Why We Picked Solid Core Interior Doors By Masonite

ByJessica Bruno

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Today I am sharing the beauty of prehung solid core interior doors that we recently installed the split level home. I’m so impressed with the Craftsman 2 panel solid interior doors from Masonite that we chose for this renovation project! Let’s take a look at why investing in prehung solid core interior doors is a smart choice that surpasses the value offered by hollow core doors.

We partnered with Horner Millwork in Massachusetts for our interior doors and as always, Horner Millwork never disappoints! Everything from placing the order to constructing the doors to delivery is always exceptional. 

Prehung Solid Core Interior Door

Did you know that one of the most searched terms on google regarding doors is what is a solid core interior door? Until we installed solid core interior doors in our basement remodel a couple years ago, I had no idea the features and benefits of solid core interior doors. 

What is a Prehung Solid Core Interior Door?

Prehung solid core interior doors are complete door units that come with the door slab, frame, hinges, and often a door handle or knob, all pre-assembled.

These doors offer enhanced durability and noise insulation compared to hollow core doors, making them an excellent choice for interior spaces where privacy and aesthetics are important.

Below, you will see our closet under the stairs before we finished the basement with a hollow core door. The existing door was light weight and flimsy.

old split level basement with concrete floor

The image below shows the finished basement with a new solid core door on the closet.

Prehung interior doors are definitely the way to go and it doesn’t cost that much more money to get them “prehung.” 

split level basement with white 2 panel solid core interior door and wood flooring
The Black round door knobs are from Amazon and provide a fresh modern feel to the shaker style door. You can find them here. 

The modern prehung interior door above is in the basement where we created a closet under the stairs. If you missed the basement tour and flooring installation, check out the basement flooring post from 2 weeks ago. 

1970s split level basement unfinished

Solid Core Interior Doors

Are solid core interior doors worth it?

100% yes! Solid core interior doors are one of the best investments that you can make when remodeling a home. There is a huge difference between solid core and hollow core and trust me, you do not want hollow core if you can help it. Hollow core is very light weight and you can definitely feel the flimsyness when opening and closing he door.

The image below shows what the bedroom looked like before the renovation. It’s a doozy!

split level 1970's brown hollow interior doors

Jim ended up adding on a bump out addition (where the brown built in bookcase/shelving is below) providing a walk in closet for the new owners.

We picked the high quality Heritage Series 2 panel solid core doors by Masonite for all the bedroom doors, closet doors and bathroom doors.

The specific style is called the Craftsman Logan door. 

The closet doors below slide open to a large his and her closet providing a fresh modern look in this bedroom.

2 panel solid core white interior closet doors with light green wall paint and natural oak floors
love these solid core doors by Masonite

The bedroom looks pretty amazing compared to the previous space right!?

Solid interior doors are filled with wood or wood composite materials that feel durable, sturdy as well as sound reducing.

If you have ever opened a hollow core door (there is nothing in the middle of the door), they feel flimsy and light weight.

The old doors that we removed were actually hollow core and I think original from when the house was built in the 1960’s. I was very happy to see them tossed in the dumpster!  We opted for bypass sliding doors as there was not enough room a traditional door swing. 

Installing Prehung Interior Doors

Here is the other new bedroom door below featuring the new door. I love how the black hardware looks with these 2 panel  doors.

white solid core interior door 2 panel masonite bedroom door

black door knobs

To create an upgraded look in the bedrooms, we opted for solid core sliding closet doors vs. bifold doors.

Personally, I think the 2 panel solid core sliding doors are visually appealing and look better than bifolds. Solid core masonite interior doors come in a variety of styles but for this project, we picked the minimal modern style. 

Don’t get me wrong, bifolds provide a purpose when you are tight on space and need a larger opening in a closet area but for this project, the sliding door option was the best bet. 

If you are looking for more details on bifold doors, click through this post, how to install bifold doors at our lake house! We had limited space and the Masonite solid core bifold worked perfectly.

white solid core interior sliding closet doors with blue walls

Solid core interior doors that are prehung cost more than hollow core doors.

Honestly, there is no comparison and solid core is by far the best in my opinion.

There are basically 3 pricing tiers when it comes to an interior door. Pre hung doors are easy to install and worth the extra money.

Hollow is the cheapest (around starting around $60), Solid Core is middle to upper end (starting around $180 – $400) and solid wood is the most expensive.

Of course if you add the prehung option to any door, the cost of the door slab itself will be more money. 

Is it Worth Upgrading Interior Doors?

Yes! In my opinion,   it’s absolutely worth upgrading your doors. Upgrading your interior and exterior doors will not only provide a new modern feel but will also add value to your home depending on the scope of your project.

If you are wondering if solid core doors make a difference, the answer is yes. Solid core is thicker, provides better insulation and muffles sound better than hollow core.

I would encourage  you to research solid core doors before you invest a penny in updating your interior doors if you prefer to not take my word for it. Think of it as an investment in your home!

What is a Prehung Door?

We always order our interior and exterior doors prehung. It’s makes life much easier when installing the door and well worth the extra money. 

Interior prehung solid core doors include a door slab that is already hung in the frame and pre-cut for the doorknob and the strike plate.

Basically, the door is all ready to be placed in the door hole for installation providing a flush fit. 

As you can see the below, the hallway looks amazing with all new 2 panel solid core interior doors by Masonite. The craftsman flat style trim that Jim installed throughout the house also adds a gorgeous modern feel while keeping with the craftsman style.

Personally, I think these are the best solid core interior doors and at a great price point. We have several Masonite solid core interior doors and the fact that they provide a soundproofing element a room and durability are two of my favorite features. 

One thing to note, 1 panel solid core doors are many times less expensive than a 2 or 3 panel door so if you are working in a tight budget but really want good quality, research 1 panel solid core interior doors on google and pinterest for ideas. 

hallway with white oak flooring, blue walls and 2 white solid core bedroom doors

black round door knobs

Here is a picture of the hallway living room area before the renovation started. The previous owner left their furniture so I snapped these pictures literally the day after she moved out. 

1970's split level living room and hallway

Here is a picture of the laundry room door that we decided to hang with barn door hardware. We originally planned to install a hinged door but opted for the sliding track instead. 

white masonite 2 panel solid core interior door on barn sliding track

As you can see, the door is the same white solid core interior 2 panel door that we used in the remainder of the house.

Barn doors do not always need to look like “barn doors.” Hanging the same style door that you have in the rest of your house is very easy to do! Just buy a sliding barn door track and mount the door panel to the track. Easy peasy! 

Looking to see all of the home remodeling projects we did in this split level home? See them in order below.

Split Level Home Renovation Series

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Meet Jessica

What started as a hobby, Jessica’s blog now has millions of people visit yearly and while many of the projects and posts look and sound perfect, life hasn’t always been easy. Read Jessica’s story and how overcoming death, divorce and dementia was one of her biggest life lessons to date.

2 Comments

  1. Thank you for the thorough review! I am wondering after living with the doors for a few months, if you are happy with the quality of Masonite? We are buidling a home and have the option of JeldWen as well and just curious as to your thoughts. Thanks!

    Reply

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