When deciding to replace the entry door of your home, there are several options to consider. To help make your decision a little easier, we have narrowed down those options to three main factors which will greatly influence the door options available to you.
1. Match the Style of Your Home
The front entry door should complement your home’s architecture. The style of home you have will narrow down the style of your entry door.
Craftsman
Source: ProVia Craftsman Style Door
Craftsman-style homes consist of a covered porch with pillars in front, double-hung windows on either side of the entry door, and many times have vertical siding.
Opt for an entry door that emphasizes simplicity, clean lines, and natural materials.
Colonial
Source: ProVia Colonial Style Door
Colonial-style homes consist of two- or three- stories with double-hung windows, decorative window shutters, and steep, side-gabled roofs. The window glass tends to be larger with a basic grid between panes. You’ll also see the entry door traditionally sits in the dead center of its symmetrical architecture.
Opt for an entry door with the same symmetry and large glass window characteristics.
Victorian
Source: ProVia Victorian Style Door
Unlike Colonial-style, Victorian-style homes are known for their asymmetric architecture. This style consists of a large wrap-around porch and two- or three- stories with ornate decorative trim.
Opt for an entry door that has a detailed, multi-panel design within the door slab and minimal glass.
Modern
Source: ProVia Modern Style Door
Modern style homes consist of the sharpest lines, most intentional asymmetry and geometric shapes of any other architectural style. Eco-friendly materials, like natural wood or stone siding, are a cornerstone of this look.
Opt for an entry door with simple, clean lines and rectangular pieces of glass going down the door.
2. Select The Right Color
The thought process for selecting a door color is traditionally to match the trim or siding. Today’s trend, however, gravitates towards a bolder look. For example, avocado and robin’s egg are very popular colors among young homeowners. A bolder color is a way to make your entry door stand out if you opted for a style that blends with your home’s architecture.
Fiberglass doors even have staining options for a natural wood look; for example, real oak or cherry stain.
3. Quality of the Door
There are certainly entry doors out there you can quickly purchase from a box store and be set for the next two to three years. While you hit a solid price point, you also give up durability and security.
Steel and fiberglass are the best materials you can select for an entry door. After selecting between these two materials, pay attention to the following attributes of a door:
Durability: 20-gauge steel gives you higher durability and reliable security. More standard gauges, like 24- or 26-gauge steel, are too thin and can easily damage.
Water Resistance: Steel or fiberglass material should extend to the edge of the door slab. Unlike wooden edges, steel and fiberglass have the ability to keep water from seeping into areas of a door it should not go.
Security: A proper latch is embedded ½ inch into the door frame and should have a security plate installed behind the frame.
Stop by ODW’s showroom to explore your entry door options in person. If you have a certain door type in mind, give us a call and we will let you know if we have that entry door or similar ones in our showroom.