Making A First Impression - Your Door

Every home needs a door. A fine home needs a fine door. But entry doors must be tough enough to withstand wind, rain, scorching sun, and would-be intruders, yet handsome enough to make a good first impression. Meeting those needs is a tall order for many front doors. Most older ones are made of wood or wood veneer, both of which warp, crack, and delaminate after years of exposure to the elements. Metal doors don't last forever, either — the surface on some older steel doors can peel.

You Have Options

Whether that describes your front door or you just want to trade a solid door for one with glass panels that offer more light, you'll find plenty of options available. There are new wood doors that resist the elements better than earlier versions, as well as metal and fiberglass ones that look like wood but provide greater security and often cost less.

The front door is the gateway to a home. Style-wise, the front door should be an indication of what's to come on the inside. It should compliment the style of the home and give guests and visitors a sneak peek of what's to come. Essentially, it's the job of the front door to make a great first impression.

Custom Doors

You front door is a focal point of your home.

Most manufacturers offer dozens of door styles, and you'll find a broad selection at lumberyards, home centers, and door dealers. Or, design your own door. Some manufacturers let you specify the types of panels and glass options you want. But these doors have to be specially ordered and take two to eight weeks for delivery. A third option is to have a local woodworker or millwork shop build a wood door according to your specifications. Again, the drawbacks are time and money.

A Material Decision
Perhaps the most important decision is what your door is made of. Most combine several materials; for example, many fiberglass and steel doors have wood frames. But it's the surface material that most affects appearance, durability, security, and price.

Wood doors are the most common. Versatility and beauty are their strong suit. Natural-finish stock and custom wood doors come in oak, cherry, walnut, mahogany, maple, fir, and pine. You'll also find paint-grade doors in several softwood varieties, such as pine and western hemlock.

Most steel doors are coated with a baked-on polyester finish that requires periodic repainting. Premium versions get a vinyl coating similar to the one on vinyl-clad windows for greater weather resistance. Some even have a stainable wood-fiber coating or, on really high-end versions, a laminated-wood veneer.

Also, if you choose an embossed wood grain, make sure it runs horizontally on the rails and vertically on the stiles. Finally, check the warranty. Some manufacturers will void it if you install an aluminum storm door with the steel door. The reason: Heat buildup between the doors might cause the finish to peel.

Decide what you want, then discuss it with a professional remodeler or door manufacturer/installer. Your front door is your first impression to all who enter your home.



Southlake Restoration and Remodeling builds, renovates and remodels custom kitchens (and homes) for discriminating clients. Serving Southlake, Trophy Club, Keller, Forney, Frisco and Dallas/Fort Worth. www.southlakeRR.com