What to Know Before Replacing Your Entry Door

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1 What to Know Before Replacing Your Entry Door A free report provided by Improve your home. Improve your life.

2 What to Know Before Replacing Your Entry Door 1 Your Front Door Your front door makes a strong statement about your home. Since it s one of the first things a visitor sees, it goes a long way to making a first impression. If your home was a gift, the front door would be the bow. A beautiful, top-quality door improves your home s appearance, makes visitors feel welcome and boosts your home s curb appeal. Besides making a good first impression, your entry door must also work hard and be functional. It must be durable enough to function smoothly year after year, tough enough to withstand the elements and strong enough to keep your home safe and secure. When you buy an entry door, think about the purpose your door will serve. Do you want to add a new decorative element or architectural interest to your home s exterior? Do you want to save energy? Do you want to bring in natural light? Or do you need additional security for your home? Styles and Materials Exterior doors add curb appeal, create a distinct impression and add value to your property and neighborhood. When selecting an exterior door look for one that will complement your home s architectural style (whether Ranch, Colonial, Victorian, Split Level, Tudor or Cottage & Craftsman) paying attention to siding and windows. Wood Generally heavier and more traditional in style, wood doors add an inviting presence to your home. The substantial weight of a wooden door adds a sense of security and sturdiness. However, they do require the most maintenance often warping, bowing, cracking and peeling from exposure to the elements. Good news is that now there are fiberglass and steel doors featuring a wood grain so you can achieve the wood-look without the maintenance worries. Wood doors are most at home with traditional American styles, including Colonial, Cottage & Craftsman, Ranch, Split Level and Victorian.

3 What to Know Before Replacing Your Entry Door 2 Wood Features: Naturally warm and elegant Classic choice for historic or traditional homes Must be finished or painted on all six sides Fiberglass Fiberglass doors share many of the benefits that wood and steel doors offer with a special sense of durability. Energy efficient and practical for high-traffic entrances, fiberglass doors have wood grain texture molded into the door so that they give the appearance of a real wood door when painted or stained. Fiberglass undergoes little change because of weather. Available in many styles and sizes, fiberglass doors are perfect for homeowners concerned with longevity, practicality and home security. Fiberglass Features: Durable and easy to maintain - resists dents, cracks, rot, rust and warping Energy efficient - fiberglass doors come with foam insulation and weather-stripping to help block heat and cold Available in a variety of finishes, including faux wood Steel More popular than wood doors, steel doors feature energy-efficient foam core insulation. These doors are fully weather-stripped, reducing chances of shrinking, swelling and warping. Because of their tough construction, steel doors will withstand years of extreme weather conditions with minimal maintenance. Steel doors offer an extremely durable and affordable solution. Available in many styles and sizes, steel doors are a perfect complement for most of today s home styles, including Split Level and Urban Contemporary. Steel Features: Outstanding strength and weather resistance Most cost effective materials for doors Energy efficient - steel doors come with foam insulation and weather-stripping to help block heat and cold and stand up to harsh weather

4 What to Know Before Replacing Your Entry Door 3 Stronger than wood and fiberglass doors An excellent choice when security is a concern Resists fire, warping and cracking Can be finished with a high-quality exterior paint Available with coatings that mimic the look of real wood Other Considerations Insulation & Energy Efficiency Exterior doors must not only look good but also withstand all types of weather. They must also insulate your home from heat, cold and noise, and boost energy efficiency. Fiberglass and steel doors generally insulate better than wood. Some doors have foam insulation within the door itself, which is particularly important for keeping the heat in your home in the winter and keeping out cold drafts. In addition to the door itself, weather-stripping around a door also helps prevent drafts. Security Exterior doors are heavier than interior doors and they have three hinges for additional strength, compared to two hinges for interior doors. Steel entry doors typically offer the greatest security against forced entry. Regardless of the type of door, you should always use a deadbolt lock on entry doors and to maximize security add door chains. Durability You want your new door to be durable and last a long time without requiring a lot of your time to maintain it s beauty. Fiberglass doors are virtually maintenance-free; they ll never rust and offer the longest life. Tough steel doors resist warping, rotting and cracking for years of life with little maintenance. Wood doors are the least durable warping, cracking and bowing from year after year of exposure to rain and sunlight. Sunlight breaks down the wood s natural lignin and the moisture from rain and snow repeatedly shrinks and swells wood fibers.

5 What to Know Before Replacing Your Entry Door 4 Natural Light Decorative glass panels placed within a door enhance its beauty, let in natural light and allow for a view. Attractive sidelights or transoms (windows set over the door itself) also allow in light and help to create a custom look. Some models include low-emissivity (low-e) coatings to help filter harmful UV rays that can fade your upholstery or flooring. Options & Accessories Create a front entrance that s uniquely yours with a variety of options and accessories. The choices are endless. You can find the right accessories to create just about any look and to complement any style. Glass Panels, Sidelights & Transoms Simple glass panels or decorative glass insets within a door add elegant style to your front entrance. If you have old sidelights and transoms (windows set above the door), replace them with sparkling new ones. Transoms come in different shapes, such as arches or boxes. Choose from a variety of glass shapes, designs, colors, textures and bevels. Glass comes in individual panes and in decorative insets made from divided glass sections connected with metal strips. If you choose this segmented glass, the joining strips (called caming ) come in various finishes, including brass, zinc or antique black. Remember, installing a transom or sidelights may require considerable modifications to your door frame. Make sure you consult a professional about your options. Hardware Doorknobs and handlesets come in a wide variety of styles - from simple to luxurious - to suit any architectural style and décor. You also have a choice of finishes, including brass, bronze and nickel. For a coordinated look, choose the same finish for your doorknob, hinges, threshold, handleset, mailbox and house numbers.

6 What to Know Before Replacing Your Entry Door 5 Accessories Dress up your home s entryway with doorknockers, doorbells and house numbers. For a stylish, unified look, match the finish on these accessories to the one on your doorknob. Available finishes typically include brass, bronze and nickel. Color How do you choose the color for your new door? Here are some general guidelines: Choose a pigment that doesn t clash with materials and colors found nearby. Get ideas for your front door color by taking note of the natural hues of the surrounding buildings and landscape. Also consider the colors of the brick, stone or other natural materials that may enhance the facade of the home. Even the pigment of the soil can provide intriguing color options. Note that a front door color doesn t have to be subdued. A bright color can be a perfect choice if your home is surrounded by an explosion of brilliant color from flowers and trees, contemporary architecture or modern art. Don t be afraid to paint a front door a bright orange, green or blue if it fits your taste, surroundings and style of your home. Keep away from brilliant white because it is rarely found in nature and often appears stark. Whites with hints of other hues such as pink or yellow are a better choice. Consider the message a color can convey by noting your impression of it. Colors can send a warm, welcoming message or a cold, disturbing one. Front doors offer an opportunity for personal expression. Choose a color that best expresses your individuality or the feel of the household. In Conclusion Regardless of the material, color and accessories you choose, home improvement experts agree first and foremost choose quality. Even if it costs you a little more, a high-quality door is sure to pay you back with smooth operation, energy-efficiency, low maintenance requirements, and a great look for years to come.

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