A front door is a welcoming point that allows you to greet your friends and family and bring them inside to enjoy a meal and good company. It’s also the point where security is integral, allowing you to feel safe when you’re inside your home. Over time, you will need to replace your doors, even if they have always been well-maintained. They may no longer open and close properly, let in drafts, or give your home a completely outdated look.
When it’s time to replace entry doors, you’ll quickly see that you have many front door options. Exterior door materials need to be much stronger than the materials used for your interior doors. What are the best materials for front doors? Several great materials work for entry doors, though ultimately, it depends on several factors that will impact your decision.
Pinnacle Home Improvements is a renowned company that provides home renovation services, including installing durable, stylish front doors that not only protect your home but also enhance its curb appeal. In this front door buying guide, we provide guidance in choosing the best front door materials for your home by revealing the pros and cons of each material, as well as how we can help.
The Importance of Selecting the Right Front Door Material
When you welcome guests, they’re coming through your entry doors, not your garage door. The impression the front door makes is one of the things you must consider, along with your local climate and best options for security. You don’t have to compromise style to protect your energy usage or keep your home fortified from intruders. Many of these materials can give you the look you want while providing other benefits.
Some materials also require more maintenance than others over the years, and you’ll need to make sure it gets the care it needs to look its best. If your existing door is in desperate need of replacement, you will want to get all the facts about these materials and how you can customize them with glass panels to let in natural light, choose colors that let you express yourself, and much more.
Popular Materials for Front Entry Doors
Learn more about the three best exterior door materials for your home:
Steel Doors
If you just need a durable exterior door, steel doors might be the perfect option. Steel doors are often used for garage or side doors, but they can also be used for your front door. One of the greatest advantages of steel doors is that they’re the most affordable exterior door material.
Steel doors are also a low-maintenance option, and they can be designed with glass panels for a more beautiful appearance. They don’t rot or experience warping, and there’s no need to keep re-staining them every year.
Steel doors are also known for their security, protecting you and your loved ones from unwanted entry and break-ins. If you’re concerned about enhancing the security of your home, steel doors are the best option.
Unfortunately, steel doors aren’t quite as aesthetically pleasing as other exterior door options. While they do come in a variety of colors or can be painted to your liking, they can’t be designed to imitate the look of more expensive materials like wood.
Although steel doors are durable and can keep out harsh elements, these doors can dent easily. They’re also more prone to rust. Choosing a steel door may give you peace of mind as a strong material for your entryway, though it can leave you vulnerable to earlier door replacement.
Additionally, since metal is a conductor of heat, steel doors aren’t very energy efficient. There are options with foam cores to provide insulation, though they still fall short of other durable materials for your entry doors.
Fiberglass Doors
Fiberglass doors for entry doors give homeowners more options. An exterior door made from fiberglass undergoes a specific process that makes it incredibly durable. Fiberglass doors are made by joining two large molded sides with polyurethane foam as the core to insulate them from a variety of temperature extremes.
This material doesn’t chip or dent, making it more impressive than either wood or steel. Fiberglass doors can be customized to have additional insulation, too, though even if you choose a basic fiberglass door, it’s made with thick insulation in the center.
As an exterior door, fiberglass is an outstanding choice if you want a low-maintenance front door. When considering wood or fiberglass, you might choose fiberglass as your exterior door if you’d prefer not to have to repaint or re-stain the material every year. Fiberglass doors are also easy to customize to look like wood or have glass panels, and they tend to cost less than wood. While they cost more than steel, they may be a better choice for your exterior door.
Although fiberglass doors will save you money on energy costs and maintenance, it isn’t a perfect exterior door material, despite checking many boxes. Fiberglass doors tend to fall short of wood in appearance, even if you have it designed to look like wood.
As a front door, it may let you down if you have your heart set on the way wood looks. The other downside of choosing a fiberglass exterior door is that it’s not easy to DIY. Even if you enjoy doing your own projects, this is one to let the professionals handle.
Wood Doors
Solid wood doors make for a classical and traditional look on any home’s exterior. Choosing wood for your entry doors has a bounty of benefits, especially if you want to enhance the character and style of your home. It looks high-end and elegant, and while other materials can mimic its appearance, nothing comes close to real wood.
Real wood doors can be easily sanded and re-stained if you notice wear or scratches. It tends to hide dents rather well, thanks to its texture. Solid wood front doors are also energy efficient. They have a high R-value that protects your home’s interior, particularly if you choose a hardwood door or a wood door with an insulating core.
However, wood doors also have their downsides as an exterior door. They’re one of the most expensive options you can choose, especially if you have any custom options added in such as glass inserts. A natural wood door will require regular maintenance and your attentive care every year to protect its appearance and longevity. You don’t want to spend all that money on new entry doors made out of wood just to have them develop moisture rot or weather prematurely.
There’s also great concern with warping, even if you keep up with maintaining your wood doors. Wood naturally expands and contracts with extreme temperatures. Through the years, it can warp and crack, which may make it a struggle for it to open and close in your entryway. However, there are newer types of wood doors that use wood veneer on top of an engineered wood core, which combats this issue.
All told, a front entry door made from wood is an excellent choice for a new exterior door, though it isn’t a low-maintenance or cheap option. Take a look at the other types of materials for entry doors to see how they stack up.
Trends in New Exterior Door Design
In addition to door materials, there are other trends in front entry doors to consider.
Smart Locks
With any door material, you can have smart locks that provide keyless entry. There are also built-in video doorbells that not only enhance your security but also make life more convenient.
Improved Energy Efficiency
If energy efficiency is a concern, you don’t have to compromise. Many doors now have insulated cores. If you want your home to have improved energy efficiency, look for this option when choosing a new door.
Oversized Doors
Over the years, trends have turned to using an oversized style for the front door. Since your exterior door makes the crucial first impression, you may choose to follow the trend to make a statement of your own.
Glass Panels for Natural Lighting
With wood, steel, and fiberglass doors, adding glass into the door itself or as sidelights is a huge trend. This allows the entryway to have a brighter, more welcoming appearance. As sunlight enters and dapples the way, it can change the entire vibe of a home that once felt dark and cramped.
Bold Colors and Styles
The different front door materials can also be found in a variety of colors and styles. Minimalist, modern looks are becoming increasingly common, as are Dutch and barn doors. Homeowners find it’s easier than ever to update their exterior doors with the aesthetic they want to create.
Adding Storm Doors
Storm doors have also increased in popularity as they allow greater protection for the home. With storm doors, you can protect ornate door designs and get additional reinforcement, which is an excellent idea if you’d rather choose wood over steel.
More Custom Touches
You can also customize your exterior door with unique hardware, glass accents, and other options. Homeowners appreciate the growing trend of making a new door different from anything else, allowing for a look that’s all their own.
Tips on Choosing Doors for Your Home
When you’re preparing for a new door installation, a few tips can help you simplify the process. Before you begin shopping, it’s essential to understand the standard door size measurements to ensure you select the right fit for your home. If you’re purchasing a complete entry system, installation will go more smoothly if all the components are made by the same manufacturer. Additionally, with a complete system, these doors come with weatherstripping. You’ll want to ensure it seals properly with the bottom edge of your door.
If your doors have panels of glass, make sure you choose them with low-E glazing. Low-E glazing helps ensure they’re energy efficient. Some of these doors come with panels that provide additional security, making it harder for someone to gain entry. If budget is a concern, it costs more to have decorative windows in these doors with brass or lead between the panes, so keep this in mind.
If you choose high-quality steel and fiberglass doors, they feature a thermal break that keeps the inside and outside door skins separated. This is a better option for protecting your home, even though it will come at a higher upfront cost.
How Pinnacle Home Improvements Helps Homeowners Select and Install the Best Front Door Materials
Some homeowners only know they need a new exterior door, while others can’t seem to narrow down a style preference. No matter which phase you’re in, Pinnacle Home Improvements is here to help. We have a solid reputation built on providing unparalleled craftsmanship, and we can schedule a consultation where we can help you pick the perfect match.
We’ll show you a variety of materials and styles while listening to your needs and concerns for your door installation. We can discuss types of doors and what material is the right choice. We can show you colors, designs, and much more. We are also experts on how to insulate a front door for winter and avoid wind drafts, or which material resists dents the best.
This is what we do all day, every day. You’ll be in our capable hands from start to finish, ensuring that you love the door we have installed and fall in love with your home all over again.
You can take the first steps by reading our blog on How to Measure Door Size: 4 Easy Steps to Follow, or wait for the consultation. When you’re ready to replace your front door, contact Pinnacle Home Improvements to get a free quote.
