Choosing the Best Entry Door Material for Your Home

Your front door is not only your home’s entry point but also offers the much-needed security from burglaries and invasions. A well-constructed entry door also boosts your home’s energy efficiency by retaining cooled or heated air inside and protecting against the elements. This is especially true if you choose an energy star-rated front door that has undergone rigorous testing and has been approved for its energy efficiency.

On top of offering security and improving energy efficiency, your front door plays a huge part in the overall aesthetic appeal of your home’s exterior. That’s mainly because it’s often the first thing your guests and passersby notice when they visit or look at your home. Hence, your choice of color and style can influence your home’s appearance. 

Fortunately, you can find a wide selection of entry doors in different styles, materials, and colors to choose from. This allows you to choose a door material and style that will complement your home’s décor and best suit your unique taste and needs.

Besides that, you may also transform your boring interior spaces into a work of art by installing Wainscoting to add style and warmth to your walls. Request your customized wainscoting design from a reputable manufacturer like Doors Plus and have it installed by highly-qualified professionals. If you’re looking to replace your front door, here’s a guide to choosing the best door material:

Wood

Wood is one of the most common materials for front doors. That’s primarily because wood doors can easily be customized to fit your unique shape, style, and size. You can add accents like transoms and decorative glass to your wooden door for a more personalized appearance. Another great thing about wood doors is that they give a timeless, classic appeal that doesn’t go out of style. They also come in a range of hardwood options, like cherry, maple, oak, and walnut.

Despite their beauty and versatility, wood doors usually aren’t the most durable. This is especially because they are often susceptible to moisture damage and warping due to their porous nature. They may not be ideal if you live in an area with seasonal weather changes. However, installing it with a storm door can help limit its exposure to elements. With proper maintenance, like regular painting and staining, your wood front door can always look beautiful and serve you for many years.

Steel

Steel is another popular front door material that you may want to consider. If security is a huge concern for you, steel should be your top choice when choosing an entry door material for your house. Steel is often stronger than front door materials, providing adequate protection from forced entries. Unlike wood doors, steel doors are less likely to warp or crack. Most steel front doors have a foam insulation core sandwiched between two metal layers, improving your home’s energy efficiency.

When it comes to aesthetic appeal, steel doors come in a range of styles and can be designed to look like high-end wood doors but with little to no maintenance. However, you’ll need to regularly repaint your door to keep it looking attractive. One downside of steel doors is that they can get dents, which can be hard to repair.

Fiberglass

A fiberglass door may be an excellent choice if you want a front door that’s both aesthetically appealing and incredibly durable. Fiberglass doors can be designed with grain patterns that mimic the look of wood, and you can paint them a color of your choice. Fiberglass also makes a great front door material due to its efficiency. You can customize the insulation in your fiberglass door to your liking. This helps create a barrier to extreme temperatures, significantly reducing utility bills.

However, trimming fiberglass is usually difficult, making it challenging to fit non-standard doorway sizes. They are also more expensive than other front-door materials. Despite these downsides, fiberglass front doors are a worthy investment due to their long-term energy savings, aesthetic appeal, and durability.

Glass

You should consider getting a solid glass door if you reside in a warmer climate. The most notable benefit of choosing a glass entry door is that it allows natural light to get inside, naturally brightening your home’s interior. You also have a view from inside your house. However, glass doors offer minimal energy efficiency since they let cold air get inside during the winter. They also limit your privacy since passersby can see the inside of your home. They are also less durable than other material options.

Endnote

Now that you know the different types of materials available, go over the pros and cons of each option so you can make an informed decision when choosing the best entry door for your home. This will help you find a front door material that suits your unique style and meets your needs.