Door Industry Journal - Summer 2021

Also online at: www.dijonline.co.uk 114 THE door industry journal summer 2021 Timber, Metal & Composite Doorsets When it comes to choosing the doors for a project, whatever the size or budget, there are many things to consider – from materials and ironmongery, to finish and fire resistance. There’s also the question of whether to use doorsets or take a more traditional, hanging approach. Increasingly, more and more specifiers are seeing doorsets as the answer to this – but why? Modern Doorsets versus Traditional Hanging Doors - Which Side Are You On? Martin O’Reilly, Managing Director at M&A Carpentry, has helped to build hundreds of homes over the years. These days, doorsets are used in the majority of his projects. Earlier this year, Martin and his team worked with Inland Homes on phase two of the Meridian Waterside development, in Southampton. They installed internal and entrance doorsets for 35 flats and eight houses. This equated to more than 200 doorsets, all supplied from Stairways Midlands’ Residor and Securdor ranges. Doorset advantages Martin said: “Pre-hung doorsets comprise a door and a lining or frame that is routed out for hinges, locks and other elements prior to site fitting. Linings are used for internal doors, while frames are for external doors. “One of the main benefits of doorsets for me is that they come ready for installation, including ironmongery, like latches, bathroom locks and hinges. “On a front door, we may specify that we want drop-down seals, intumescent strips, locks, deadlocks, and the like. That all comes pre-done. It saves us time and money on fitting and, in my opinion, improves the integrity of the door. “In general, you can get whatever you want on a doorset, as long as you specify ahead of time. The only thing that might not be on it, as we had on the front doors for the Meridian Waterside project, is an overhead door closer. That’s because, due to transport reasons, they can’t be fitted until the doorset is on-site. But, generally, you can have everything pre-fitted.” Martin advised that it is important to work hand-in-hand with your supplier from an earlier stage to ensure specifications are correct, leading to a swift and high-quality install. He added: “I have worked with Stairways for several years. They understand the pressures we are under in the industry, now more than ever, and by working closely from the start of each project, it helps us deliver on our promises.”