Like the door of a private residence, the landing door serves as an entrance to a dwelling. The difference is that the former is designed for exterior use, while the latter is intended for interior use. More specifically, the landing door acts as an apartment divider in a condominium building. This joinery must ensure the security and comfort of the co-owner. Moreover, it is part of the so-called “technical doors”. Do you want to replace the door of your apartment? Follow our guide!
Changing the apartment door: what are the regulations in force?
The law of July 10, 1965, which deals with the status of co-ownership, governs work related to a private lot in a collective building. It follows that it is forbidden to modify the appearance of the building. Thus, if you wish to change the landing door of your apartment, you must respect the rules of uniformity established by the law. These require that co-owners choose an exterior cladding similar to that of the other doors, particularly in terms of color, shape, and material.
The same applies to the windows and shutters of the apartment. This is to harmonize the whole building and make it more aesthetic. Whatever the reason why you want to replace the door of your apartment (taste, obsolescence, lack of comfort, etc.), it is strictly mandatory to consult your condominium manager. He will inform you about the necessity or not of receiving the approval of the other co-owners.
Obtaining an authorization before the work: is it mandatory?
In general, it is wiser to ask the opinion of the other co-owners to avoid a disagreement with them. However, this is not necessary in certain cases. The security and comfort needs of each co-owner are not the same. An apartment located on the first floor or on the top floor is more likely to be broken into because it offers burglars an opportunity to escape through the windows.
It is, therefore, necessary to secure the landing door on these levels as much as possible, for example, by installing an armored metal door. By choosing an exterior covering identical to that of the other doors in the building, you are not subject to a request for authorization from your co-owners.
Another option is also possible: that of the door armor. This consists of reinforcing the interior wooden part of the closure by adding a steel frame, a metal sheath, and a security lock. In this case, your entrance door’s exterior remains intact, eliminating the need to obtain authorization.
Types of landing doors required by law
The landing door plays an important role since it divides the common and private areas in a condominium. Again, according to the above-mentioned law, the apartment door must be:
- Fireproof: that is to say, equipped with fireproof properties (strong resistance to fire, flameproof, impact resistance)
- Isothermal: to avoid heat loss
- Isophonic: allows isolation of the apartment from the external noises and prevents the exit of the noises coming from the interior.
Most apartment buildings are equipped with solid landing doors. These guarantee increased security for the residents and offer optimal thermal and acoustic insulation. There are also semi-glazed or glazed apartment doors that professionals in a condominium building frequently use. These door models are very aesthetic and ensure great thermal and acoustic insulation performance.
The price of an apartment landing door
The purchase cost of an apartment door varies widely depending on the materials used, its performance, additional accessories, and finish. Here is the price range for:
- A wood door: 600 to 4,000 dollars
- PVC door: 500 to 3,000 dollars
- A steel door: 500 to 4 000 dollars
- An aluminum door: 1 000 to 5 000 dollars.
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