Published 9th August 2024
What Should I Look for When Buying a Front Door?
The front door is an essesntial feature of a home and several considerations have to be made when considering what front door to get. Each of these factors has a direct impact not only on the aesthetic value it gives to the home but also on the security. A front door is much more than a door; it’s a distinguishing feature that creates a first impression and acts as an outside barrier for your home. This barrier shields against intruders and the elements, making it a critical factor for both the security and comfort of your dwelling.
Material
Whatever material you use for your front door will have a major impact on its durability, weight, and cost. Introducing uPVC in the mix, which is a popular choice because of it being low maintenance and inexpensive however it will not offer the same amount of protection and durability as the others. In contrast, composite doors are becoming very popular due to their sturdy construction. This is because they are fabricated from a variety of materials, from wood to insulating foam and reinforced plastic. This yields a product that exudes strength, security, and a wide array of designs. For those looking for more traditional and classy front door, a hardwood door is still a common option. While providing a timeless appeal and a solid built, hardwood doors will require regular maintenance if they are to be kept looking at their best over time.
Style and Design
The style of a front door is about complementing the overall design of your home. You can stay assured that whether you live in a property with periodic architecture or a modern build, there will be a style of front door that suits your home. Traditional homes might have a lot of detailing and rich finishes in the doors, whereas contemporary properties would be suited to having a very streamlined minimal design. Out of the many choices, the main decision you will have to make about the appearance of your door is whether it should be a solid door or have glazed panels. Glazed panels not only add a decorative touch but also add sources of natural light to the interior of your home. If you are choosing to have glazed panels on your door, consider incorporating tempered or obscured glass for additional privacy and, of course, safety purposes.
Colour
The front door colour is also a sensitive issue that can compliment your house perfectly or ruin curb appeal. A front door that relates well to your home’s exterior colour can harness a soft blend and very inviting front entrance. Composite doors come with a whole range of colour options, ranging from classic neutrals in black, white, and grey to truly daring reds, blues, and greens, so with that in mind, you can pretty much get your door color-matched to the color scheme of your home.
Security
Modern front doors have moved on leaps and bounds in relation to security features and usually take advantage of high-tech security features keeping your home safe. Most now have multi-point locking systems that secure at several points along the frame, making forceful entry into your home much more difficult. Besides the fixed security features, you can boost your door toward better security by installing more locks, bolts, or even a door chain for more protection. More security measures will make you feel safe, especially if you live in an area with moderate to high crime rates.
Energy Efficiency
Another very important consideration is energy efficiency if you are really concerned about heating costs or the general comfort level of your home. An energy-efficient front door will prevent heat loss, therefore keeping your home warm during winter and cool during summer. Most modern doors have an insulated core built into them, which drastically reduces heat transfer and makes them ideal for energy-conscious homeowners. Also, along with insulation, installing weather strips around the door frame can help seal in all gaps against cold air entering and warm air escaping. Similar to the ratings on domestic appliances, many new front doors now have energy ratings, so it is worth looking out for those to know you have a door that will help to keep energy bills as low as possible.
Which Kind of Front Door is Most Energy Efficient?
As mentioned previously, energy efficiency is a very important aspect to consider when purchasing a front door. The majority of energy-efficient front doors incorporate various design features aimed at reducing heat loss and preventing draughts.
An insulated core is a feature of most energy-efficient doors. For example, the foam core through the thickness of a composite door offers a very high standard of thermal performance. These doors will keep the cold air out and hold the heat inside in the winter months.In addition to an insulated core, many energy-efficient doors are also fitted with weather strips or seals around the edges of the door frame. These seals are actually very important because they avoid cold air from getting into your home through tiny gaps that will cause the reduction of draught and increasing energy consumption since your heating system has to work much harder to keep the comfort temperature.
Glazing material used in your front door, if your decide to have glazing panels, will influence the energy performance of the door. Double or even triple glazing works terrifically towards reducing heat transfer through glass, keeping your house warmer in winter and cooler in summer. The extra layer of glazing creates a barrier to heat loss, making your front door not a weak point in your overall insulation.
Are Composite Doors Better Than uPVC?
This present debate between composite doors and uPVC sheds light on the fact that both have their own distinct set of qualities, making one favorable for certain needs and tastes.
Composite doors are greatly identified by their strength and sturdiness due to their multi-layer structure. Because these doors are made from wood, insulation foam, and reinforcement plastic, they form a basic combination for a durable and immensely strong front door. This can make them an excellent choice for people that have safety as one of the most important factors while choosing a door. Not only that, but composite doors are highly durable and can withstand various weather conditions unlike uPVC doors that van warp or sicolour over the years.
Another considerable benefit of composite doors is that they are highly versatile aesthetically. The doors come in an array of colours and finishes, which means you can have a style that best fits the exterior of your home. Homeowners interested in the classic look of wood entry doors, but who still want to shy away from the maintenance associated with such a style, can get composite doors fashioned to look like wood while offering a timeless appearance with easy upkeep.
This remains cost-effective and one of the best for homeowners, more so those under monetary constraints. Even if it cannot warrant the same level of security or aesthetic options as composite doors, modern uPVC doors still remain a reliable and cost-effective choice. They are lightweight, easy to maintain, and provide a good level of insulation. They are perfect for a person in need of an economic door that will still display security and energy efficiency.
Composite doors, overall, are of a higher price value compared to uPVC, though there are justifiable reasons beyond the advanced quality in which this investment will give such as that of providing greater security, high durability, and design flexibility, uPVC is still a perfectly good option for those under financial constraints.
Should Your Garage Door Match Your Front Door?
This boils down to a matter of personal preference, though it is important to factor in that the design can greatly impact the aesthetics of your home.
Front doors can complement your look and add to the curb appeal, pulling the whole feel of your home together. This works well with traditional or classic architectural styles in homes where symmetry and consistency in design are of real importance. Many manufacturers offer matching sets of front and garage doors, and getting a front-to-garage-door match isn’t much of an issue anymore.
At other times, however, matching should not be done, even if it means a home style is not hindered. This is especially true for those designs that use contrasting garage doors for dramatic effects or to serve as the focal point, like in modern or contemporary-styled homes. For example, if your front door is a bold color, then you can balance the entire design by having a more subdued tone for the garage door.
You should also consider the material and finish of both doors. They don’t have to be of identical material, just so long as you keep the finish more tuned in to giving that kind of look to either door. For example, if the front door is wood, then a garage door with a complementary finish of the wood can help to tie the two together in some way without them having to be identical.
Really, it all comes down to personal preference and the type of look you want the end result to have. Whether you decide on like-for-like doors or favor something a little more unique, the net result is that your decision should enhance the look of your home and make a real style statement.
Which Front Doors are the Best?
One of the best front door brands is Hormann, an industry-leading manufacturer of front doors, as well as garage doors. Their products are designed to give superior security and insulation that ensures safety and energy efficiency of your house. They are also strong, forming a one-time investment in the property. Hormann is available in classic or contemporary design and for all styles of architecture and personal taste
Top front door brands go much beyond the basic features and have ways of customisation according to your specific desires. This may involve the colour and the glazing, and even what hardware will perfectly blend with the outside of your home. You need to feel that the front door is customised for you. It should confirm your style to make it a unique and welcoming entrance to your home, not only to fulfill its practical needs.
Buying the best front door for your home means that one does not only consider the brand but rather the specific best front doors’ features catering specifically to your needs, including security, energy efficiency, and aesthetics. As an approved Hormann agent, AGD Surrey Ltd can supply and install Hormann front doors to ensure your home offers a fantastic first impression as well as providing security and energy efficiencies.
Enquire About a New Front Door
For a free, no obligation survey and quotation for a new front door, contact AGD Surrey Ltd on 01483 234123 or complete our contact form to get in touch.