How to Choose the Perfect Hinged Door for Your Home

Whether you’re designing your dream home or renovating for a modern update, selecting the right hinged door is a vital step. With various styles and features available in the Benchmark, Sentry, and Commercial ranges, how do you choose the one that best suits your needs?

This guide breaks down the differences between these three options, highlighting their key features, benefits, and ideal use cases. Read on to find your perfect fit.

Types of Hinged Doors

Before getting into the specifics of each door type, it’s important to understand what sets Benchmark, Sentry, and Commercial doors apart. While all three are stylish, durable, and made from aluminium, each is tailored for different applications. Here’s a quick overview:

Benchmark Doors

Slim, classy, and versatile, these are ideal for laundry, patio, or terrace doors. Perfect for creating a French-door or Hamptons-style aesthetic.

Sentry Doors

Made for modern homes, Sentry doors are perfect for front doors or entryways. They feature wider configurations and offer a range of handle options for customisation.

Commercial Doors

Built for homes that need larger, more robust doors. These are great for properties needing custom sizes or superior wind and water performance, like coastal homes.

Now, let’s explore them in detail!

Benchmark Hinged Doors

Benchmark Doors in Pearl White

The Benchmark Door is best suited to spaces that require style without bulk. Its 70mm vertical stile width offers a slim appearance, making it ideal for laundry rooms, smaller balconies, or homes with minimalist aesthetics.

Key Features:

• Maximum height of 2400mm per door

• Bubble seals for improved acoustic performance

• Standard mortice deadlocks for extra security
• Optional colonial bars, raised or flat, for a Hamptons look
• Option for hi-lites and side-lites for natural light and added style

Why Choose Benchmark?

• It’s budget-friendly while still delivering performance.

• Its slim design complements modern and minimalist spaces.

Good to Know: If you’re planning to install a pet door, all hinged doors are compatible with pet doors that can be retrofitted after installation. Consult your builder for availability.

Sentry Hinged Doors

Looking for a statement entrance for your home? Sentry Doors are an excellent front-door option. With their 145mm wide vertical stile, these doors accommodate a wide variety of upgraded handles and provide more room for customisation.

Key Features:

• Maximum height of 2445mm and width of 1270mm per door

• Optional timber-look finishes that combine the charm of wood with the durability of aluminium

• Energy-efficient design, offering seals that reduce air leakage

• Option for hi-lites and side-lites for natural light and added style

Why Choose Sentry?

• Perfect for creating a grand entrance with lots of natural light.

• The timber-look finish option reduces maintenance compared to real timber doors. Read more in our blog Timber Look Doors. 

Sentry Doors in Silver Lustre

Hot Tip: If you’re choosing upgraded handles for the Sentry door, make sure they don’t block the installation of a security door. Some options require careful placement to avoid overlap.

Commercial Hinged Doors

Commercial Door in Charcoal Lustre

For homes needing durable, large-scale doors, Commercial Hinged Doors provide the best solution. With their 115mm or 65mm stile width options, these are designed for architecturally designed homes with custom requirements such as larger, heavier glazing panels or areas dealing with stronger elements, such as wind and water exposure.

Key Features:

• Maximum height of 2700mm and width up to 1200mm per door

• Double-glazing options for improved thermal efficiency

• Wider stiles for greater handle compatibility

• Midrail options for added structure and style

Why Choose Commercial Doors?

• Built tough for larger doors and extreme conditions.

• Customisable options make them perfect for balancing aesthetics with performance.

Hot Tip: If you’re installing commercial doors, wider door stiles provide a broader range of handle options. Opt for handles that fit the wide-stile configuration to maximise durability and enhance the look.

Considerations

Midrails

Midrails create smaller ‘lite’ spaces within the door adding both functionality and a touch of style to hinged doors. For instance:

• Purpose: They can conceal a handle’s placement or break up glass panels for a more aesthetic finish.

• Customisation: The midrails can be horizontal or vertical, ranging from two lite to seven lite configurations.

Glazing Beads

• Each midrail is 130mm wide and has a chamfered or bevelled edge on single glazed doors, which is visible from the outside. A square bead edge is visible from the inside.
• For double glazed doors, a square bead edge is used on both sides to allow for the thickness of the double glazing.

Hi-lites and Side-lites

Complement any door style with glass panels:

• Hi-lites sit above your door to enhance height and allow more natural light.

• Side-lites frame your door, creating the illusion of a wider entryway.

Which Door is Right for You?

Still deciding? Here’s a quick breakdown based on your needs:

1. Go with Benchmark if you want an economical and stylish solution for secondary spaces like laundry or terrace doors.
2. Choose Sentry if you’re after a grand entrance with custom design possibilities like timber finishes or upgraded handles.
3. Pick Commercial Doors if you need reinforced doors for larger, architecturally designed spaces or homes in extreme weather areas.

To find out more about which hinged door option is most suitable for your home you can see each of these products on display at a Jason Windows showroom.

• Benchmark, Sentry & Commercial Doors: on display at Welshpool Displays.
• Benchmark & Sentry Doors: on display at Bunbury Displays.
• Benchmark & Sentry Doors: on display at Home Base Design & Build Centre Displays.