Want to increase your home’s curb appeal? Exterior doors may not be the first thing to come to your mind. Instead, you may be thinking along the lines of remodeling your rooms or perhaps landscaping your yard. But, whether you’re renovating or building a new home, the type of exterior door you choose can make a huge difference when it comes to improving your property’s appeal.
The first step is finding reputable and reliable exterior door makers because you want a quality door that lasts. When comparing exterior door suppliers, it’s also important to consider the types of products they have. For instance, consider the type of materials they use for their hollow metal door frames. Your choice of the exterior door also depends on whether you’re looking for an exterior door with a large window or an exterior door no window plan. In any case, you’ll need some quick pointers about what to consider when choosing the best exterior door for your home. Therefore, the article below takes a look at what you need to know when checking out exterior door suppliers.
Every home construction requires doors. According to a recent Freedonia study, the demand for windows and doors in the United States is forecast to grow 4.8% annually to $34.3 billion in 2021. Most homes, especially the detached ones, have front doors. The front exterior door gives your home an attractive look. Therefore, it is essential to put much consideration into architectural designs. Understanding the different types of exterior doors will help you make an informed choice.
Types OF Exterior Doors
1. Solid Wood
A solid wood door provides a unique appeal to your home, especially when sculpted and given a polyurethane coating. These doors are relatively expensive and require optimum maintenance to prevent weather damage.
There are numerous options for wooden doors, including mahogany and oak. The wood material is also used to make custom cabinets. The good thing with wooden doors is that you can easily manipulate them to get desired design. One drawback of these doors is that they are susceptible to warps, bad weather, and other elements that damage the air sealing capability of the door.
2. Steel Doors
Steel doors are the most secure and durable. The doors are made from steel, wood material, and foam insulators. The doors can either take a simple strong polyester design or simulated wood pattern. While basic steel doors are the most economical, they have a shorter life expectancy than fiberglass or wood doors, especially in wet areas.
3. Aluminum Doors
Aluminum doors boast of low maintenance cost. You can give it a faux wood finish or paint using the color of your choice. Aluminum doors do not require any repainting. In addition, they can be customized to suit your specifications. However, custom doors are relatively expensive compared to engineered wood doors.
4. Engineered Wood
Wood veneers are a common choice for exterior doors. They are made using compressed wood and a wood veneer cover. They have a longer life span than solid wood.
5. Fiberglass Doors
Fiberglass doors are an ideal choice for tropics regions or areas with extreme weather. They are more costly than steel doors. You can paint your fiberglass door to look like wood. They are more long-lasting compared to steel or wood doors. What’s more is that these doors are are not prone to dents. Fiberglass doors come in different hues and colors.
Buying Tips
1. Installation
Most entry doors come in a frame and pre-drilled for bolt and knob. It is imperative to ensure your door has the same size as the door framing. Otherwise, you may have to redo the framing. Unless you have carpentry skills it is vital to hire a skilled carpenter. Most home centers offer installation services or referrals.
2. Energy efficiency
One of the things you should consider before buying a door is its energy efficiency. The insulating value of fiberglass or steel doors is much better than wood doors.
3. Hanging Design
Three hinge systems are perhaps the most common hanging designs. Modern front doors have vertical pivot or hidden hinges for broader opening and better brightness. Regardless of the hanging system, pivot or hinge can be located on either side of the door.
4. Security
Modern doors are relatively stronger regardless of the material. However, their locking mechanism is very different. The best door choice should have reinforced metal strike and long deadbolt. Glass doors should be glazed for added security. Modern front doors have cutting edge locking systems. This means you can access them via keyless entry, transponder, smartphone, RFID entry, or Keypad Entry.
5. Material
Most modern doors comes in a combination of materials including wood, steel, and fiberglass. Wood is the typical choice, especially a thick type with an intricate carving. On the other hand, Steel is the most versatile and cost-effective. It provides the best security and it’s weather resistance. Steel is stronger than fiberglass and wood and does not crack or warp. Fiberglass is a common choice due to its variety of textures, resistant to wear and tear, and allows staining.
6. Energy Efficiency and Insulation
When choosing a front door frame, quality is as important as door quality to prevent air leaks. Fiberglass and steel front doors are better for insulation compared to wood doors.
With these tips in mind, you won’t go wrong when purchasing exterior doors.