Entry Doors

Entry Doors

Selecting an exterior door for your home is a complex decision with many factors to consider. If you wish to choose the best exterior door for your home but don't quite know where to begin, here are a few factors and options to consider when making your selection for custom entry doors.

There are several differentiating factors that come into play when choosing the best exterior door for your circumstances. First, as the door separates your home from the outside world, it must be selected with security in mind, with a material and design to discourage unwanted entry.

Exterior doors are also exposed to the elements. While rich, wooden doors may look great inside your home, constant exposure to sun and rain may quickly deteriorate those same designs if left outside. Any materials you select must be able to stand up to weathering and exposure.

Wood, fiberglass and steel are common materials for exterior doors. Many modern door designs also incorporate both an exterior and interior material such that their cores may be steel for greater security, while their surfaces are paneled in wood for a richer appearance. While material choice has the greatest impact on a door's aesthetics, which you ultimately choose should also be based upon climate and security concerns. Home insulation is another major consideration, as a poorly-insulated door will vent large amounts of desired heat or cold even if closed.

Broadly speaking, door designs are categorized as either flushed or paneled. Flush designs are flat and smooth on both sides, usually less expensive and are generally easier to mesh with existing home motifs.

Paneled doors offer greater variety and decorative potential, featuring rectangular, recessed panels on each side. Each panel can be independently detailed to suit or enhance any existing motif.

Panels aren't simply decorative, however, serving a variety of functions. In moist climates, panels can allow for expansion such that doors fit more reliably in their frames, not failing to close during times of high humidity. Some paneled doors incorporate indirect outdoor lighting. Still others feature hinges such that individual panels can be opened, providing home ventilation during times of pleasant weather. Some panels also slide, providing doors that both hold out weather while admitting lots of light.

Doors are also classified based on to which side their knobs are attached as they open toward you. Left-hand doors feature knobs on the left while, as expected, right-hand doors include them on the right.

One popular exterior door design, the French door, features independently hinged glass doors. Not only are these designs quite decorative, but they also admit lots of light while also offering the option of installing exterior screen doors for use in pleasant weather.

There are many additional considerations that come into play when selecting the perfect exterior door for any given situation. As such, it is often more desirable to purchase an entire entry door system. Such a system not only includes the door, but also features the necessary hinges, locks and weather stripping to ensure not only that the door fits well, but also that it maintains energy efficiency and home security.

Selecting the right exterior door is a complex process requiring both aesthetic and practical considerations. Hopefully the previous discussion has served to demystify the process, helping you to make the best decision for your circumstances.