10 TIPS FOR CHOOSING A DOOR THAT PERFECTLY MATCHES YOUR HOME
Choosing a Door That Perfectly Matches Your Home
Your front door is the focal point of your home, so you want to be sure it’s the perfect choice. Here are some tips for choosing a door that’s a great match.
Whether you’re building a new home or renovating an existing one, the choice of doors and windows is an important part of the equation.
Today’s design-conscious homeowners want an appealing look that adds curb appeal and an overall aesthetic, but are also motivated by energy savings and of course initial and ongoing maintenance costs of their choices.
A door that doesn’t match the style of the rest of the home’s exterior can cheapen the look of the home and detract from its curb appeal. your house sticks out like a sore thumb if you make a poor choice.
Often, the first thing visitors to your home will notice is the front door, so you’ll want it to make a great first impression.
Here are some tips to follow ensure you make the best door choice for your home:
First, Determine Your Budget
If you’re choosing a door that matches your home, it’s important to remember to consider the amount of money you’re comfortable spending, both for the initial door purchase and for its ongoing maintenance.
Home improvement projects can easily go over budget for a variety of reasons. Whether it’s unforeseen delays or underestimated costs, your initial budget can sometimes be off, causing homeowner stress and delays to the project.
Choose the Right Materials
Once you know the budget you have to work with, the next step is choosing a door that fits both your budget and style requirements. The material you pick for your door will have a direct effect on its performance and longevity. Here are some of the factors to consider when choosing your door’s material:
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- Durability
- Appearance
- Maintenance costs
These factors will also determines the door’s initial price too. Most doors come in three different materials: wood, steel, and or fiberglass. As well, you’ll need to consider the choice of panel styles and options for adding glass or other design elements.
Decorative glass increases the price of your door, but the option of having patterns, textures and bevels may have extra appeal for the design-conscious home owner.
Wooden Doors
Wooden doors tend to lend a home a rich and classic appearance. Wood is the most common type of door material because of its natural beauty and versatility.
Wood works well with almost any kind of house even with a natural finish stock made from oak or mahogany. Selecting a wood door gives you choices from bamboo or teak to traditional oak or mahogany, or a rustic, knotty pine. They can be additionally customized with stain, if you prefer the natural wood grain look, or a vibrant and welcoming paint color.
Wooden doors look natural and give a home a warm, rustic appearance. The primary drawback of wooden doors is that they are more expensive than other door materials.
Wood doors can also swell, rot and may require a lot of maintenance over their lifetimes. They will need to be properly sealed every couple years to avoid water absorption. And, you’ll need to touch up the stain or paint that may chip via normal wear and tear. Solid wood doors are best suited for temperate climates.
Steel Doors
Compared to wooden doors, steel doors are typically more affordable.
If you’re choosing a door that could last you a long time, premium steel doors won’t warp or crack. They won’t be affected by weather elements like wood, which warps when it’s wet.
Steel is very sturdy and may be the perfect door choice if you want to make your house secure and have a and if your design style leans toward a more utilitarian look. Steel doors have smooth surfaces, so there are a limited number of options in terms of design but you can customize them with panel design and paint colors. They’re also more energy efficient since it they can have an insulated core. A downside of steel doors is that they can be scratched or dented, which can lead to rust and the need for frequent touch-ups.
Aluminum Doors
Aluminum doors are similar to steel doors in terms of insulation capabilities. This ensures they can withstand different weather conditions. They can take the beating without showing signs of wear and tear.
Aluminum doors have a baked-on enamel finish. They don’t need painting and won’t rust, making 20-year warranties common for these doors. They’re great for homeowners who like a modernist aesthetic – straight lines and few embellishments. Their only downside is that they are typically more expensive, costing an average of $900 when installed by professionals.
Fiberglass
If you want a cheaper alternative to wooden doors, fiberglass can be a good choice. Fiberglass doors have a realistic stained wood look with a wide variety of grains. Fiberglass doors also easily lend themselves to painting since they have a smooth surface.
Fiberglass is a high-performing, energy-efficient door. These doors are easy to maintain and durable enough to last for many years. You can choose from a variety of panel styles, finishes, and decorative glass options. Fiberglass doors are dent-resistant and won’t corrode or rust.
Choose the Right Size
When choosing a door, you’ll of course need to know the size of your entryway. The standard exterior entry door size is 80 inches tall, 36 inches wide and 2 inches thick. But depending on your home, you may need to consider a custom-made door. Of course, Modeen can help!
When you’re looking for the right door size, consider the following factors:
- Sidelights
- Transoms
- Other decorative elements
- If you’re unsure how to do this on your own, you can always ask Modeen to help you. It’s better than making costly mistakes that could result in budget overages and project delays.
Choose the Right Door Type
You’ve set the budget and determined the type of material you prefer. Now it’s time to consider the style of door for your place. The most common door types include:
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- In-swing
- Out-swing
- French
- Glass-paned
You can choose to put add transoms to complement some of these door styles. A transom is “a transverse horizontal structural beam or bar, or a crosspiece separating a door from a window above it.”Transoms help with your home’s lighting and makes it look more aesthetically pleasing.
Choose the Right Door Style
It’s important to choose a door style that complements your home design. It makes your home look polished and adds to its curb appeal. Your door choice reflects your household’s personality.For example, if your family is more traditional, classic wood panel doors would be a perfect choice. If you’re more artistically inclined, consider including more decorative glass elements.
Your front door should make you feel safe and comfortable but can also speak to your personality.
If you’re unsure how to do this on your own, you can always ask Modeen to help you. It’s better than making costly mistakes that could result in budget overages and project delays.
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Choose the Right Door Color
Naturally, you’ll want to choose a door a color that complements your home’s overall color schemes. If your exterior color includes gray, getting a blue door may be a good option.Red is a dramatic but popular color for front doors, with hundreds of shades and variations to choose from. A good concept to remember is that you can either make the door’s color stand out or blend in. Whatever your home’s architectural style, the door color will complement the design and establish a mood that’s visible from the street.
If You Need Help Choosing a Door
When you’re choosing a new or replacement door for your home, remember that it should reflect your style and aesthetic sense while still maintaining practicality.
If all of these design, style and material considerations are overwhelming and you want professional help deciding on replacement doors and windows, contact Modeen and we’d be happy to help you make the right selection. Sometimes enlisting a professional is the best course of action and will save you time, money and stress.
Contact us today by calling 763-425-3600 or by filling out our online contact form. We’re happy to help!
Our factory training and certification from major door and window manufacturers means we can cut right through the options and recommend the best door for your home from both a design and function standpoint – while making your project as stress-free as possible.