Internal doors
Internal doors.
New doors change a house more than you'd expect. From one sticking door to a whole-house set, hung square with even gaps and handles that feel right.
- For
- Updates, new floors, whole houses
- Rules
- Replacements rarely need approval
- Fire doors
- Needed in some homes
- Time
- About a day for a whole house
How it works.
- Check the existing door. Is it a fire door? Look for a label or plug on the top or side. Old fire door panels may contain asbestos insulating board.
- Measure. Door and frame, and the swing clearance.
- Trim and hang. Trimmed carefully, with hinges and hardware fitted.
- Check gaps and closing. It should close cleanly, with even gaps all round.
Fire doors are different.
A fire door is a tested door and frame set, with seals and hardware, designed to hold back fire and smoke. It only works when closed and properly fitted, so you can't cut one down to suit like a normal door.
Most two-storey houses don't need them, but a loft conversion usually changes that. Read our guide to fire door rules for homes.
We fit fire doors. We don't hold a fire door installer certification, so if your job needs a certified installer, tell us up front and we'll talk it through.
Questions we get asked.
Do I need building regs to replace an internal door?
Usually not. GOV.UK says most repairs, replacements and maintenance work don't need approval. Fire doors protecting a stairway or a garage are a different matter.
Do I need fire doors in my house?
Not in most two-storey houses. They're needed on a protected stairway in homes with a floor above 4.5m, and after a loft conversion on a typical two-storey house.
How can I tell if a door is a real fire door?
The British Woodworking Federation's five-step check covers the certification mark, gaps, seals, hinges, and whether it closes fully when released from halfway.
Do internal doors need a gap at the bottom?
For ventilation, Approved Document F describes a free area equal to a 10mm undercut in a 760mm wide door. Don't cut a fire door to suit.
Do glazed internal doors need safety glass?
Yes, in critical locations, which include glazing in doors up to 1500mm.
Recent doors
