New Front Door Buyer’s Guide

If you are looking to enhance the curb appeal of your home while also increasing your energy efficiency, you can’t go wrong with a new front door installation. The front door is the first impression most people will have of your home, and a new front door installation will help that impression be a good one. Better yet, you can make a big impact on the look of your home without a big financial investment.

Understanding Front Door Basics

When you first begin researching front doors, you’ll want to know a few basics.

An exterior door can open inward or outward, and these are called in-swing and out-swing. In-swing doors are the default choice, but if you live in an area prone to storms with high winds, an out-swing door can be a smart choice.

• A door can be right handed or left handed. This refers to where the hinges are on the door.
• The door you purchase can be a pre-hung or a slab door. A pre-hung door will include the door slab, hinges, and outer frame. A slab door is just the door, without hinges, frame, or hardware.
• Lites, divided lites, and grilles refer to the glass panes and the strips and details that join them in the door.
• Front door accents can include locks, such as deadbolts and chains, door knockers and viewers, a kick-plate, and a transom. A transom is an accent piece above the door that can be shaped as a box, ellipse, or arch.

Options for Front Door Materials

Fiberglass, wood, and steel are the three most popular options for front door materials. When you choose a material, the factors that you’ll take into account are your budget, the style you prefer, and practical factors, such as whether or not your door is covered by a front porch.

• Fiberglass doors are energy efficient and low maintenance. They can be manufactured in nearly every color and texture, so they fit nearly every style. And if your preferences change, they can be painted.
• Wood doors are naturally beautiful and can be customized, but they do require more maintenance. Wood can warp or deteriorate when exposed to the weather, so most wood doors should be protected by a front porch or a storm door.
• Steel doors are durable and budget friendly. They don’t have as many options as fiberglass, but they can be painted to suit your style. Steel doors don’t require as much maintenance as wood doors, but they will need more attention than fiberglass. Steel can rust, so any scratches or dents will need to be repainted.

What to Expect with a New Front Door Installation

A new front door installation completed by a professional will nearly always be completed in one day, so as far as exterior home improvement projects go, it is not very disruptive to your household. Before ordering the door, the company you hire will take extensive measurements to ensure that the new door will be a perfect fit. Incorrect measurements can quickly derail a new front door installation, so as tempting as it may be to feel that you can skip using a professional for this step, make sure that your contractor takes care of it. If you’ve purchased a pre-hung door, the entire door and frame unit will be placed in the opening from the existing door and secured with caulk, nails, and screws. The installers will use shims to make sure the door fits exactly and will make sure to cover any gaps with trim. Before the installers leave, they will make sure that your door is well sealed, locks securely, fits, and functions well.

A new front door installation makes a big difference in how your home will look and feel. You will get a big impact for a relatively low key installation project and investment, and it is well worth it. Speak with a professional about enhancing your home’s curb appeal with a new front door installation. Armorvue Home Exteriors is your local industry leader when it comes to new front door installations. We’d love to share more information about our quality products and services with you. Contact us today for a virtual appointment.