How to choose a Front Entrance Door

The entrance is one of the essential aspects of every home. Besides being the gateway to your home, it provides a representation of your personality and lifestyle. This area gives you the chance to add some character and flavor to your home, in the door, lighting, hardware, and structural elements such as columns, planters, and shutters. Choosing the right door can be overwhelming, so arm yourself with a little bit of research and knowledge to be confident in your choice.

Types of Front Door Materials

Wood

When it comes to choosing front door material, wood is a popular choice among homeowners. Because they can be custom to your desired style, shape, and size. Wood front doors can easily be personalized with the use of sidelights, decorative glass panels, and hand-carved designs. You can also customize the finish of your door with stain or paint. Stains are often a popular choice allowing you to show the wood’s natural grain. Just like other entry door materials, wood has it owns pros and cons. Some of the advantages associated with wood material are that it offers you ample customization options and durability. Also, entry doors made from wood are susceptible to moisture, are expensive, and are not energy efficient. ETO Doors offers a wide range of wooden entry doors, such as solid core white primed for painting.

Glass

If you’re a fan of natural light, then you should invest in a door with glass. A French door with multiple panes or a single open pane, or it could be a solid door with a window near the top to allow light. Though the main benefit is the light, they are also long-lasting as they will not dent or scratch or rust. ETO Doors carries contemporary doors that feature full glass panels with modern hardware and framing French style doors with 12 divided panes and framework. Wooden and fiberglass framework or primed solid core doors with glass add an air of sophistication to any entryway.

Fiberglass

Fiberglass for entry doors is another excellent material as it combines durability, safety, and functionality. Visually they can be similar to wooden models as the wood grain can be imitated, but they are not subject to rotting or warping. However, fiberglass doors may show their age with dents and dings over time, which could not be sanded down as with a wood door. Fiberglass is lightweight when compared to wood and steel material but features a durable coating that is less prone to warping and moisture. ETO Doors features a wide range of fiberglass front doors from Escon and other brands, with an average price of $300 – $1700 depending on the brand and style.

Wrought Iron

Wrought iron doors offer an air of uniqueness and elegance to a home. With their luxurious patterns and beautiful finishes, wrought iron doors can provide your home with an avalanche of aesthetics and security. Wrought iron front doors can protect your door from the damage of terrible weather conditions since they are resistant to fire and other elements.

At ETO Doors, our wrought iron entry doors offer you different glass options, handle options, designer hinges, and several finish options. All doors are made of heavy 12-gauge steel with 16 x 16 mm and are available in custom sizes and designs.

Design Styles

Rustic

Frequently seen on cabins and homes that feature wood, stone, or brick exteriors, rustic-style front doors made of wood.

Modern

Straight, sleek lines are also a frequently found component in modern-style front doors, yet they are used in a fashion that separates them from Craftsman-style doors. Additionally, you may find blocked, or square raised panels or panes of translucent glass.

Craftsman

Craftsman Doors are single-piece doors with clean, sharp edges and a dentil shelf. Craftsman doors are also known as Cottage doors or Bungalow doors.

Mediterranean

Mediterranean-style front doors perfectly combine the old world and the new. For the Mediterranean look, try the arched double doors with iron grills, Knotty Alder wood doors, and the Mahogany Mediterranean series.

Traditional

From authentic wooden planked structures to four-paneled Victorian doors in every color of the rainbow, a conventional door design remains the most popular with the masses. With so many different colors, styles, and design options, you can’t go wrong with a traditional style.

Terms to Know Before Buying A Front Door

When planning to buy or install an entry or front door, it is crucial to know several names associated with it. Planning is essential to help you choose the right entry door for your home. Here are a few words to understand:

• Lite: Glass in the door
• Pre-hung: A complete, ready-to-install option that comes already hung in a frame and is purchased to fit in an existing doorway.
• Slab Door: This term refers to the door itself, exclusive of all the other components. A slab can be made from steel, metal, or wood, and it will often come without hinges or holes for hardware.
• Caming: Strips of metal used for joining segmented glass
• Casing/trim: Molding that surrounds your door frame
• Stop: Strip of wood around the entire inside of the door that prevents the door from swinging too far
• Panels: Rectangular patterns on the door used for show
• Inswing: A door that opens in
• Outswing: A door that opens out
• Left-Handed: Hinges are on the right side of the door
• Right-Handed: Hinges are on the left side of the door