Laying the flooring ends with the installation of accessories, which allows you to organically close joints and gaps in various places and corners. At a minimum, it is necessary to mount the sills in the area of the doorway. The accessory is quite simple, but responsible in terms of performing operational tasks. Using the interior threshold, you can not only hide the joints between the coatings, but also delicately level the height differences between the floors in different rooms.
Item Overview
The threshold for installation in the opening of interior doors is laid on the convergence line of two floor coverings. In most cases, these are zones of transition from one room to another, so the materials for laying on the floor are different, requiring a special seal of the joint. Structurally, this accessory is a patch plate fixed with special fasteners or a locking mechanism. One of the functions of the threshold for interior doors is decorative. It is important not only to technically ensure the protection of the gap, but also to do it as aesthetically as possible. Different models of such planks are presented on the market, which makes it possible to select solutions for interiors of different styles.
Production material
Not so much design as technical and operational important classification of sills, which is worth paying attention to when choosing. The range of options is wide, but the main materials are:
- Metal. A common solution that is in high demand due to its mechanical resistance, reliability and durability. If strength criterion comes first, then it is not necessary to look for stainless steel models - aluminum or brass products will justify themselves for home use.
- Wood. It would seem to be a natural option for use in home decoration, but floor installation quickly wears out such thresholds, forcing frequent replacement. If this nuance does not bother, then as a compensation for the chores, an original decorative effect in the form of a natural wood texture will be provided.
- Bung. Compared to natural wood, interior thresholds made of technical cork have a more wear-resistant structure, but their decorative qualities are not so pronounced, and sometimes environmental cleanliness is doubtful.
- Rubber and plastic. Very practical in terms of care and durable products. The strengths of this solution also include a variety of textured designs and elasticity. However, in combination with parquet or even laminate, rubber and plastic as materials look inappropriate.
Threshold classification by design
Also an important selection criterion that determines both the method of placement of the accessory and the mounting technique. The main types of structures of sills include the following:
- Standard flat profile. The usual solution, which is a flat patch strip. Suitable for installation on flat surfaces with approximately the same elevation levels between coatings.
- Corner sills. As a rule, metal elements that completely cover the edge of one of the coating layers. This is usually done when decorating high coatings of tiles, laminate or wood-based panels.
- Miscellaneous sills. This accessory is also called transitional, as it sets the task of eliminating a sharp difference in the levels of floor materials. Unlike lateral embedment as in the case of corner models, the installation of interior thresholds of this type is carried out strictly on top. And in this case, it is especially important to initially calculate the dimensions of the element so that it organically fits into the joint system of the two coatings.
- T-shaped sills. Using these models, radius transitions are formed with the central rib immersed directly in the gap niche where two flooring converge.
Custom Threshold Models
The advantages of rubber and plastic thresholds, including elasticity, have already been noted. These materials make flexible sills suitable for use in uneven joints. The same rubber at room temperature deforms after a while, adjusting to the point structure of an uneven weld in the coating joint. Also, non-standard interior thresholds include models with P-profiles. Their feature is the presence of a spring mechanism that creates a damper effect. A special seal in the design of such a threshold is integrated into the end of the door frame at the bottom. When the door closes, the seal completely covers the gap between it and the floor, which eliminates cold bridges and increases the sound insulation of the room.
Preparing to install a nut
Before installation, prepare a place to set a threshold. If you plan to change the old one, then it is completely dismantled with fasteners. After this, the joint is cleaned. The joint must be cleaned of construction debris, dust and all kinds of primers. As for the tool, the installation of the threshold of the interior door is carried out using a conventional carpentry set - depending on the fastening technique, you will need a hammer, mallet, drill driver and hacksaw. You should also take care of the stability of the flooring. The edges must be firmly fixed, glued, tightened or replaced in areas with damage.
Installation of sills with an open mounting system
The most popular installation technique, in which lining with a flat profile is usually involved. They may have factory openings for installing hardware in a suitable format with a certain step. If there are no technological holes or they are in the wrong places, then this defect is made up for with your own hands. The interior threshold is easily drilled with a screwdriver with a nozzle of the desired diameter, and if necessary, it can be cut with a leg along the edges. In the case of metal models, cutting is carried out by a grinder or a jigsaw. Next, the bar is installed in a prepared place and fastened with the same screwdriver. For fixing, it is recommended to use plastic dowels with screws, fully recessing them into the underground base. In order to preserve the decorative appearance, it is recommended to use hardware with masking hats.
Installing sills with hidden fixation
To ensure that the fastening points are not visible at all, threshold models with a T-shaped profile are used. Among the design features of some modifications of such an element, the presence of a dual profile should be highlighted. The basis for the fasteners will be the bearing washer, and the upper decorative only closes the joint. How to set the interior threshold with hidden fixation? It is enough to fasten the lower profile to the junction with the same hardware. And in this case it is more convenient to do this, since the screw is screwed directly to the floor, without crossing the gap. At a minimum, this improves installation accuracy. As for the patch panel, it latches on the upper side. Rigid profiles of this type are enough to knock out with a mallet and the two parts of the threshold are tightly reduced. For sealing purposes, it is possible to pre-coat the abutment surfaces on both profiles with silicone building glue.
Is it possible to install interior doors without a threshold?
It often happens that the transition sections between different coatings do not correlate with the threshold where the door is installed. In this case, the means of sealing the joint is not required at all, but a door seal is required for the door leaf, which will hold it in the closed position. This is one of the functions that the threshold performs. Is it possible to do without it if the joint between the floor coverings is not required to be closed? This configuration is allowed, but only if the door frame is precisely adjusted. As experienced carpenters note, the narthex bars can naturally hold the door leaf. But for this, the gap in the closed position between them and the canvas should be 2-3 mm. As soon as the door begins to open, the gap will narrow and will not allow it to exit the block.
Conclusion
Despite the external structural insignificance, the threshold performs a number of important tasks, on which the durability of the floor finish and the appearance of the interior depend. With the help of the interior door, you can also place decorative accents. There are a lot of original design models on the market that will bring shades of contrast and fully perform basic functions. It is important only to initially calculate the configuration of the location of this accessory, carefully considering its operational purpose in a particular place.