Front doors play an essential role in protecting and beautifying your home. Whether it’s a new door or a replacement for an old one, you want to choose the right style and color to match your home’s architecture.

A solid front door provides security and energy efficient doors. It is also an excellent choice for historic homes.

Curb Appeal

As the first thing a person sees of your home, picking an attractive front door is essential. The right color can make your house more welcoming to visitors and increase its value when it’s time to sell.

A bright hue, like orange or yellow, is a popular choice for a front door. You can also opt for a more neutral shade, such as burgundy or forest green, that matches your house’s exterior paint color.

If you need help deciding which color to choose, look at your neighbor’s doors and your neighborhood’s HOA rules to determine what you can and cannot do. If your area has no restrictions, you can experiment with various shades to find the best one for you and your home. Then, you can enjoy your beautiful new front door and boost your curb appeal!

Security

A front door’s primary function is to keep out intruders and protect your home, so it needs to be tough enough to withstand strong winds, scorching sun, freezing snow, and the elements. It also needs to make a great first impression on visitors and passersby.

Choose a steel or fiberglass door with an integrated deadbolt and reinforced strike plate for extra security. Likewise, a door fitted with a security alarm can also add an extra layer of protection from intruders. Finding a reputable security alarm service is as simple as a single click on the web.

Wood doors are the classic choice because of their satisfying heft and endless paint and stain options. In contrast, fiberglass and steel doors are more affordable than wood and offer energy efficiency by featuring a layer of insulation foam. Glass doors, like frosted or beveled glass, allow light into an entryway while shielding views from the outside.

Energy Efficiency

Choosing Energy Efficient Doors can help save you money on your heating and cooling bills. The right door can keep your home cool in summer and warm in winter and increase resale value simultaneously.

The first step in choosing an energy-efficient front door is to look for the Energy Star logo. These doors will provide insulation and a better seal to reduce drafts and air leaks that waste energy.

Other factors that impact the performance of your front door include the material, size, and style. For example, solid wood doors are not advised for areas with high humidity degrees because they can warp. Fiberglass doors are a great option because they are sturdy and made with insulating foam to prevent heat loss and cold air infiltration.

Consider adding a glazed panel to boost your energy efficiency even further for doors or windows with glass.

Maintenance

The front door is a big part of your home’s first impression. It must be beautiful and sturdy enough to keep out would-be intruders and glaring sun and rain.

A well-chosen exterior door will last for decades to a lifetime. It will also save you energy and money and provide security and privacy.

Traditionally, wood doors were the leading choice for homeowners, offering a classic appearance and satisfying heft. They are also highly customizable, allowing for limitless paint and stain options.

Most new exterior doors are not made of one material but a sandwich construction with several different materials designed for maximum insulation and safety. The highest quality steel and fiberglass doors are designed with a thermal break and a vinyl strip separating the inside and outside skins, preventing heat and cold from conducting between them and causing frost. Some doors also offer low-e glazing for increased energy efficiency.