We use doors every day, but we rarely think about them. As much as walls, furniture, and floor finishes define the character and perception of a well-designed house, doors also play a crucial role in expressing that style.
When you look at all the doors used in houses, the front door is always the first building element that guests and owners will encounter. However, choosing the perfect energy-efficient front door for a contemporary home might be challenging.
With the help from different Canadian exterior doors experts, our team has prepared five common mistakes homeowners should avoid when choosing new front doors. Interested? Keep reading!
Choosing the Wrong Material for the Weather Conditions
While it’s vital to have a good-looking front door, it’s best to select a material that suits the weather in the region you are living in. The material chosen for your new exterior door has to fit into the prevailing climatic conditions. Some of the foremost commonly used materials include:
Fibreglass
Fibreglass doors are perfect when it comes to energy efficiency qualities. These doors are the best in this regard, so it is a typical choice among homeowners who want to increase the overall thermal performance of their houses and enhance the exterior with a sleek contemporary look. Fibreglass doors come in 2 types - solid (no glass panels) doors and equipped with glass panels to allow for more daylight.
Besides being durable and easy to clean, fibreglass front doors can also be stained, reflected, or frosted, responding to privacy concerns while maintaining the passage of light.
Wood
For hundreds of years, wood has been the classic choice for doors because of its versatility and warm nature-inspired look. Wood can be used in various shapes, finishes, and styles. Though wood is aesthetically pleasing, it comes with plenty of labour, and you may have to dedicate lots of time to maintenance. Although wood is durable, it’s prone to the weather and may warp, split, or peel off, so it is not recommended for regions with harsh weather conditions.
Steel
Steel entry doors feature the added layer of foam that enhances energy efficiency; they’re quite resistant to shrinking, warping, and peeling off. Steel can withstand even the harshest climatic conditions for several years and require little maintenance to look good.
So when choosing your new front door, make sure you analyze your climate conditions and decide thoroughly on the material you need.
Using the Wrong Installation Methods
Choosing the perfect front door involves more than just deciding what look you want. You must also ensure that it is correctly installed. If you’re doing the work yourself, you should know there are many complications when installing a new door into an old structure. Make sure you have the required equipment for installing your doors, such as sills, screws, and other essential tools to ensure correct installation.
However, we recommend hiring professional installers since they know all the common pitfalls and will definitely do the job right. Remember, even the best units will serve you worse if installed poorly. So do not cut corners here and pay some extra for installation to get things done right.
Not Adhering To Your Home’s Architectural Style
Another important element to consider is the architectural design of your house. Your new doors should complement the overall style of your home and its exterior.
Many homeowners ask if their entry door should match their interior doors or if it should match their home’s interior at all. The answer is a resounding yes — your entry door is often the first indication of the style of your home and hints at what the interior will be like.
Not Considering Energy Efficiency Performance
Installing energy-efficient front doors has numerous advantages. It not only improves the resale value of your house but also helps to cut down on current energy bills.
- If you want maximum energy efficiency - go with sold doors that have no glass panels.
- If the overall thermal performance of your house is good enough, it is recommended to install glass entry doors since they add on aesthetics and increase your house value.
New doors may offer up to a 15% increase in energy efficiency, cutting your energy bills significantly.
Door Selection Based Solely On Price
Most homeowners have a tight budget, so the price will be a deciding factor. But basing your decision solely on the price could be a tricky decision. So if you’re on a budget, here are some tips just for you:
- Low budget doors: the best option would be steel doors. They are more affordable than fibreglass doors but still stylish and energy-efficient.
- Mid Range: here, we would recommend fibreglass doors. They can mimic wood, offering you the gran look but still are much more affordable with little-to-no maintenance.
- Top of the line: wood is a no-brainer for this one. A large variety of wood types mean you will find something that will match your house design.
Takeaway
We hope you are now well equipped against these mistakes when searching for the perfect front door for your house. Later on, if you’re still stumped, we highly recommend consulting your local Canadian front door experts before purchasing. Best of luck on your search!