Flush doors can look boring. Panel doors, on the other hand, offer at least a modicum of aesthetic value to your home.
The thing is, there are so many options out there, from 2-panel doors up to 6 panels. Then there’s the difference between actual, true-panel doors and “panel-look.”
You should choose a two-panel or three-panel door based on use and aesthetic appeal.
The differences between two and three-panel doors are fairly negligible but the aesthetic value is generally what most people tend to focus on.
Two-panel and three-panel doors are doors constructed of two or three panels. A two-panel door is a door constructed with two panels.
Of course, there are also the rails, stiles, and the mullion as well. All of these pieces come together to form a door.
What are the Differences Between a 2-Panel and 3-Panel Door?
First and foremost, it’s important to understand what a panel door does. Sure, it’s good to know what a panel door is but what does it do? What is the advantage of having more panels or fewer panels?
The primary thing that multiple panels do is expand and contract. That may seem pretty harmless but the reality is, that could be very beneficial, depending on where the door will be installed.
Two-Panel Door
A two-panel door has more flexibility in terms of expansion and contraction but it’s more loved for its look and simplicity than anything else.
Plus, it’s pretty easy to clean. Inside of homes, you’ll see two-panel shaker doors more often than anything else.
Three-Panel Door
When it comes to durability, three-panel doors are far more rigid and durable than two-panel doors. There are more flex points on the door that allows for expansion and contraction based on humidity and temperature changes.
The Difference Between True Panel and Panel-Look
Before choosing whether you want a two-panel or three-panel door, you need to know that you’re actually getting a real panel door and not a panel-look. A panel-look door is actually a flush door with a panel-like design on the exterior.
It doesn’t actually use any panels at all. It’s a good idea to know what you’re looking at because the expansion and contraction advantages of panel doors are absent in a panel-look door.
Inside the home, a panel-look may not be that bad but when you are looking for doors that lead out into the garage or any area of the house where temperature and humidity (bathrooms) may be an issue, a panel-look door has no advantages.
How Many Panels Should a Door Have?
The more panels, the more strength a door has. That may seem counterintuitive because the thinking goes something like this: the more parts you have to put together to create a whole should be weaker than a single, solid structure.
While you can purchase up to 6-panel door types, it’s a good idea to choose based on where you are installing the door, with the aesthetic features of the door playing a secondary role.
The panels in the door may be raised or recessed but their intrinsic usefulness is unchanged.
What Does a 2-Panel Door Mean?
A 2-panel door is simply a complete door constructed with two panels. A panel door of any kind has multiple parts. There are top and bottom rails.
At the top and bottom of the door are horizontal pieces that run across the width of the door, beneath and above the panels (regardless of the number of panels).
With two panels, there is often a center rail, generally known as a mullion, though the construction of any given door might be a little confusing as to whether it is a mullion or a rail and where the rails end and the mullion begins.
The vertical pieces to the left and right of the two panels are known as the stiles.
So you basically have a surrounding framework with two, rectangular panels within that framework.
In terms of, “what does a 2-panel door mean?” it’s really just a matter of two, recessed or raised panels within the whole of the door.
Is a Two or Three-Panel Door Better?
Aesthetic-wise, that depends on your personal preference. Durability-wise, a three-panel door is more durable than a 2-panel door because the more panels you have, the more flexibility and, at the same time, durability.
In fact, its ability to shrink and expand is its greatest strength.
The only way in which a two-panel door would be better than a three-panel is when you prefer the look of it. If you’re going for a specific aesthetic, a two-panel door might be more appealing.
Which Should You Choose?
You should choose the one that provides you with what you need. If it’s all about aesthetics then it’s all about the overall theme.
However, when it comes to what you might call a “wet room” to describe bathrooms and water heater areas, a three-panel door is the wiser choice.
This is especially true if you like to take really hot showers and build up a lot of vapor in the room.
A three-panel door will be a better fit for that scenario or anywhere that water or humidity is a potential threat in terms of damaging the door.
All Things Considered
Ultimately, there’s not a huge difference between 2-panel doors and 3-panel doors. Doors with three panels certainly have durability advantages but outside of that, it’s all about the aesthetics. With that being said, choose accordingly.
