Ian Sage No Comments

Sliding Doors vs Pivot Doors

Both sliding doors and pivot doors are staples in the home and commercial building space. Both provide the same basic function: allow or restrict access to an area. The way they perform that function, however, is different, and thus each one has its own sets of pros and cons to consider when planning out your project.

Pivot Doors – Pros

Pivot doors are the classic when it comes to most doors. Rotating on an axis near the back end of the door, these doors swing out (or in) when opened and can be designed in many different ways. A pivot door may be a simple flat wood interior door or an extravagant and ornate exterior door, or anything in between. They are easy to operate, easy to install, and the standard door type.

Pivot Doors – Cons

While pivot doors are fantastic options, they do come with some limitations and drawbacks. One, a pivot door requires a much larger footprint than a sliding door, as it has to swing open in at least one direction. This means that the area around a pivot door must remain clear and unused, which can limit the available floor space in a small room or tight hallway. Additionally, pivot doors are only supported on the end with the pivot point, meaning they are constantly pulling down on their hardware and can wear on them much more over time. This can also limit their stability in some circumstances.

Sliding Doors – Pros

Sliding doors are becoming increasingly more common in both home and commercial applications. Architects and designers are choosing sliding doors more often as time goes on due to their sleek and modern appearance, as well as the benefits they provide. There are two main options when it comes to sliding doors, the standard and what is called a “pocket door”. Sliding doors take up significantly less floor space than pivot doors regardless of which style is used, and they can be designed to be much larger than the standard pivot door without near as many complications. In addition, sliding doors are mounted on at least one, sometimes two roller tracks. This means that they are evenly supported across the width of the door, leaving no areas lacking in support or wearing heavier on the hardware. Sliding doors that slide into the nearby wall are even more safe, as they are only ever exposed to traffic or weather when closed.

Sliding Doors – Cons

While sliding doors take up much less floor space than pivot doors, unless you’re using a pocket door, they do take up wall space. Arguably still less intrusive than pivot doors, however a standard sliding door will need to slide over the wall near it when opened. Depending on the size of your sliding door, this could lead to a large amount of nearby wall space that must be left clear. If you’re using a pocket door, however, this issue is completely resolved, as the door slides entirely into the wall. Sliding doors are also a little bit more complicated to operate, though this is hardly a factor as they are still simple to use.

Conclusion

No matter which door type you choose, you can build a beautiful and functional piece. If you’re considering these options, we encourage you to look through the Sing Core website to learn more about these door types and how Sing Core can help you!

No Comments

What is a Sing Panel?

Basically, a Sing Panel is Sing Core sandwiched between two skins (of wood, or other material, see: Sing Sandwich) with solid wood borders on all edges.

Sing Core Comparisons Based on 2″ x 2″ Grids

Sing Panel Foam Aluminum Balsawood Nomex Plastic Cardboard
Insulation ✓ ✓ x x x x x
Sound Deadening ✓ ✓ x x x x x
Lightweight ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ x x
Strength ✓ x ✓ ✓ ✓ x x
Solid ✓ ✓ x ✓ x x x
Eco-friendly ✓ x x ✓ x x ✓
Renewable ✓ x x ✓ x x ✓
Oversize ✓ x x x x x x
Dimensionally Stable ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓
Affordable ✓ x x x x x ✓
Waterproof Upgrade? ✓ ✓ ✓ x ✓ ✓ x
Fire Retardant Upgrade? ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ x ✓
Bullet-proof Upgrade ✓ ✓ x x x x x
Thickness Available ✓ x x x x x x
Skin Options ✓ x x x x x x
Easy to Machine ✓ x x x x x x
Fast Turnaround ✓ x x x x x x

Insulation: Sing Core has built-in insulation value with an R3 to R6.5 rating per inch, depending on client’s needs/specifications.

Sound deadening: Sing Core’s filler material has natural sound-deadening properties. Other sound-deadening options are available at customer request.

Light weight: When compared to other materials Sing Core weighs much less, as much as 50% less, or more, as little as 4 lbs. per sq. ft. yet eco-friendly. This advanced technology used in the aviation industry is now available for use in your home.

Strength: Sing Core based on 2″ x 2″ grids and 3/4″ thick = 660 PSI. For instance, aluminum 3/8″ grids = 30+ PSI (smaller grids should be more strength). Sing Core’s superior strength comes from its advanced torsion box design.

Solid: Sing Core is solid like a rock. While the vertical wood grain torsion box core may be compared to other hollow honeycomb cores, the Sing Core voids are not hollow as they are bonded wall-to-wall and filled with recycled foam for a strong, solid substrate.

Eco-friendly: Sing Core is manufactured using natural wood fibers, no formaldehyde, or toxic chemicals, is created using less energy than any other core material with little or no waste.

Renewable: The structure of Sing Core is 100% renewable (nature-grown) clean fiber and/or recycled material.

Oversize: Sing Core excels in area of large oversize products due to its unique properties and can be up to 50 foot length.

Dimensionally stable: Sing Core is the most dimensionally stable building material allowing us to create large, oversize products (i.e., doors, up to 50 ft.) that are true flat exceeding AWI standards and can be guaranteed to be true flat. Large oversize panels can be truly dimensionally stable without any movement due to temperature and moisture change.

Affordable: Even though Sing Core technology is used in high-end applications, we make it affordable for broad use in a large number of applications. Sing Core performance is comparable to any high-end core but could be as little cost as low-end wood product core.

Waterproof upgrade: Sing Core is available in waterproof upgrade, to accommodate your specific water resistant requirements.

Fire retardant upgrade: When used in fire retardant applications, the Sing Core fire retardant door is the lightweight, super-strong, eco-friendly alternative.

Bullet-proof upgrade: In high-security end products, most cores used in bullet-proof applications are heavy in weight, causing strain on the infrastructure, unlike Sing Core.

Thickness available: Sing Core is readily available in many thicknesses, up to 6 inches in standard thickness, with custom thicknesses available.

Skin options: Available in many different exteriors including (but not limited to) aluminum, cement board, cold roll steel, concrete, ceramic tile, fiber glass, galvanize metal, glass, MDF, metal, plastic, plywood, solid wood, stainless steel, etc…

Easy to machine: Sing Core is easy to work with in the shop or on-site for sawing, sanding, adding solid wood implants, gluing, cutting and fastening.

Fast turnaround: In you’re in a rush, only Sing Core can be custom made within 24 hours and is proudly manufactured for you in the USA.

frp-fiberglass-panelsEco-friendly: Sing Core is manufactured using natural wood fibers, no formaldehyde, or toxic chemicals, is created using less energy than any other core material with little or no waste.

Renewable: The structure of Sing Core is 100% renewable (nature-grown) clean fiber and/or recycled material.

Dimensionally stable: Sing Core is the most dimensionally stable building material allowing us to create large, oversize products (i.e., doors, up to 50 ft.) that are true flat.

Strength: Sing Core based on 2″ x 2″ grids and 3/4″ thick = 660 PSI. For instance, aluminum 3/8″ grids = 30+ PSI (smaller grids should be more strength)

Light weight: When compared to other materials Sing Core weighs much less, as much as 50% less, or more, as little as 4 lbs. per sq. ft. yet eco-friendly.

Oversize: Sing Core excels in area of large oversize products due to its unique properties and can be up to 50 foot length.

Dimensionally stable: Sing Core exceeds AWI standards for flatness and can be guaranteed to be true flat. Large oversize panels can be truly dimensionally stable without any movement due temperature and moisture change.

DSC_1019Affordable: Even though Sing Core technology is used in high-end applications, we make it affordable for broad use in a large number of applications. Sing Core performance is comparable to any high-end core but could be as little cost as low-end wood product core.

Insulation: Sing Core has built-in insulation value with an R3 to R6.5 rating per inch, depending on client’s needs/specifications.

Sound deadening: Sing Core’s filler material has natural sound-deadening properties. Other sound-deadening options are available at customer request.

Waterproof upgrade: Sing Core is available in waterproof upgrade, to accommodate your specific water resistant requirements.

Fire retardant upgrade: When used in fire retardant applications, Sing Core is the lightweight, super-strong, eco-friendly alternative.

Bullet-proof upgrade: In high-security end products, most cores used in bullet-proof applications are heavy in weight, causing strain on the infrastructure, unlike Sing Core.

Thickness available: Sing Core is readily available in many thicknesses, up to 6 inches in standard thickness, with custom thicknesses available.

Skin options: Available in many different exteriors including (but not limited to) aluminum, cement board, cold roll steel, concrete, ceramic tile, fiber glass, galvanize metal, glass, MDF, metal, plastic, plywood, solid wood, stainless steel, etc…

Easy to machine: Sing Core is easy to work with in the shop or on-site for sawing, sanding, adding solid wood implants, gluing, cutting and fastening.

Fast turnaround: In you’re in a rush, only Sing Core can be custom made within 24 hours and is proudly manufactured for you in the USA.

 

Sing Panel Product Sing Panel Options
The Sing Panel, by itself, could be an   individual product, i.e. shelf, door, table, wall, etc… that can be used in   many Applications. The Sing Panel can host any exterior material surface (most popular are wood and aluminum). See Material Options for more information.
Sing Panel Material Sing Panel Substrate
Sing Panels can be used as separate   building materials. Depending on the shape of the panel, a Sing Panel could   be any of the following materials:
Plank
Plywood
Post and  Beam		 Sing Panels can also be used as substrate material, where the final   exterior material is applied to the panel, increasing the strength of the end product while still remaining lightweight and eco-friendly.For more information, see Sing Substrate.

Multiple Sing Panels can be joined together to achieve the results you desire, including on-site multi-panel projects. large doors or trade show booths.