Installing interior doors yourself - sounds easier than it is. DIY videos and reality are often worlds apart. Find out what really matters here.
Installing interior doors correctly: What really counts
The internet is full of do-it-yourself videos and instructions for installing interior doors. Installation is often described as "moderately difficult" and is said to take a few hours. At the same time, many videos give the impression that installation is quick and easy - sometimes even in just a few minutes.
In practice, however, it turns out that professional door installation requires precision, experience and the right tools. Even small mistakes can lead to the door not closing properly, rubbing or being damaged in the long term.
Anyone opting for DIY installation should therefore be aware that aspects such as security, functionality and durability play an important role in addition to installation. Regular maintenance is just as important in order to guarantee the quality and function of the interior door in the long term.
Professionals install the standard interior door in one hour.
"If someone has never installed a door before, then I say: Hands off!" warns Holger Stretz and clearly advises inexperienced laymen against DIY door installation. As a master carpenter, owner and managing director of Stretz GmbH in Westheim, he knows what he's talking about: his company has been providing advice on door purchases, delivery, installation and maintenance for over 50 years - from private homes and apartment blocks to large construction projects such as apartment complexes, office buildings and industrial buildings.
Three hours to install an interior door? "If there are two of us, it can be done professionally in just over an hour," says Holger Stretz from experience. Of course, installing a standard interior door is not "witchcraft". Skilled craftsmen can do it.
No DIY trend for the erection of high-quality interior doors
On the other hand, this requires a particularly professionally equipped toolbox: But what layman has a Lamello plate, door lining spreader and a 1.80 metre spirit level? But if you don't have the right tools, mistakes can be made with serious consequences: because if the plumb line and rebate dimensions are wrong, the installation result cannot be right.
The Stretz team has already had to dismantle and reassemble a door that was not installed correctly by a layman. An effort that the buyer could literally have saved himself.
In general, Holger Stretz does not see a DIY trend in door installation among his customers. Because: "People who opt for high-quality doors don't tend to cut corners when it comes to installation."
Door maintenance: a "must" once a year
It's written in black and white on the invoice: the new interior door should be professionally serviced once a year. Failure to do so will invalidate part of the guarantee.
Does the door close properly, does the rubber seal fit correctly, do the lock and hinges function smoothly? Annual door maintenance is a good investment even for private single-family homes: without maintenance, however, the guarantee on moving parts of technical doors, for example, is invalidated.
How can I recognise a door specialist?
You can recognise a door expert by their professional profile and appearance. This includes
- Qualifications: carpenters, joiners or experienced fitters - in a professional company, every employee receives regular specialist training. We regularly invite business partners, such as Stretz GmbH, to seminars and training courses on all aspects of interior doors.
- Professional tools: The installation vehicle contains a well-stocked range of tools for door installation, maintenance and repair.
- Care and attention: Before starting the installation, the experts cover floors and surfaces to protect them from damage and dirt. At the end of the work, the professionals clean the site.
- Entry in the trade register or membership of a professional association: Recognised, well-trained specialists work here.
- Complaints and a clean finish: The company also sends specialists back after installation if there are any questions or defects.
DIY installation of functional doors? No way!
When it comes to functional doors, there is no room for ‘experimentation’ or DIY. This is because, in the case of a fire protection door, not only will the guarantee be void, but the test certificate and insurance cover will also cease to apply. After all, such a door can even become a life-threatening hazard in the event of a fire if it has not been assembled and inspected by a qualified professional. Ultimately, only a qualified professional can guarantee that all the requirements of the test certificate have been met.
A trained fitter ensures that a functional door is permanently and securely assembled in the correct position within the wall. To this end, DIN standards regulate the details right down to the wall material, the type of dowels and how they are to be fitted. Another essential requirement for these doors is professional maintenance once a year.
We are at the construction site long before the work begins, because we take our own measurements. Also for private customers. In this way, we ensure the important dimensions and specifications for doors and windows, regardless of the size of the construction project. The customer realises that we are professionals right from the consultation. Even when walking through the exhibition system together, visitors feel that they are in good hands with us. This is because our staff undergo continuous training and are therefore very familiar with interior doors.
Installing and maintaining interior doors
50 years of door expertise and a partner from the very beginning: stretz-tueren.de