How to Choose the Right Front Door for Your Home
So how do you choose the right front door that will go with your home? Not all doors are the same, below are some of the reasons why.
Here are a few tips in choosing your next front door:
1) Choose the correct architectural details: Match the architectural details of your home. If you have a home that is a Craftsman style choose the door that is made of the same architectural style. The same principle applies with a Victorian or contemporary home. Choosing the door with correct architectural details can make your house look more put together. A steel modern door would not look too well on a Victorian home. It would look so out of place, think curb appeal when choosing your next front door.
2) Choose the right finish: This depends on your preference. Would you prefer a painted door or a wood stained door? Painted doors would not show the wood grain as much as stained doors. If you like the timeless beauty of stained door, then by all means choose it. Just make sure to refinish it every few years to maintain its beautiful look.
3) Choose the right material: Some doors are made of solid wood, some are made of steel and come pre-painted, some are made of glass, and some are made of MDF (Medium Density Fiberboard). If you would like to choose strength, choose the one that is made of steel. Solid woods are also durable and timeless. Glass doors can be made with double layered glass to add strength, make sure to consider privacy when you are deciding on this type of door. MDFs are not as durable as solid wood and steel but they can be economical in price.
4) Choose custom made or pre-made: There are different types of doors. The pre-hung or pre-made are readily available in most home improvement stores as long as you have the standard size measurement. The custom made ones take longer to make, you would need to check out designs to choose from aside from specifying your measurements. One advantage of custom made, especially if you are ordering the solid wood doors, they can be built to the design that you specify so that it will be unique. Most wooden doors with carvings can take a while to finish, so consider this in making your decisions.
5) Choose single or double doors: Depending on the size of the entrance you can either choose a single or double door. Some people with single doors also opt to widen the entry by enlarging the frame, so that a double door would fit. This can be accomplished if you have the space to do so. Double doors can be very attractive, and they add more light and space especially when you are moving big things in and out.
6) Choose the right size: There are doors that are taller than the standard sized readily available. Standard doors are now rather uniform in their size for door panels. They begin at 18″ wide (or 1-foot, six in the lingo), the next size being a 2-foot (24″), the next sizes are increases in 2-inch measurements. In the trade they are sized by the number of feet followed by the number of inches that is, a 2-4 door is 28″ (2-foot plus four-inches). It is common for the door itself to be just a bit less than that dimension to accommodate a framed opening that is exactly that dimension (making room for the hinge plates, etc.) but not an inch short. Perhaps when you re-measure your door you will find that it is a 2-6 door (30″), or 2-8 door, (32″), or that you could plane down a 32″ door to fit your 31″ opening.
7) Check out and compare prices: Naturally, custom made are more expensive than the pre-made ones. Also prices vary by materials and finish chosen. Compare prices by visiting stores specializing in doors. There are also home improvement stores that carry beautiful pre-hung doors that are cheaper in prices than designer doors (check out the photos I took from Home Depot).
8) Ease of installation: When you choose your next front door you can choose also the ease of installation. Some doors come pre-hung and they are easier to install than those that are not. The ease of installation can dictate how long this project will take. Take that into consideration if time is of an essence.
Hopefully these tips will help you in choosing your next front door.
