GuidesInternal porch
Internal porch doors with glass – how to plan a Crittall-style inner porch
An internal porch separates the entrance from the rest of the house – and steel-and-glass doors do it without taking away the light.
An internal porch – also called an inner porch or draught lobby – separates the entrance from the rest of the house. It keeps out cold air and dirt from outside and gives shoes and coats a place of their own. A solid door, however, closes off the hallway, which is usually the darkest part of the house anyway. Crittall-style steel-and-glass doors do the same job but let the light through – you can see the living room from the front door.
Hinged or sliding doors?
Hinged doors – one or two leaves on hinges, with a frame. The simplest choice when there is room in front of the porch for the leaf to open. With double doors you open one leaf day to day and the second when you need to carry something large through.
Sliding doors – they slide along the wall, so they take no space in a narrow hallway. They work where an opening leaf would get in the way, for example of a cupboard or the front door.
Pivot doors – the leaf turns on a pivot and opens both ways. They look striking but need space on both sides of the doorway.
Side panels and fanlights – glazing for the whole opening
An internal porch rarely ends with the door alone. Fixed glass panels beside or above the door – side panels and fanlights – close the full width of the hallway with one structure. We make every structure to measure for the specific opening, including tall and irregular ones.
Which glass for an internal porch?
- Clear – the most light and a view into the house from the front door.
- Reeded (fluted) – lets the light through but blurs what is behind it. A good choice when the porch faces a hallway with cupboards or a pile of shoes.
- Frosted or satin – hides the most, while the light still comes through.
We always use safety glass – toughened or laminated, at least 5 mm thick.
Frame colour
Matt black is the classic Crittall look, but we powder-coat the steel in any RAL colour. A white frame disappears against light walls; a coloured one becomes a feature of the entrance.
Important: for inside a heated home only
Our doors and partitions are designed for interiors. They have no thermal insulation, so they cannot replace an external door and are not suitable for an unheated porch. An internal porch behind the front door, or in a flat by the communal staircase – yes.
How to order internal porch doors from the UK
- Measure the opening – width and height. A photo or a hand sketch is enough.
- Design the doors in our 3D configurator or send us the dimensions.
- You receive a quote and, once it is accepted, a technical drawing for approval.
- We make the structure in our own workshop in Poznań, Poland, and ship it to the UK. Lead time is usually 5–6 weeks from design approval. The glass and locks are fitted before dispatch; handles, screws and seals are packed with the structure, ready for installation by your contractor.
The whole structure comes with a 3-year warranty.
Questions and answers
How much do internal porch doors cost?
There is no “from” price list – the price depends on the dimensions, the type of structure, the divisions, the glass and the fittings. You receive a specific figure in the quote for your project.
What size can an internal porch be?
There are no size limits. We make every structure for your opening; very large ones are split into sections that are joined on site.
Can the doors be used outside or in an unheated porch?
No. They have no thermal insulation and are designed for heated interiors only.
Internal porch projects
Design your internal porch doors
3D configurator: size, divisions, glass and colour – a quote with a technical drawing.