Choosing the Right Exterior Doors for Your Home: A Simple Guide to Style and Security

When it is about home improvement, almost nothing can change the value and safety of your house as much as your exterior doors for your home. In case of a new house or just replacing the old doors, the choice of the right exterior door will be a decision that will involve style, function, and security at the same time.

We will cover the main points of discussion as to what factors should be taken into consideration when external doors are selected, in this easy-to-understand manual. Furthermore, once we have covered your selection, we shall briefly mention how it might affect other equally vital elements, for instance, the window sizes, thus keeping your residence' outer area harmonious and aesthetically pleasing.

Why Exterior Doors Matter

The front door of your house is the access to the place where you live, the first thing that visitors see and the last protection against intruders. This is the main reason why the external doors should be the ones that: offer the highest security and better the visual value of the property, at the same time.

Besides the front door, there are back doors, doors to the patio, and side doors. All these add to how your house looks and how safe it is.

Key Factors to Consider When Choosing Exterior Doors

1. Material Choices

Exterior doors are available in different materials, providing various advantages for each one of them:

• Wood: Gives a timeless and cozy look, ideal for homes with a traditional style. But, wooden doors need frequent care to keep the wood safe from the effects of the weather.
• Steel: Steel doors, which are highly secure and require low maintenance, offer great durability. Most of them are also insulated, therefore being energy efficient.
• Fiberglass: The main reasons for the popularity of fiberglass front doors are the flexibility of the design and the perfect weather resistance. They can look exactly like wood but without the maintenance.
• Glass: Although completely glass doors give a sophisticated and up-to-date style, safety should always come first with tempered or laminated glass. The majority of doors with glass panels aim at achieving a perfect balance with the other materials used for the frame.

2. Style and Design

Your front door should match the style of your house. So, a craftsman-style house probably looks best with paneled wood doors, but a modern home looks awesome with cool steel or glass styles.

3. Security Features

Security is super important when picking front doors. Keep an eye out for:

• Solid core construction: Solid core doors are tougher to break into compared to hollow ones because of their construction.
• High-quality locks and deadbolts: These are the most important instruments in making the door secure.
• Reinforced frames: A solid frame gives you extra security.
• Impact-resistant glass: In case the door is made of glass ensure the glass is impact-resistant or at least double-glazed.

How Window Sizes Influence Exterior Door Selection

While focusing solely on the outdoor wooden doors of your house, don't forget to take a look at the sizes of the windows of your house. Proportion and balance between doors and windows are the basic elements that put together a welcoming appearance.

• Larger windows paired with a smaller door might make the entrance feel understated.
• On the other hand, a front door with a large size next to narrow windows can be disorienting for the rest of the façade and thus making the home look domineering.

Making sure your window frames and doors match in color and style really pulls the whole outside look of your house together and makes it look nicer from the street.

Additional Tips for a Successful Exterior Door Upgrade

• Energy Efficiency: Choose doors that are well insulated to cool and heat the house in an energy-efficient manner.
• Professional Installation: A door, even if it is the best one, cannot function properly if a standard installation is not done. So, take the risk out of your hands and the work will be in safe hands when you go for the trusted professionals to do it for you.
• Regular Maintenance: To keep your doors in great shape, give them a cleaning and checkup regularly, especially wood doors.

Final Thoughts

Picking out doors for your place means thinking about what looks good, keeps you safe, and works well. Think about what they're made of, how they look, and how secure they are – and how they look next to your windows. That way, you’ll end up with something that boosts your home's style, safety, and how much it's worth.

When it comes to exterior doors, you have options. Wood is classic, steel is tough, and fiberglass and glass give a modern vibe. There's a door that fits your home's style.