Have you ever thought how much you depend on your front door? Whether you use it often or not, you expect it to function smoothly and flawlessly to let you in, to welcome your friends, to protect you from both the elements and potential intruders.
Shopping for a new front door is not as easy as you thought, now! Is it? So much to consider, so much to take into account, so many things to compare between doors! The secret to purchasing the right front door replacement without making (significant) compromises? Prioritize your needs and put your thoughts in order. Let me help with all that.
Narrow down your expectations from the new front door
One of the most important considerations when it comes to choosing a front door is the matter of security. The quality of the door plays as much role as the quality of the lock. And the fact that a high percentage of force entries is through front doors means that people pay small attention to the quality of the door – hence, security matters.
At the same time, you want a beautiful door. A door that will make an aesthetic difference, while it will provide the necessary energy efficiency, and will make ingress and egress easy. And so, you need both a good door with certain features and a good door installer. But let us focus here on the factors you should pay attention to.
Opening direction
Do you want the lockset and handle on the right- or left hand-side? The position of the lock will define the opening direction of the door. To enhance function, choose the side that it feels more comfortable for you but also consider external factors. For example, you need to be sure the door’s movement and your position at the threshold are in no way obstructed. And then, it’ll also depend on the home’s interior architecture. If the door opens to a space, where there’s wall on one side and an opening on the other side, prefer to let it open against the wall to enter into the open space.
Design
Although the design of the front door is often associated with the material, there is more than meets the eye. First of all, you may opt for a combination of materials. And then, it’s the color that may match or contrast the color of the home’s exterior that makes a difference. Last but not least, you need to consider the style of the house – Victorian, Colonial, Georgian, contemporary.
Security
While home security is related to the lock, the construction of the door will also make a tremendous difference. It’s important that you get a solid door. There are no words that can stress enough the importance of such a parameter.
Durability
The door’s construction will also define its durability – and by extension, the level of security. That’s why choosing the right material and finding a trusted front door replacement company are both important.
So, which materials are suitable for front doors?
• Wood doors are always a great choice. But then again, not all timber choices are alike. Softwood is easier to warp and requires more maintenance than hardwood. All the same, the results are great due to the warmth of wood but such a material takes good care to last long since it’s porous, reacts to the temps, is susceptible to moisture, and may rot. And so, wood front doors are gorgeous and versatile – if you consider the numerous designs and color schemes, and they are also very durable and natural insulators, but when they start wearing, they may not even close with ease.
• Steel doors are even stronger than wood and although lack the beauty of the natural material, there are products that excellently mimic wood. Steel doors don’t expand and contract like wood, they don’t rot or warp, and they look wonderful with the right color and design. But you need them insulated to avoid energy loss and to maintain them to avoid rust.
• Fiberglass doors are perhaps the best choice since they don’t have the disadvantages of wood (rot) and steel (rust) and have the advantage of good insulation, resistance, and strength.
Of course, you need to consider the cost, too. Naturally, the better the door, the higher the price. But this is something you need to seriously consider. Better get a front door that won’t stand out for its beauty but durability than the other way around – if you cannot afford both. And one last thing. Getting a good front door is essential but assigning the door installation to an expert tech is equally essential. What good is it to get an insulated, solid door if it’s not installed right?
