Pivot Doors: What You Need to Know

What is a pivot door? Unlike regular doors, pivot doors are “hinged” at the top and bottom. The door rotates or pivots open on this vertical axis. But why, you may ask, are we reinventing the door? 

Interestingly, although they’re quite trendy these days, pivoting doors aren’t particularly new. Archaeological remains from Mesopotamia and India show that large, impressive doors and gates in ancient times also used a version of this mechanism. 

Is There An Advantage to a Pivot Door Over a Hinged Door?

Pivoting Front Doors

Apart from being something out of the ordinary, pivot doors allow you to get more creative with door designs. Specifically, you can install taller, wider, bigger, and heavier doors, and they won’t start sagging on their hinges or feel heavy and cumbersome to open. On the contrary, pivot doors are known for the light, smooth movement with which they open - even when they are made from heavy materials

With any home’s front door being a focal point, owners of luxury homes with contemporary styling are choosing pivot doors so that they can turn doorways into memorable features. The options are almost endless. 

Wood finishes can combine with metallics and glass, or they may consist of large panes of frosted, patterned glass that let in light and become glowing decor features that look their best from the inside. 

From the cathedral-like to the artistic, homeowners are choosing pivot doors for the wow factor they can’t achieve with regular doors. As front doors, pivot doors become an architectural feature that does much more than let people come and go. 

Pivoting Patio Doors

Patio doors are a great place to let the benefits of pivoting doors shine through. Here, you’d like the door frame to be comparatively unobtrusive, with glass to allow a clear view out. Sliding patio doors are still a common sight, but the rails can present irksome maintenance challenges if they’re to operate smoothly. 

A pivoting patio door gives you the best of both worlds: a low-maintenance, easy-operating mechanism, and all the glass you need to enjoy natural light and a view of your garden from indoors. 

Is There a Downside to Pivot Doors?

Pivot doors are more expensive than regular doors, and they will need some space on both the inside and the outside to swing open. You probably won’t find them in starter homes for these reasons. For those who want to make a big impression, none of these things present much of an obstacle and can even be seen as an advantage.  

However, you should choose your supplier carefully. Their design and installation requirements of pivot doors are not for the inexperienced. Everything must be perfectly flush, so there’s no real room for errors or inaccuracy, and weatherproofing for energy efficiency and protection against the elements requires skill. In short, it’s not a DIY project to tackle lightly, if at all. 

How Big Should a Pivot Door Be? 

A pivot door’s opening mechanism means that part of the doorway is occupied by the door. That means they aren’t suitable for very narrow doorways. A size of 1200 x 2032 mm is fairly standard for pivot doors. 

Then again, since pivot doors allow for bigger, more impressive doors, why not do exactly that? After all, it’s the style statement that puts the cherry on top of that lovely, smooth opening mechanism and novel appearance. 

Components of a Pivot Door

Apart from the door leaf, there is a pivot at the top and one at the bottom of the door. The pivots are attached to plates, and the bottom pivot is the most important one when the door pivots open. 

Thanks to modern materials and design, it is possible to make the pivots all but invisible, giving the door a light, airy look that makes it almost seem to float in the frame. Brush seals help maintain weatherproofing and energy efficiency. 

Building Regulations For Pivot Doors

As we noted, pivot doors allow for much in the way of customisation since they overcome the weight limitations of standard doors. However, building regulations must be considered for the safety and comfort of all. 

Fire ratings are important in some settings, and Building Regulations (Approved Document Part M) specify a minimum clear opening of 775 mm for main entry or exit doors. Finally, it’s wise to check local planning permission regulations if you are considering changing an existing door opening significantly.

Are Pivot Doors Secure?

At Stronghold Security Doors, we will vouch for it. Pivot doors are at least as secure as our other premium security doors and may even be a little more difficult to bypass. Our doors are packed with security features that include:

• Multi-point locking systems along the top, middle and sides of the door frame. Our pivot doors feature advanced locking systems and are very difficult to force. 
• Steel-reinforcement keeps you as safe as can be. We provide reinforced frames, and the leaves of the door can also be reinforced. Choosing glass? We can offer you impact-resistant security glass or even bulletproof glass.  
• Tamper-proof pivot hardware rounds off the security features. It would be extremely difficult to bypass the pivot mechanism from outdoors. 

Pivot Doors From Stronghold Security Doors

Your home is your castle, and with Stronghold Security Doors, you are its king or queen. Our bespoke security pivot doors are among our claims to fame, and they’ll offer you great looks, enhanced security and energy efficiency in one. 

Our full-service offering carries you through to installation and beyond. All you need to do is decide on the ideal pivot door design for your home. We’ll be happy to help with ideas and inspirations as you design that perfect front door, patio door, or interior door. Call us today, or visit our showroom in Croydon to find out more. 

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