By You cannot talk about the first-time impression for your home without talking about your entry doors. These doors form the focal point that determines how people will define your personality. If you already have an existing door that you are planning to replace, considering an energy-efficient one is a prudent idea.
While determining the right exterior doors for your home, you can never overlook the security they will provide. This quality is one of the vital roles entry doors play in a home. Other factors include functionality, privacy, affordability, durability, and more. According to Total Home Windows and Doors, the best way to a door hunt is to start with the materials available for making it. Some of the mostly used materials include:
1. Wood
It is a symbol of class, beauty and luxury. Wooden entry doors can be made from hard or softwood. Hardwood doors are expensive and resistant to attack by insects. These doors can have customized arts put on them for aesthetic purposes. Softwood, on the other hand, lacks this characteristic and has to be treated to prevent the attack.
Despite the superior qualities wooden exterior doors have, they are weakened by extreme temperatures. As a result, they rot when exposed to moisture, crack, fade, and warp when exposed to the sun.
To prolong its lifespan, it is advisable to have a regular check-up on your wooden door. This exercise is an expensive maintenance cost, which is challenging to put up with if you have a strict budget.
You should also use wood entry doors with the accessories they come with. It is a way of protecting them, but it is also a costly measure when one of the hardware gets damaged.
2. Composite Fiberglass
Although this material is not as popular as wood, it is preferable for its withstanding qualities. Doors made from this material are affordable, durable and have low maintenance. They also have unlimited warranties, which you can enjoy for a lifetime.
Fiberglass provides better insulation when compared to wood. It makes it a better option if you are considering an energy-efficient door. Since it withstands harsh weather conditions, fiberglass door does not fade. You, therefore, will not incur the painting or staining cost any time soon.
Because fiberglass does not rot, dent, rust, or warp, it is ideal for people living in areas with heavy traffic. The material can withstand associated emissions for long compared to other materials.
If you want to have the warm feeling created by wood, your fiberglass can be veneered, maintain its characteristics.
3. Steel
It is another popular material used in making entry doors. However, steels become dented when it receives a few hits. So, if you live in a neighborhood where children are playful, you may have to keep repairing dents. The upside is you can DIY using an auto-body repair kit.
Steel doors are the cheapest but have a short lifespan when compared to fiberglass and wood. It is susceptible to rust when exposed to extreme temperatures such as cold.
You can customize your steel door into your preferred design and shape. Homeowners who prefer this material over wood is because it does not warp or crack.
To overcome the challenge of rust, steel exterior doors are often given a special finishing. The finish can be made of vinyl, polyester, or laminated wood veneer. These finishes protect the door from weather extremes.
However, these finishes can be expensive to maintain. They require frequent painting. When scratches occur on these finishes, they also demand re-painting.
Color
It is the most exciting part of choosing an entry door. You can play with as many shades as you want until you accomplish a perfect blend. The trick here is to avoid overdoing it lest your entry ends up looking like stains from a color festival!
Consider your surroundings and the color used in making your entire house. Using these two dimensions, carefully select a color or colors that boost your home’s entry point. Once you are done, you will be ready to embark on your front door installation project.
