What is a 4 Panel Door?

Most 4 Panel Doors feature two lower and two upper matching panels with the upper panels usually being the taller ones. This gives the doors an appealing symmetry while the taller upper panels lend a sleeker look to the door. A recent design innovation for Four Panel Internal Doors has been to set four panels of the same size in a single vertical row running up the centre of the door with the unusual vertical layout adding a degree of elegance to the appearance of the doors.

One of the beauties of 4 Panel doors is the different styles that can be achieved by varying the finish on the inset, flat or raised panels. The edges are often cut in profile to create a groove around the panel where it meets the frame or, for a more decorative finish, panels can be edged with various designs of raised mouldings.

Making a Choice

Choosing between the different types of 4 Panel Doors is challenging due to the wide variety of finishes available for internal doors. Buyers are spoiled for choice with Four Panel Doors available either pre-finished or unfinished, in solid wood, real wood veneers, or a finish of engineered, composite materials.

• A factory pre-finish ensures a high quality, smooth finish that will last many years without needing further maintenance, while an unfinished door can be stained, varnished or painted to exactly match a chosen decor. If allowing natural daylight to be shared between rooms is desirable, then 4 Panel Doors can have glazing in either both upper panels or all four panels.
• Environmentally responsible buyers will want to ensure the door manufacturer is sourcing their wood products from sustainable forests and will want to see the FSC or PEFC certification on their chosen door.

With a huge variety of 4 Panel Doors available for all budgets, choosing a preferred finish and glazing option, whether to have a fire resistant door or not and which of the four panel layouts is most appealing can be a challenge. However, it\'s good to be spoiled for choice!