Front doors should provide more than what the eyes can see. Although the aesthetic value it adds to your home is essential, it should not be your only motivation for choosing exterior doors. Your house doors, especially front doors, should also provide security, protection, safety, functionality, and energy efficiency. If your exterior doors do not give you all these benefits, they are not fulfilling their full functions.
Considerations in Choosing Exterior Doors
Below are some of the most critical factors you must consider when choosing a front door for your home.
1. Security
The security of your family and property depends a lot on reliable house doors. These structures should, therefore, be strong and robustly constructed and installed to prevent easy access of intruders such as thieves and other criminals who mean to cause you harm or serious trouble.
2. Protection
External doors must protect you not just from human-initiated harmful acts but also from natural causes. They should shield you against extreme weather conditions like snow and winter cold, summer heat, high winds, and intense rains.
3. Safety
Safe design and installation will not cause any unwanted accidents from using your house doors. If your door is made of glass, it should be shatterproof. The door should not experience excessive expansion that will cause it to get stuck, hindering egress during emergencies. Because safety always comes first
4. Functionality
Exterior doors are designed to withstand frequent opening and closing throughout their lifespan. They should last as long as possible, if not outlive, the life of your house.
5. Energy Efficiency
Check the energy performance ratings of exterior doors to the local climate and your home’s design. It’s proven that efficient door insulation lowers heating and cooling costs.
6. Aesthetic Value
Choose front doors that suit the architectural style of your place and add elegance and overall value to your lovely home.
Your Options for Front Doors
To a great extent, the overall benefits of front doors come from the material they’re made of. The comparison of the properties, performance, and the advantages and disadvantages of major options for front doors is summarized below:
Option #1: Wood Door
Wood may be the best material for a stunning entry door appeal, especially when handcrafted. It has natural beauty and is customizable for any size. The standard wood materials used as front doors include fir, mahogany, oak, and maple. They may be varnish-finished or painted with a color that matches the style of your house. They are best installed in covered areas to avoid sagging, warping, or peeling over time from constant exposure to the elements. Weatherstripping can help improve insulation and protection for wood doors. Regular maintenance that includes repainting and refinishing can enhance its life.
Option #2: Fiberglass Door
Fiberglass is made of composite materials and is more secure and energy-efficient than wood. It is also strong, durable, and requires little maintenance. When finished with fir, oak, or mahogany textures, fiberglass doors can mimic the elegance and sophistication of wood. Although they are susceptible to fading, they have few disadvantages. Because of its many benefits, fiberglass can be one of the most expensive options.
Option #3: Glass Door
A hinged glass door with a wood, fiberglass, vinyl, or aluminum frame has advantages. It is elegant and fashionable and can suit your modern home style. Thick, highly polished, precision-cut tempered safety glass is required for safety. Polyurethane spray foam insulation and foam-insulated frames may be applied to ensure your home meets or even exceeds the Energy Star ratings needed for hot summers and cold winters.
Option #4: Aluminum Door
Aluminum doors are similar to steel and fiberglass in strength, durability, and energy efficiency. They can have a smooth or wood-grain finish. They are very low maintenance and won’t chip or rust. Aluminum doors are commonly used for storm doors but are durable enough for regular exterior applications.
Option #5: Steel
Insulated steel doors are highly regarded for their security, durability, and energy efficiency. Steel doors have a higher insulating value than wood doors—up to five times greater. They are the most secure exterior doors for your home and require little maintenance. Typically less expensive than wood or fiberglass doors, steel doors can be painted in any color and have different styles.
Pre-hung or Slab Doors?
You must decide whether to buy slab or pre-hung doors for your new or replacement house doors. Slab doors are rectangular slabs of wood, fiberglass, or steel that are the door by itself without the installation accessories—frame, hinges, and hardware. Slab doors are cheaper than pre-hung doors because they lack the frame and hinges.
Pre-hung doors usually come with wood or steel frames and everything needed to install and set them up. Before installing a pre-hung door, you’ll need to remove the existing door frames from the rough opening. You also have to ensure that the door frame is as square as possible so that the door can seal tightly to the jamb and swing correctly.
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Overall, for front doors that can provide full benefits – protection, safety, energy efficiency, and a modern look that enhances your home’s value, Window Project Solutions is the professional door supply and installation service provider you can trust.
