Choosing the Best Front Door for You – A Quick Guide

With so many different types of front doors to choose from, homeowners find it challenging to choose the right one. Your front door is the first thing people see, and a wrong choice can affect the curb appeal or lower your house’s selling price.

Whether you are looking for the best front door or windows replacement Edmonton, consulting professionals and thorough research is crucial. However, since we all have different preferences and choices, there are several factors you need to consider when choosing a front door. Some of the factors to keep in mind include:

1. Material

Typically, fibreglass, wood, and steel are the primary materials used to make front doors. However, a modern front door can combine two or more materials depending on your budget, style of your house, or location. The door’s outside is finished with custom materials, for example, porcelain, glass, wood, steel, concrete, or lacquer.

Wood is the classic choice for most homeowners. Besides being resistant to dents, scratches are easily repaired. Choosing the type of wood used to make a door is crucial because it determines the durability, cost, and aesthetic value. Common woods used to make front doors include maple, fir, pine, mahogany, cherry, walnut, and oak. To keep your door at its best, regular varnishing or painting is required.

Steel is considered the most cost-effective and versatile material because it’s resistant to weather elements and provides excellent security. Steel does not warp or crack because it’s stronger than fibreglass or wood. Remember, a steel front door can have a wide range of finishes, for example, laminated wood veneer or wood fibre coating.

Glass is not common because it can be broken easily. However, most glass doors incorporate all the safety measures to keep your family and valuables safe with modern technology.

Fibreglass is common in residential places because it’s highly resistant to wear and tear. Available in a wide range of textures, fibreglass can be stained or painted. When purchasing a fibreglass front door, avoid the inexpensive ones because they crack under impact. It is prudent to spend a considerable amount of money to buy a high-quality fibreglass door.

2. Security

When it comes to strength, the material used doesn’t matter. Ergo, whether you have a steel, wood, glass, or fibreglass front door, their strength is relatively equal. However, the locking mechanism determines the security of your door! For guaranteed safety, your front door should have a deadbolt (at least 1 inch long) with a reinforced metal strike plate. If your front door has a side window, the glass should be sledgehammer and bulletproof. A glazed glass increases resistance, thus keeping off burglars. Modern locking systems have a keypad entry, radio frequency identification (RFID) entry, or keyless entry.

3. Color

Although natural varnished wood is attractive, some people prefer bold colours like red, blue, orange, high gloss black, or green. When choosing your front door’s colour, consider your home’s design, local climate, and the style in your area or locality.

4. Hanging design

The three hinge system is the most popular hanging design. However, nowadays, front doors have hidden hinges/pivot which allow a wide opening range. Regardless of the hanging design you choose, the pivot can be located on either side. Remember, the material used to make the door can determine the hanging design.

5. Insulation & energy efficiency

For maximum insulation and safety, modern doors are made from several materials. Although heat is lost through the door, most of the heat is lost via air leaks around the door. Therefore, the quality of the materials and design can determine insulation and energy efficiency. Unlike wood, steel, and fibreglass, front doors provider better insulation. To achieve the highest energy efficiency, fibreglass and steel doors have a thermal break (a heat-resistant material sandwiched between the interior and exterior door skins).

6. Swing

Typically, exterior doors are designed to open in. However, you can have a front door designed to swing-out.

Take your time to research and consult with friends or experts to choose the best front door. Remember, choosing the best front door doesn’t mean spending a lot of money.