A home begins with a warm door

It depends on your priorities.

• Metal — maximum burglary resistance, durability and weather resistance.
• Wood — a natural look, eco-friendly materials and good thermal insulation, but it needs regular care and is less burglary-resistant.

In Latvia’s humid climate, most experts recommend metal doors with a thermal break or combined solutions.

A thermal break is a heat barrier between the outer and inner parts of a metal door.

Why it matters:
• it prevents the metal frame from freezing through in cold weather;
• it stops condensation and ice forming on the inner face;
• it is essential for external doors without a warm vestibule.

• For a private house — from 1.5 to 2 mm.
• For higher security — from 2 mm.
• The frame should be thicker than the leaf — this is a weak point on many doors.

Weather resistance matters most outdoors:

• powder coating — the most reliable option, weather-resistant, wide colour choice;
• MDF with a moisture-resistant PVC film (VINORIT) — for decorative looks;
• wood — only with a wide canopy and regular maintenance.

• RC3 — the practical level for most private homes.
• RC4 and above — for remote properties with a higher risk profile.

A higher class usually means a reinforced frame, stiffening ribs, anti-lift pins, quality locks and multi-point locking.

Use at least two different lock types:

• a primary lever/safe lock with high burglary resistance;
• a secondary cylinder lock with drilling protection.

Both should be at least class 3. Multi-point locking is also recommended.

Check for:

• steel thickness from 1.5 mm;
• mineral wool or polyurethane core;
• at least two perimeter seals;
• two different locks of at least class 3, ideally with multi-point locking;
• reinforced hinges with anti-lift pins;
• a thermal break on exterior doors;
• CE marking and paperwork.

Watch for:

• steel thinner than 1.2 mm;
• only one lock;
• no thermal break on an exterior door;
• a single seal contour;
• no anti-lift pins;
• missing CE marking and product passport;
• a price that is unrealistically low for the claimed performance.

Yes, but acoustic performance depends on:

• the number of seal contours (2–3 give a strong result);
• the core material (mineral wool usually performs better);
• how tightly the leaf sits against the frame.

In noisy areas, choose doors with at least 30–40 dB sound insulation.

Yes — often significantly.

• A poorly insulated door can let through up to 30% of heat loss.
• A quality door with a thermal break and a good core keeps heat in winter and cool air in summer.
• Lower heating bills mean long-term savings.

It is strongly recommended.

• It shields the door from direct rain and snow.
• It extends the life of the finish and seals.
• Recommended size: at least 2 m wide and 0.7 m deep.

Technically yes, but it is strongly discouraged.

• Poor installation causes misalignment, mechanism faults and lost insulation.
• The manufacturer may void the warranty after DIY fitting.
• Use certified installers instead.

• Lubricate mechanisms at least once a year.
• Inspect seals once a year and replace them if they lose elasticity.
• Adjust after the first 1–2 weeks of use and later as needed.
• Call a specialist immediately if the door squeaks or becomes hard to close.

Yes. Most Latvian manufacturers make doors to custom sizes.

• Lead time is usually 5–6 weeks.
• A professional on-site survey is recommended.

• In a dry, ventilated room.
• Vertically or horizontally on packers of equal thickness.
• Do not place any objects on the door.
• Keep it in the factory packaging.

Possible causes:

• hinge settlement (needs adjustment);
• worn or deformed seals (need replacement);
• frame distortion from building settlement or poor installation.

Solution: call a specialist for diagnosis and adjustment. Do not force a DIY fix — you can damage the doorset.

• A product passport with technical data.
• A warranty card.
• Installation and operating instructions.
• Conformity certificates (CE marking).
• An installation handover report when fitted by specialists.