Seven questions to ask yourself before getting a new front door
If you think all doors are created equal, know that there are some questions to ask yourself before getting a new front door.
Thoughtfully considering your answers to these questions will help you pick a new door that will add so much more than curb appeal to your home.
We encourage our customers who are shopping for a new front door in the Raleigh area to use this list to guide them toward the perfect front door.
Because asking yourself these important questions before you commit to a new front door can help you to:
- Increase your family’s security
- Lower your energy bill
- Add some much-needed light to a dark entryway
- Cut down your home’s maintenance needs
These are the top questions we encourage you to ask yourself before you select your new front door.
1. What style best suits my home?
Suppose you have a modern, minimalist home with large black windows. If you do, you may want to reconsider that cute, wooden, Carolina blue front door with the inlaid stained-glass transom.
It’s true that many of us like and appreciate a variety of styles, enjoy mixing diverse design elements. But if the style of your front door is too different from the style of the rest of your home, you risk looking more bizarre than eclectic.
As you explore your options for a new front door, consider not just what you think of the door. Instead, ask yourself, how will this design complement and highlight the features I love about my home?
Features like decorative glass, grille patterns, dentil shelves, and door shape (think a luxe, attention-grabbing arched door) can further enhance your style.
2. What material door do I want?
Here’s where you’ll see that all doors are NOT created equal. The material you choose for your front door will affect everything, including:
- How the door looks
- How the door operates
- The degree of maintenance required
- The energy efficiency of the door
- How long you can expect your new front door to last
Most front doors are made of wood, fiberglass, or steel.
Wood front doors are classic, but here in central North Carolina there are some conditions your home must meet if you plan to install a new wood front door.
Cary, NC and the surrounding areas experience high humidity and intense sunlight. Wood front doors that are directly exposed to these conditions may discolor, rot, and warp quickly. Then they lose the beauty that drew you to a wood door in the first place, and they’ll likely lose functionality over time, too.
We encourage our customers to only install a wood front door if the door will be protected from direct sun exposure and rain/moisture. A covered front porch is the best option to keep a wood front door looking fresh.
Don’t fret if you had your heart set on the look of a wood door.
Both fiberglass and steel front doors can be made to look like wood.
Fiberglass front doors are especially durable, and are very energy efficient as well.
3. How much light do I want my door to let in?
This is one of the top questions to ask yourself before getting a new front door. That’s because your answer may completely change the feel of your home’s entry.
If the foyer of your home feels dark, consider how much impact your new front door may have on the amount of light the area gets.
From a full light door, to a ¾ or half light door, there are many options that will ensure that your foyer gets adequate light.
You can also add transoms and sidelights to further up the glow factor.
4. What level of privacy do I want?
Suppose you’d love a full glass door for the light it might add to your entryway. But, you’re not wild about the idea of neighbors and delivery drivers being able to see into your home anytime they approach.
If privacy is your goal, know that there are many options for obscured glass that will ensure your privacy without sacrificing light.
5. What security features do I want?
Part of choosing a new front door is selecting the hardware you’ll outfit your door slab with. Aside from aesthetics, security and accessibility are the key features you should consider when choosing hardware.
Consider whether you’d like to integrate your door hardware with smart home functionality. Or, if not, you may still want a higher tech option than an old-fashioned lock and key door knob. Door hardware that features a keypad or even a fingerprint scanner can be very helpful if you have family members who are prone to forget or lose keys.
In addition to complementing the style of your door and your home, consider that the hardware you outfit your new front door with can relieve a lot of stress in your daily life.
6. Do I want the door stained or painted?
This is one of the more fun questions to ask yourself before getting a new front door. That’s because how you add color to your front door can further amp up the wow factor.
Painting gives you the creative license to make your front any color imaginable. You can also change the color easily if your taste or trends change.
Staining is your other option. While you may think wood is the only door material that you can stain, you can also apply stains to both fiberglass and steel doors. This can lend a more vibrant finish, and can further the effect if you’ve chosen a door that mimics the look of wood.
It’s important to note that this is a decision you’ll need to make quickly after installing your new front door. Most companies require that the door be either either stained or painted within a quick time-frame (often 60-90 days), or else the warranty is voided.
7. Should the door swing in or out?
We are always surprised by how many people never consider that their front door can be designed to swing in or out.
There are numerous reasons you might prefer an in-swing over an out-swing or visa versa.
Luckily, here in the Raleigh area we don’t often see snowfall heavy enough to trap us indoors if we have an out-swing door.
Thus, our considerations are usually more related the flow of our customers’ lives.
Is the front hallway crowded with kids’ shoes and backpacks, and the front door swinging inward only adds to the chaos? If so, an out-swing door may make hectic mornings rushing to school feel just a little easier.
Or, have you got a pet that’s prone to pushing past when the front door swings open and gallivanting outside? An in-swing door may save you from having to chase down Fido every time the doorbell rings.
We hope that you find these questions to ask yourself before getting a new front door helpful as you consider making this important purchase.
Buying a new front door can feel overwhelming. It’s important to get the decision right. You don’t want to feel buyer’s remorse every time you drive up to your home.
We at the Window Works Co. are dedicated to helping our customers find the front doors they’ll love.
If you’re ready to learn more about the variety of quality front doors we carry, we’d love to show them to you!
Use the calendar below to schedule your free Window and Door Consultation Phone Call today. This is the first step to getting your quote for new doors!
