Entry doors are often the focal point of your home, plus they offer an excellent return on investment. When visitors approach, it’s typically what draws their eye, and you want the first impression to be distinctive. As a homeowner, you want it to say your home is welcoming and well cared for.
There are many design elements that allow your front door to make a personal statement. For example, there are many different glass packages and door styles, plus multiple staining options and paint colors, all of which can be mixed and matched.
There are the three types of entry door materials to consider: wood, fiberglass, and steel.
Wood doors offer a very traditional look and provide a sense of warmth and richness. Homeowners can choose from a variety of styles and most wood species you can imagine. Wood doors, which can be custom made, need to be carefully finished (stained or painted) according to manufacturer specifications and periodic maintenance is required.
Fiberglass doors come with an environmentally friendly polyurethane core that provides insulation properties that are at least four times greater than wood doors. Low maintenance fiberglass doors come factory painted or stained for years of lasting beauty. Fiberglass entry doors come with a high-impact compression molded skin that will not splinter, warp, or rot. Wood grains that replicate the look of cherry, fir, mahogany, and oak are available.
Steel doors provide performance, safety, and beauty. They come prepainted or prestained in a smooth or textured finish. Steel doors also are durable, resist splitting and cracking, and are energy efficient.
Doors can be flat panel or have high definition panel profiles. Glass options include clear double insulated glass or a variety of triple glazed designer glass styles. Homeowners have the option of choosing privacy ratings as well as choosing options in any size, shape, texture, pattern, or designer glass. The glass can be etched, patterned, textured, beveled, and designed with simulated divided lite and grilles between the glass. Homeowners can also choose from brass or lead caning. These decorative glass designs are sealed between two panes of tempered “safety” glass, providing the energy efficiency of triple glazing.
Just like glass packages, door hardware comes in many colors and shapes. Handles and hinges can be ornate or simple and finishes run the gamut: nickel, satin nickel, bright brass, antique brass, oil-rubbed bronze, matte black, and satin stainless steel.
Other door options to take into consideration are whether you want to have a kick panel, peep hole, mail slot, and depending on the size of your opening, sidelights and transoms.
With all the customization options available, homeowners may become overwhelmed. That is where a trained product specialist from Callen with an eye for design can help by explaining and offering ideas of what will look and work best with the architecture and performance standards required.
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