There are many components of a house that have curb appeal. You may have an exquisite garden, a stable garage door or beautiful landscaping work done. But those pale in comparison to having a beautiful front entry door. Not only is a front entry door designed for security, but it serves as the last statement of how you care for your house before you actually enter.
Which door is the best for your front entry? There are a couple of considerations when selecting a front door, such as quality, longevity, style and ease of maintenance. With these in mind and a company like Miller Custom Exteriors, which specializes in custom-made exteriors, you can decide which door is best for your front entry.
Wooden Doors
It’s easy to figure out why wooden doors are still the traditional choice for an entry door. Manufacturers make wooden doors of natural wood which makes them the highest quality door on the market. Robust in nature, well-made wooden doors can withstand the test of time and maintain their quality for years to come.
Occasional maintenance is needed, but if you put in the time, you will reap the benefits of a timeless door and the added resale value. Wood doors are also highly customizable and can be as fancy or plain as you desire. You will need to re-paint occasionally, which can be helpful if you want to experiment with other colors and finishes over time. In terms of thermal insulation and security, wooden doors are perfect for home security, so there is no need to worry about that.
The price range of wooden doors ensures that you can find something that meets your budget. There’s a wooden door for everyone from a few hundred up to a couple thousand.
Steel Doors
Steel doors are not entirely made up of steel – that would be far too heavy. Instead, a 16 or 24-gauge steel exterior encases a poly core to make steel doors. Metals are good conductors of heat, which is not the best quality for a door to have. So the polyurethane or polystyrene core functions as a thermal barrier to prevent the door from rising to insane temperatures.
It’s rare for you to see a steel door in many residential homes. Industrial institutions like hospitals and schools often use them. While steel doors are secure and relatively durable, they don’t give off a very cozy or inviting feeling for a front entry.
You can paint this type of door, but the paint can chip and make it look run down after a few years. A couple of benefits of being heavy, secure and relatively durable don’t outweigh some negatives, like damage being harder to buff out and not being malleable to fit pre-existing door frames.
Composite Doors
Composite doors, like fiberglass, are made of various synthetic materials molded together. They may be made of particle board or glass fiber and are often foam-filled. Covered with a veneer of glass-informed polymer that can look like wood grain or a glossy finish is desirable for many people. Customized looks due tend to raise the price, however. Being relatively inexpensive also adds to the popularity.
One of the hazards of composite doors is that they can easily crack when hit by a sharp object. Despite making the door out of robust materials, the veneer, unfortunately, does not resist impact. A composite door lasts about 10-20 years and does so while looking good and maintaining its quality. But beware that you are more likely to replace a composite door than a wood door.
At Miller Custom Exterior, our carpenters with over 25 years of construction experience can install Provia and Polaris entryway and patio doors. Between these two door manufacturers, you can access hundreds of handle, glass, insulation and door-style options. Call us today at (800) 589-4905, and let us handle your door installation.
