Doors are an essential component of any building – offering security, privacy, and environmental control. One of the most critical elements of a door is the type of core that it has. A door’s core is its internal structure, which provides support, insulation, and durability. There are three primary types of door cores: hollow core, semi-solid and solid core. In this post, we will discuss the key advantages and disadvantages of the core types, helping you to make an informed decision when choosing the right door for your specific application.  We’ll compare the doors based on their weight, longevity, price, acoustic, security & insulation performance.

Hollow Core

Hollow Core (or commonly known as Honeycomb or Lightweight) doors are made up of a honeycomb cardboard covered by a thin veneer or skin and are typically for interior usage. These doors are lightweight, making them easy to install, but also less durable and less effective at regulating temperature and acoustics. They are also less secure than other types of doors. Hollow core doors are often the least expensive option, making them a popular choice for those on a tighter budget.

Application

Great to use where no sound insulation is necessary such as closet and pantry doors.  Opt for hollow cores when trying to keep the budget down.

Key Notes:

• Lightweight and easy to install
• Inexpensive
• Less durable and offers quite low thermal and acoustic insulation

Semi-Solid

Semi-Solid doors are made with a core of High-Density Expanded Polystyrene (EPS) foam, which is covered by a thin layer of plywood or MDF. These doors are more durable and provide better thermal and acoustic insulation as well as providing even greater impact resistance.  A semi-solid door can achieve all of this while still being a very cost-effective solution and are easier to handle than a traditional solid core.  This kind of core offers a middle-of-the-road option in terms of price, making them a good choice for those who want a balance between cost and performance.

For our semi solid doors, we use VH Grade EPS Foam in addition to thicker skins than our hollow core doors.  Some manufacturers only meet the bare requirements of a semi-solid dore which only requires thicker skins, however by changing from a paper to a poly core, we can produce a higher quality door in this range.

Key Notes:

• More durable and resilient to accidental damage while still being quite lightweight
• Better acoustic and thermal insulation than hollow core doors
• Less expensive than solid core doors

Application

Can be suited to many residential and commercial applications when the tradeoff between performance and cost needs to be balanced.  These cores will deliver some acoustic and thermal insulation while being cheaper and easier to install than a solid core door.

Solid

Solid Core doors are the most premium option of the 3 types but often worth the extra expense in the long run, particularly for exterior doors.  Solid core doors are made of a mixture of wood and synthetic wood composites. They have a heavy, solid interior and a wood veneer exterior. They provide the durability, sound insulation, and look of a solid wood door without the weight or hefty price tag. We have four core material options for this kind of door:

Highly Moisture Resistant (HMR) Particle Board 

Medium Density Fibreboard (MDF)

Flax Board

Albasia BlockBoard – An exciting addition to our range, the Albasia core has a very high, strength-to-weight ratio which significantly reduces shipping costs while retaining a strong, quality door.  A standard specification core of Albasia would be ~43kg per door and a comparable core made in MDF would weigh ~105kg.

These doors are the most durable and secure option, making them a popular choice for exterior doors and high-security areas. Solid core doors also provide the best thermal and acoustic insulation. However, they are also the heaviest and most expensive option, making them less practical for some applications.

Key Notes:

• Most secure, durable and resilient to accidental damage
• Best acoustic and thermal insulation
• Most expensive option and may require more than one person to install

Applications

Solid core doors can be an excellent choice for rooms where you desire a superior quality option. They are especially well-suited for spaces where you seek increased privacy and soundproofing, such as bedrooms, bathrooms, and home offices.

If you have any questions regarding our door cores, please contact our team at sales@solwest.com.au and we’ll be glad to help.  Thanks for reading!