Not All Doors Sound the Same – Comparing the Gerda Thunk with Clunks, Clicks, Bangs, and Crashes
Not All Doors Sound the Same – Comparing the Gerda Thunk with Clunks, Clicks, Bangs, and Crashes
We’re taught from a very young age not to judge a book by its cover. Yet, it’s only natural that appearances guide our decisions a lot of the time. For instance, when you’re in the market for a new front door, the first thing you consider is what you want it to look like. There is no denying that aesthetics are important when it comes to kitting out your home. That said, they should only be one consideration in a very complex decision-making process. That’s why it is so important to recognise the Gerda Thunk!
It goes without saying that the number one priority for a front door is security. While looks can give you some indication of how sturdy a front door is, there is no telltale sign quite like how it sounds.
At Gerda, we’re proud to say that our front doors absolutely look the part. Aside from that, though, they also sound great. When you close a Gerda front door, you’re met with a reassuring “Thunk”. This is the noise of a solid core absorbing sound and vibration, and we can confirm that not all brands measure up to the comforting sound of a Gerda door.
What Should Secure Front Doors Sound Like?
If you want to determine whether a front door is secure, there are two simple tests you can do. These are the knock test and the closing test. If you hadn’t already guessed, Gerda aces both.
The knock test assesses the quality of a door’s core. Since Gerda doors have solid cores, knocking on them produces a dull, deep, solid thud. It’s a short sound that doesn’t linger. This tells you that the door is dense, secure, and insulated.
The closing test checks the door’s fit and hardware. To test this, you should gently swing the door and listen to the sound of the latches as the door engages.
When you close a Gerda front door, you can hear the dense, solid core absorbing vibration instantly. This is the sound being swallowed rather than reflected. Also, the compression seals grip the frame on closing. This seals the gap with a controlled thud. What’s more, you can hear the multi-point locking hardware engaging, which adds the final satisfying depth.
The Gerda Thunk vs a Clunk
The Thunk is unlike a “Clunk” in many ways. When a door clunks shut, it indicates that there is a hollow cavity acting like a drum. Instead of being swallowed, the sound is bouncing around and ringing out. It also suggests that the door isn’t perfectly fitted to the frame, meaning it rattles in the gap before latching. Last but not least, it highlights that there is only a single-point latch. Rather than the sound of quality hardware engaging, you simply hear a click at the end.
The Gerda Thunk vs a Click
In many ways, a “Click” is even less reassuring than a Clunk. When a door clicks shut, this is only the latch bolt catching, meaning the door’s own mass makes no acoustic contribution whatsoever. This then indicates that the door has a very thin skin and hollow core that could be shouldered open easily. What’s more, a Click implies a single latch point. When one small mechanism is the only barrier, it is much easier to break with a credit card or a kick.
The Gerda Thunk vs a Bang
A “Bang” is the loudest of the sounds we’ve explored so far; however, it’s important to note that volume is not strength. If a door bangs shut, it suggests that there is no mass to help with “braking”. A slight push sends it flying, resulting in it striking the frame at full, uncontrolled speed. It implies that there is no compression seal, as the sound indicates that a hard surface is meeting a hard surface. Similarly, you can infer that the panel is hollow, as the sound resonates like a struck drum. When a door frequently bangs shut, the aftermath is loose hinges, damaged hardware, and sometimes chipped glass.
The Gerda Thunk vs a Crash
If you thought the sound of a Bang was bad, it’s nothing compared to a “Crash”. A door that crashes shut isn’t just cheap and lightweight, it’s structurally compromised. As with a door that bangs shut, when a door crashes shut, it shows that there’s no mass to slow the swing. Instead, the door accelerates and closes at maximum speed. What’s more, the lack of mass means that no impact is absorbed. Instead, the frame takes the entire brunt. With each crash, hinges are sure to bend, which can lead to the door lifting from the frame entirely.
Love the Thunk of Gerda’s Steel and Aluminium Doors
Whether you’re sick of the noise or worried about the security, your front door shouldn’t give you a headache. Quite the opposite, it should make you feel safe and comfortable within your home. So, if you’re in the market for a new front door, be sure to head to a Gerda showroom near you to experience the Thunk firsthand.
