There are many things to take into consideration when choosing a new door for your home or business. Curb appeal, size, security, longevity and materials are just a few of the things you should think about.
Curb appeal.
A beautiful front door is welcoming and can really show off the architectural style of your home. Maybe your home is a mid-century colonial and you’d like a stunning solid wood door or a fiberglass door which has a wood grain finish. Or perhaps it’s art deco and you’d like the smooth, modern lines of a steel door. You may consider not having your door blend in at all, but on the contrary, make a bold statement and be a real stand out in your neighborhood.
As with your home, your front door should really say something about your business. After all, it is the first thing that business associates and potential customers see when they enter your establishment. Are you a tech company? Perhaps something sleek and simple. A financial institution? Maybe something formidable. There are many beautiful choices to represent your company.
Security.
The entrance into your home or business needs to be secure. Fiberglass and aluminum are good choices for a protected entrance, but the most secure doors are made from steel.
Durability.
Homeowners, especially those with children or pets, should consider fiberglass doors for their durability. Unlike wood and aluminum doors, they resist dents and scratches, don’t warp, crack or split, and are easily cleaned with soap and water. Fiberglass is also a good choice for businesses, but steel doors are another option for durability. Though not as resistant to scratches or dents than fiberglass, they may be easily be repaired with a dent kit and primed and painted.
Energy efficiency.
If you don’t have the right front door, you could be throwing away hundreds of dollars in heating and cooling costs every year. Fiberglass doors can be extremely energy efficient, even EnergyStar certified, and some steel doors are rated as well and are more energy efficient than wood. Although glass in your door generally cuts down the efficiency, if your front door gets a lot of sun, you may consider harnessing some of that solar heat with a front door with windows.
Location.
If your home or business is in an area where extreme weather is common, you may want to think about a fiberglass door as they are the most durable in these conditions and do not expand or contract during extreme weather changes.
Cost.
Solid wood doors are the most expensive entry doors and need to be maintained yearly to prevent cracking. Depending on the style of door, steel doors are generally less expensive than wood. Fiberglass doors can be as expensive as wood doors, but they last much longer with little maintenance and because of this usually have longer warrantees so they could be much less expensive in the long run.
With so many styles and materials to choose from, it is a good idea to create a wish list of what is important for you to have in an entry door and have a budget in mind before you shop for a door. In that budget, remember to take into consideration the amount of money you would save on heating and cooling costs, warrantees, and maintenance. Maybe you’d be willing to spend a bit more for a beautiful solid wood door for your home. Or double steel doors for your business. Perhaps security is the most important feature. Or durability.
Make that wish list and bring it to us at Arch City Window. We’d love to help you find the perfect door for your home or business.