Door Industry Journal - Summer 2024

Also online at: www.dijonline.co.uk 110 THE door industry journal summer 2024 Doorsets, Fire Doors, Safety & Security Better Specification – Balancing Design, Functionality and Value We speak to Richard Kowalski, Technical Manager, Doors Divisions, at Stairways Midlands, about the common specification mistakes he sees and how smarter choices can deliver on design, budget and safety requirements. When it comes to choosing doors, developers and architects face the challenge of balancing aesthetics with costs, while not compromising quality, functionality and safety. The choice of standard or bespoke doors and fire doors depends on the needs and constraints of your project as well as the vision of the architect or client. But, argues Richard Kowalski, while bespoke designs can make a big impact in the right projects, smart choices on standard door sets can still pack a design punch without breaking the budget. Standard or bespoke? Standard doors come in fixed sizes and designs, making them cost-effective and readily available. They are ideal for projects with tight budgets or timelines, or when uniformity is required, such as in large residential developments. They can still also be customised to a degree, with a range of different finishes to fit different aesthetic briefs. Bespoke doors are custom-made to fit unique design requirements and dimensions. Perfect for high-end projects where aesthetics, specific functionalities, or accommodating tricky architectural elements are the priority. But while they allow for greater creativity and personalisation, bespoke options come at a higher cost and longer lead times. But, while it’s more personalised, bespoke isn’t always better, explains Richard Kowalski: “Some of the costliest mistakes I’ve seen are made at the very start of the process. Ordering doors that are just a few 100mm bigger than the standard doors will cost you significantly more because each door is then a bespoke item. On a multi-million-pound project, that one choice could mean paying tens of thousands of pounds more. “Likewise, choosing a non-standard laminate – opting for a grey a few subtle shades away from the standard, for example, as we’ve seen done – is going to add significantly to the cost, but with a negligible aesthetic impact. “It is common to see decisions like these changed down the line when the client will opt for a standardised product instead, especially if they need to claw back an overspend elsewhere. But a little bit of insight at the earliest stage could save a lot of time and money. “Making all the doors a standard size means they are easier and quicker to get hold of and you get a better price. It’s preferable from an installation perspective

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