The best type of front door for your home

The best type of front door for your home

Looking to refresh your front door? There’s a variety of different styles and materials available on the market today. What will work best for you depends on your budget and needs. It’s also important to consider not only style, but also insulation and security – especially when it comes to the main point of entry to your home.

Let’s not forget about durability. As we’ll find out below, certain types of doors hold up better over time and use, making for a wiser investment in the long run. If energy efficiency is a concern, then you’ll need to think about whether the material can adequately keep cold air out during the winter.

Let’s make it easier to choose the right option by looking at the various types of front doors that you can buy today.

Wooden front door

Wood

  • Great durability with enough care
  • Great efficiency (worsens over time)
  • Medium to high maintenance

The traditional choice, wood doors are typically made out of pine, oak, maple or mahogany. A potential advantage is that they can be personalised to include ornaments and decorative accents, as well as glass elements. Keep in mind that wood doors tend to be on the expensive side and require regular maintenance.

The latter is due to the fact that the material is prone to rotting and fading. Opting for a solid-core wooden veneer will help to reduce the amount of decay.

Locking a UPVC front door

PVC

  • Good durability
  • Excellent efficiency
  • Low maintenance

The new kid on the block, PVC doors are becoming increasingly popular thanks to their lightweight, energy-efficient designs. The material is also relatively cheap and doesn’t rust, not to mention being recyclable. The best doors in this category are uPVC. They’re the most durable and least flexible type, so they’re less prone to warping.

To see what’s available, take a look at the range of uPVC external doors at Hardings Windows and Doors who have over 30 years of experience in the UPVC trade. You can learn more about their external doors here and the benefits they offer to see if they align with your needs. Their experts will also be able to provide you with a free, no-obligation quote for the front door of your choice.

Glass front door

Glass

  • Average durability
  • Poor efficiency
  • Low maintenance

Glass makes for one of the most attractive modern front door styles on the market. That is if you don’t mind people being able to see into your home. They’re better suited for warmer climates (and safer areas) as glass tends to be a poor insulator. One advantage is that glass requires virtually no maintenance other than some occasional cleaning.

Blue metal door

Aluminium

  • Great durability
  • Decent efficiency
  • Low maintenance

A great option for contemporary homes, aluminium is highly durable and surprisingly resistant to moisture. One disadvantage is the fact that it’s prone to water stains, which can become unsightly over time. It’s also worth noting that aluminium doesn’t offer the best amount of insulation.

That said, it’s a relatively affordable option that will outlast most other door types, making it suitable for external use. If you have a higher budget, consider a steel door as a more stylish and energy-efficient alternative.

Blue front door

Composite

  • Great durability
  • Excellent efficiency
  • Low maintenance

This material type refers to a combination of the above-mentioned materials. Composite doors can incorporate glass, wood, PVC, and insulated foam elements. Choose the right one and you can have yourself a highly durable and efficient front door. Of course, this does come at a higher cost than other options and there are fewer styles on offer.

Be sure to consider the way your home is set up when choosing a front door. Safety and durability are just as important as aesthetics, and going for something more efficient can save you a pretty penny in energy bills as time passes.

[disclosure*]

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.