can be harder to touch up if damaged during installation. In a full renovation, primed doors painted on site often produce a cleaner result because the paint can be applied in controlled conditions.

Ironmongery

The handle, latch, hinge and stop choice should be consistent across the property. Mixed ironmongery finishes - chrome lever handles in one room, brushed brass in another - look unplanned. Decide on your ironmongery standard before ordering doors, and check that the chosen handles are compatible with the door thickness and stile width.