All About Doors: Materials, Styles, & More
Doors take on various roles from the home, ranging from security to style. Entry doors certainly aren’t a new concept, as the first door was represented in a drawing from ancient Egypt. The first doors were made of timber, along with olive wood, elm, cedar, oak, and cypress wood.
Doors have come a long way since ancient Egypt. Today, there are limitless styles, colors, and materials to mix and match. This exterior product provides peace of mind to homeowners while making an impression on curb appeal—and here’s what you need to know about entry doors for the home.
Popular Entry Door Materials
The material of the door is one of the first considerations a homeowner should make. Its material impacts performance as well as maintenance. Traditionally, entry doors were made from wood. However, today there are three main options for entry door materials:
- Fiberglass
- Steel
- Wood
These materials have their pros and cons.
Fiberglass is undoubtedly the best material in terms of maintenance and cost. While a high-quality fiberglass door can be a bit pricier, this is still a more affordable alternative to wood. Not to mention, it requires virtually no maintenance. Even though it’s designed to look like wood, its reinforced skin ensures that it will not warp, peel, chip, or rot. Wood doors are especially prone to rot if they are not properly maintained.
Steel doors provide a very high return on investment at 91.3%. This gives homeowners an impressive bang for their buck by choosing steel material. Steel doors are also aesthetically flexible and come in an array of colors and even wood stain options.
Entry Door Colors and Wood Stain Options
Here comes the fun part! The color of an entry door can make an incredible impact on your curb appeal. Not surprisingly, the earliest entry door colors were wood grain. Once homeowners began painting their doors, you’d find colors such as red, black, and white.
When choosing the color of your entry door, HGTV suggests that you consider your climate and location. For example, bright colors are prominent in the southwest, but cooler climates typically have darker-colored doors.
You can see that there is a world of entry door colors and wood stain options, and your imagination is truly the limit. Whether you prefer bright orange or a cool blue hue, you can get an entry door in any color that tickles your fancy. The most popular door colors include red, black, white, blue, and yellow.
Saving Energy with a New Entry Door
Replacement windows are widely known for their energy-saving abilities. However, homeowners are often unaware that a new door can save you energy as well.
The most energy efficient entry doors are engineered with a polyurethane foam core. A hollow door does not effectively block hot or cold air from making its way through the door. The core provides thermal efficiency to keep the home warmer in the winter and cooler in the summer.
While this core is an important component of energy savings, it’s only one piece of the puzzle. It’s important that an entry door contains durable and high-quality weatherstripping. This weatherstripping is responsible for blocking out drafts that cause your energy bills to skyrocket. Whether it’s the dog days of summer or the bone-chilling nights of winter, no homeowner wants outdoor air to make its way into the home.
Other options that create a waterproof barrier and an adjustable threshold. The threshold helps reinforce the seal at the bottom of the door.
The Importance of a Door Warranty
When you decide to install a new entry door, don’t forget the importance of a warranty. If you’re investing in a new fiberglass or steel door, you’ll want to make sure that the product is protected if it fails to perform.
For example, UWD’s True Lifetime warranty covers pieces, parts, craftsmanship, and installation. This offers peace of mind to homeowners who want a durable and reliable entry door that lasts for years to come.
If you’re ready to upgrade your home with a quality door, explore our doors page for more information or contact us for a quote.