Getting the right entry doors for your home has a bigger impact on just the aesthetic appeal and resale value of your home. The right entry door is the first thing that people see upon walking up to your home. An entry door will keep your home protected and secure from not only the elements of nature but also against thieves and intruders. A properly installed entry door should give you many years of trouble-free use.
When you’re looking for an entry door, there are a number of things to keep in mind. Some questions you’ll want to ask are:
- What location of my home should I get the entry door installed?
- What entry door will work with my style of house?
- What kind of security features should I get with my entry door?
- How much should I spend on it?
A lot of people don’t think about the climate when they are in the market for a new entry door, and this overlooked factor can cause a lot of issues. If you don’t consider the climate, a simple gust of wind can negatively affect your situation. You’ll want an entry door that will keep you protected from:
- Rain
- Hail
- Snow
- Sleet
- UV rays from the sun
What Type Of Entry Door Materials Are There And What Should I Get?
Entry doors are manufactured from a variety of different materials, and each one has its own unique set of characteristics.
Wood Entry Doors
Wood entry doors are perfect in many different climates. They are aesthetically pleasing and have been used for many years. You also won’t be having to shell out a ton of money for maintenance from year to year. If you live in a hot climate, you don’t have to worry much about your wood entry doors.
If you’re in a climate that is extremely humid, then you might want to keep away from wood entry doors because of their susceptibility to shrinking, warping, and swelling. Wood entry doors are manufactured with a frame and panel construction method that is used to minimize the damage that seasonal fluctuations can cause to them.
Another thing to keep in mind is that wood entry doors aren’t as secure as some of the other options out there, so you’ll want to get a formidable lock installed. Wood isn’t a material that will last forever. You’ll have to keep it maintained through staining and refinishing every now and then in order to keep its appearance looking great.
Steel Entry Doors
A steel door is can keep you adequately protected from:
- Thunderstorms
- Heavy winds
- Hurricanes
- Blizzards
- Tornadoes
When you live in a climate that experiences severe temperature fluctuations, a steel door is an ideal choice to go with. If you’re also concerned about security, steel doors are very durable and thieves won’t be able to kick them down easily.
Steel entry doors are budget-friendly in comparison to wood or fiberglass entry doors. These doors are weather-stripped and won’t shrink, warp, or swell in the same way that wood entry doors will. The doors are also equipped with foam insulation and a vinyl coating that will keep them protected from the elements of nature.
One thing to keep in mind with steel doors is that they heat up quite a bit if the sunlight is beating down on them. If you live in an extremely hot climate, then you might want to consider a different option.
Aluminum Entry Doors
An aluminum door is quite similar to a steel door in terms of the insulating qualities, the little maintenance that they require, and their resistance to the elements outdoors. Aluminum doors are a common option for homeowners that want a customized door to fit in their home.
Not every aluminum door looks the same, and each and every door can come with its own stylish design and finish. Aluminum entry doors don’t need to be stained or painted and are resistant to rust.
While aluminum doors might not be as strong as steel, they are very durable against the weather. If you’re looking for a durable and sturdy door, you can’t go wrong with an aluminum one.
Fiberglass/Composite Doors
Front entry doors are only as good as the material they are manufactured with, and fiberglass doors are extremely resistant to:
- Heat
- Rain
- Humidity
- Snow
You won’t see fiberglass doors rusting out on you anytime soon. You also won’t see them being affected by warping and cracking. The nice thing about fiberglass entry doors is that you can stain them in a way that will have them appearing similar to how natural wood will look. Even if you live in a very humid area, fiberglass doors will work perfectly.
Another thing to note about fiberglass doors is that they are very secure. You don’t have to worry about ongoing maintenance, and they are highly customizable in that you can stain them in a way that will reflect your personal design tastes.
Fiberglass doors can be insulated with foam so that your energy efficiency levels will be better from month to month, resulting in lower energy bills. These durable doors are secure and resistant to the weather, making them perfect to install in areas of the home that are prone to a lot of foot traffic in and out of the house.
While fiberglass doors are a little more expensive in comparison to the other doors out there, they are crafted with high durability that will have them outlasting many of the other doors on the market.
Final Thoughts
You’ll want to carefully consider all of the materials used for each door you’re thinking of getting installed. If you’re not wanting to do continuous maintenance on your doors and don’t have any limit on budget, then you’ll do fine with fiberglass doors.
If you love the warm look of a natural wood door and don’t mind the upkeep involved with it, then a wood door is what you should get. You’ll want to consider what area of the home you’re wanting to get the door placed in. Fiberglass doors are perfect for areas of the home that are facing south, and wood doors are ideal for areas of the home that are facing north.
If you’re thinking of a wood entry door in a southern part of your home that has an overhang, then you’ll do fine because the overhang will keep it protected against the weather. That means you won’t have to worry about maintenance as much.
