A front door is noticed first and last when guests leave your home, and you must spend more time thinking about the kind of front door you want to make an excellent first impression. A front door is also essential as it will keep your home cool or warm and safe. We offer a guide you can use when choosing a robust new front door for your home.
Looking for the entry door for your home can be pretty challenging as there are plenty of options to look out for. The latest doors available on the market include a range of styles, materials, and colours to choose from. Home entry doors are also considered security systems, as when you purchase a door, you buy the frame and locking mechanism.
Below are tips that you can follow to ensure you choose the best entry door for your home.
1. Materials
Three primary materials are used when making front or side entry doors: steel, wood and fibreglass. Wood is the classic choice for the front door as they offer a high-end look that customers appreciate, including excellent resistance to dents. The common woods used when making doors are mahogany, pine, walnut and oak. The more details they have, the solid wood doors, the better they are considered, such as thicker doors with intricate carvings and mouldings. The downside with wood doors is they require regular varnishing or painting to maintain their appearance. Whenever wood doors have scratches, you can repair them quickly. You should also inspect these doors yearly for any signs of extensive wear and tear or damage.
Steel doors are the most versatile and cost-effective option, also being weather-resistant and offering better security. Steel doors are more robust than wood or fibreglass as they will not warp or crack. Premium steel doors have built-in inner steel frames and high-density foam insulation. Steel doors also do not have to look like steel as you can customise them with laminated-wood veneers, stainable wood-fibre coating or other finishes.
Fibreglass is resistant to wear and tear, can be stained or painted, and is available in various textures while requiring little maintenance. However, the downside of fibreglass doors is that inexpensive doors tend to crack under impact, and high-quality fibreglass doors are expensive.
2. Handles and Hinges
Good door suppliers will offer you some fixtures and fitting choices as well as the option to either complement or make a contract. You can ask your installer for assistance finding the best options, as thousands of options are available. You might consider removing some of the usual fittings and fixtures from the actual door. You can also site a doorbell off the door frame to achieve a cleaner look. If you want a larger door handle on a plain door or individually select door details such as locks, door hinges, etc., you can do so. Nowadays, there is a broader range of door furniture, so you do not have to compromise on design.
3. Security
Regarding security, it does not matter what materials an entry door is made of, as all doors are relatively equal in strength. However, what compromises the security of a door is the locking mechanism. When looking for a door, look for one with a long deadbolt and a reinforced metal strike plate.
The top front door installers provide extra levels of security that will give you a door that is near to burglar-proof as possible. It is essential to note that the strength of a door also depends on the strength of the frame and installation quality.
You can also replace traditional peepholes with a front door security camera as they enable you to see who is knocking at the door anytime, even when you are not at home.
Modern locking systems include keyless entry through a smartphone or a transponder and keypad entry.
4. Cost
Good quality front doors are an investment, and you will always get what you pay for. Over the years of owning one, there will be a significant return on the initial door cost. Therefore, if you choose a front door that is initially cheap, they will need to make savings using lower quality materials, installation or materials, which will all affect the insulation, security, and structure. So, it is essential to take time to discuss your options and the design with an expert door installer that knows about all the available styles, materials, installation and security issues, as they will be able to provide feedback on the look for your property.
5. Has a Good Guarantee
When looking for a front door, go for a robust, ten-year guarantee. Check if the door guarantee is also transferable to anyone who might buy your house. It is also crucial for you to review the supplier and the installer and check that they have an excellent track record and a comprehensive customer service reputation. Checking all these things before buying ensures that you avoid problems before committing and you avoid unwanted surprise costs in the future.
Conclusion
Your entry door is what visitors will see first and remember, and you must make a great impression. Front doors are also the easiest way to introduce your personal to the front of the home while reducing the noise and improving the home’s security.
Additionally, see How to Choose the Best Door Locks for Your Home.
