JOURNAL / DOORS

Both swing to open, but differently. A hinged door hangs from hinges on one of its edges; a pivot door turns on a floor pivot and a top pivot set in from the edge of the leaf. That difference changes the size each can take, how it looks when open and what it costs.

When a pivot door makes sense

  • Large leaves. It takes wider, taller and heavier doors than hinges can.
  • Entrances that take center stage. Open, the leaf stands perpendicular to the opening and splits the passage in two.
  • A single leaf in a wide opening, without splitting it into two doors.

When a hinged door makes sense

  • Interiors, bathrooms and bedrooms, where the opening is a standard size.
  • When the best seal matters: it closes against its frame all around, with gaskets.
  • When cost matters: its hardware is simpler, and so is installation.
  • Wide entrances can also be solved with two hinged leaves.

What a well-made pivot door needs

A large leaf has to stay straight for years: it calls for stable wood, such as tzalam, and sections designed so it doesn’t warp. The floor pivot is chosen for the leaf’s weight and carefully leveled on site; on the coast, the hardware must also resist corrosion. If it has glass, double or triple safety glazing is the way to go.

As a reference, a solid wood front door runs MXN 50,000 to 95,000 before VAT and freight; a large pivot door usually lands at the upper end because of its hardware and size.