The front door of any home plays a significant role in creating first impressions and keeping you and your property safe and secure. Choosing the perfect front door with various styles, materials, hardware and security options can enhance your home’s style and kerb appeal.
This article will guide you through choosing a new front door, considering the material, style, colour, glass, insulation, hardware, and security factors.
Door Material
One of the first decisions you’ll need to make when choosing a new front is the material. External doors come in various materials and choosing can be difficult. Therefore, it’s essential to consider their benefits and your budget when choosing.
Wood
Wooden doors are a classic and timeless option. In addition, they can be customised to complement a range of architectural properties, bringing personality to your home.
Though they are high maintenance due to their ability to swell and rot, they naturally insulate, making them energy efficient.
Fibreglass
Though fibreglass has the characteristics of a wooden door, they are low-maintenance.
Not only are fibreglass doors durable, but they are energy-efficient due to being bad conductors of heat, helping you to reduce energy bills.
Steel
A steel door is a great option if you prioritise safety over aesthetics. Even though this type of door is prone to dents and scratches, it’s relatively low-maintenance and highly durable, keeping your home and yourself safe and secure.
Solid Core Composite
Solid core composite doors offer durability, security and insulation.
They require minimal maintenance and are incredibly resistant to warping and fading. As they are versatile, they come in various styles, colours and finishes, allowing you to choose a front door that easily complements your home exterior.
Door Design
Choosing a new front door can be overwhelming, but try to consider factors like budget, home style and personal taste to enhance kerb appeal.
Consider your home’s exterior architecture; some styles, like craftsman doors, work well for traditional and modern homes.
Door Frame
Front door frames are crucial for enhancing the look of your entrance and ensuring your door is energy efficient and secure. Therefore, material choice is essential.
Wooden frames feel natural but need maintenance, whereas uPVC is low-maintenance in comparison. Steel provides thermal insulation and weather resistance. Similarly, composite is highly insulated, durable, and aesthetically pleasing, while aluminium is strong, light, and corrosion-resistant.
Door Colour
Choosing the right colour for your front door can significantly impact your home’s overall aesthetic appeal.
Choosing a colour that complements your home’s exterior can enhance its kerb appeal, adding value to your property. In addition, a front door colour is a great way to express your personality, creating a memorable first impression and setting the tone for your home’s overall style.
Side Panels and Light
When purchasing a new front door, adding side panels and lights is a significant investment that can add value and functionality to your property.
Side panels look sophisticated and elegant, improving your kerb appeal and enhancing security by providing visibility of your surrounding areas.
Glass Design
A range of decorative glass options, such as stained or frosted glass, allows you to add your unique and stylish touch.
Adding glass to your front door is a great investment. It can save you money on your energy bill long-term as it increases the amount of natural light that enters your hallway, reducing the need for artificial lighting while making your home feel brighter and more welcoming.
Insulation
It’s important to be eco-conscious and consider energy efficiency. You can do this by checking the U-value of the door – a low value indicates good insulation.
Solid core composite doors, thanks to their construction which consists of many layers of wood, provide extra insulation to reduce heat loss, lower energy bills, and provide more comfort.
Hardware
Choosing hardware is an important part of purchasing a new front door. It needs to be functional and aesthetically pleasing, complementing the door’s overall design and colour.
Hinges, strike plates, deadbolts and handles are the most common hardware components for a front door, and they come in various finishes such as brass, chrome or stainless steel. In addition, you can also consider decorative elements like knockers, letter boxes, and spy holes that add a touch of personality to your door.
Security & Key Locks
Security should be a top priority when browsing for a new front door. As well as a robust and durable door such as solid core composite doors, key locks are vital when ensuring the safety of your home.
To prevent forced break-ins, consider purchasing double-cylinder locks that can be unlocked from the interior and exterior. For an additional layer of security, invest in a deadbolt lock which extends deep into the door frame.
