How do you feel about your home's front door? Does it have personality? Or is it just what came with the house when you bought it? Front doors are the key to making a first impression. A brand-new front door can dramatically change the look and feel of your home...while an older front door could make your home look dated.
Here's what you need to know about choosing a front door that expresses your personality, while also being durable and cost-effective.
Why Should You Change Your Front Door?
- If you want to personalize the look and feel of your home.
- If you want to upgrade the look of your home before you sell it.
- If you want to improve the insulation or security of your home.
Wood Front Doors
Classic and stately, wood front doors can be made from everything from plain pine wood to a number of exotic hardwoods. To save money, you can purchase wood front doors that have hardwood veneers and cheaper wood within. While solid wood doors are considered to be more structurally sound than insulated doors, insulated doors can provide energy-efficiency at a decreased price.
Some wood doors come pre-finished, with a stain, paint, or clear finish. Other wood doors come entirely unfinished. You can paint or stain it yourself, which can be an exciting way to customize your door to suit your home. Wood doors may have fairly intricate details carved into them and may be bolder and more modern.
Fiberglass Front Doors
Fiberglass front doors are among the most common, as they last a long time and are affordable. They are slightly more costly than steel doors, but they come with long warranties. They can be made to look like wood doors and can be stained or painted to match.
These are the doors that you should select if you're looking for something that's going to be durable and easy to maintain. They are less likely to need refinishing or other maintenance when compared to wooden doors, and they can put up with both temperature and environmental extremes.
Steel Front Doors
Steel doors are, by far, the most secure type of door. They're also affordable and durable. If you're looking for a door that is going to last a long time, a steel door is usually your best bet—and they still come in a number of styles. Some steel doors have an embossed wood grain, which makes it look as though they're wood-textured even though they're steel. Most steel doors are going to come pre-painted or glazed, which means you can choose from an assortment of brilliant colors.
Steel doors also have insulated core options, which can improve upon the energy-efficiency of a home. They are very competitive with fiberglass doors, but one thing you will need to consider is that they can be a little more involved to hang. While wood doors can frequently be hung in existing frames, steel doors need to be installed with custom frames.
Glass Accents and Hardware
Material isn't all that distinguishes a front door. Regardless of the material type, you'll also have two other features to decide upon: glass accents and hardware.
Many entryway doors feature glass accents in the form of windows, some of which are only at the top of the door, and others that encompass nearly the entire door itself. Glass makes it easier to see visitors through the door, but its transparency could pose a security problem.
Likewise, you will need to match hardware with your door: locks and knobs come in a number of styles, which can be chosen to suit your desired look. If updating locks and knobs, consider whether your door has warmer tones or cooler tones first. Warmer tones go with bronze and gold, while cooler tones go with chrome and steel.
How Can You Choose the Right Front Door?
If you're feeling a little overwhelmed by all the potential choices, you can start your journey by taking a few simple steps:
- Decide upon a budget for your new door purchase.
- Look through design magazines to identify doors you like.
- Go down to a show room and show them pictures of doors you prefer.
- Consider the style of your home, including trim and windows.
Eventually, the right door for your home will call for you. At that point, it's just about making sure your door is sized correctly and can be hung within your space. Once you've found the right door for your home, you may be surprised to discover how different it makes your home look and feel.
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