February 21, 2020
Posted in:
Garage Doors
Are you searching for a new entry door for your home? Maybe you’re feeling overwhelmed by all the options on the market or you’re unsure where to even begin. The right entry door can increase your home’s energy efficiency, security and curb appeal, but how do you decide which is the perfect door for your home?
Many homeowners may think a solid wood door will give them the authentic, warm appearance they’re seeking, but wood doors also tend to the most expensive and require the most maintenance. Others may believe they should select an aluminum door because they’re lightweight and inexpensive, but they also are less secure and more prone to damage.
Entry doors like steel and fiberglass offer a happy medium. These doors can have the look and feel of real wood without the downsides, along with the durability of wood and the affordability of aluminum.
If you’re unsure how to choose a front door for your home, follow this buyer’s guide for choosing an entry door.
Check Out Our Other Garage Door Styling Tips
The Best Entry Door Material for Your Home
Perhaps the most important consideration for your front door is the material. Though most doors combine multiple materials, the surface material is what most impacts the appearance, security, durability and price of an entry door.
What is the best material for a front door?
1. Wood Entry Door
The most common entry door material is wood. Wood doors are versatile and beautiful, with a natural look. Homeowners can typically select from various types of wood, including cherry, oak, mahogany, walnut, maple, pine and fir. Choose a wood door with a clear finish, like polyurethane, and a durable stain. For the best protection of a painted door, a high-gloss sheen is the most reliable option. An effective finish will help prevent your wood door from swelling or absorbing moisture.2. Aluminum Entry Door
For a cost-effective, light-weight material, consider aluminum for your entry door material. Aluminum tends to be built with parts and hardware that are longer lasting. Aluminum entry doors include insulation to prevent cold or hot air outside from entering your home but are more prone to dents than durable materials like wood. Fortunately, they’re also usually simple and inexpensive to maintain and repair.3. Steel Entry Door
For durability and security, consider steel for your entry door material. Steel doors tend to be more durable than fiberglass or wood. They also won’t warp or crack like wood might. Though steel can be susceptible to dings or dents, they can be fixed easily. Steel doors also tend to be quite affordable. The surface of a steel door is smooth and can be embossed with a wood-grain pattern if you’d prefer the natural look of wood. Steel doors do generally require upkeep, such as periodic repainting if the door has a polyester finish. At Marvin’s Garage Doors, we offer a collection of steel doors for homeowners to choose from:- STEEL Collection: A steel entry door from our STEEL Collection includes high-definition panels that come in distinct styles and provide durability and beauty to your home. If you’re looking for a steel front door that makes a statement, this the collection for you. With a steel entry door, you’ll enhance your home’s energy efficiency and curb appeal.
4. Fiberglass Entry Door
For a tough, no-maintenance door, consider a fiberglass door. If you live in a humid or harsh climate, a fiberglass entry door is usually a smart choice. Fiberglass doors can withstand just about any climate. Fiberglass won’t warp or rot like wood or corrode or get scratched like steel. An important factor in the choice of your entry door material is its attractiveness. Many homeowners desire the aesthetic of real wood, but they don’t want the expense or the maintenance requirements. For these homeowners, fiberglass entry doors can be a great option. Through the use of wood-grain texturing, fiberglass doors can be stained to be similar to the look of wood and give your home a classic, elegant aesthetic. Because fiberglass doors are durable, they’re secure. A fiberglass front door can make you feel safer in your home. Fiberglass entry doors also tend to be quite affordable and versatile. With fiberglass doors, you can choose from various styles and finishes. At Marvin’s Garage Doors, we offer several collections of fiberglass doors for homeowners to choose from:- ARBOR GROVETM Fiberglass Collection: A fiberglass door from the ARBOR GROVETM collection is insulated, water-resistant and UV-resistant. You can choose from cherry, oak or mahogany for your wood grain veneer, along with 18 paint options and eight factory finish stains. With this collection, you can get a classic look without worrying about your front door cracking, rotting or splitting.
- CRAFTSMAN Fiberglass Collection: For a clean, simple fiberglass entry door design paired with lasting durability, choose from the CRAFTSMAN collection. These doors are resistant to UV and moisture. Architecture styles such as Transitional, Mission and Bungalow look great with a fiberglass entry door from this collection.
- RUSTIC Fiberglass Collection: A fiberglass door from the RUSTIC collection provides a rich cherry design for an authentic feel. Homes inspired by the Mediterranean or American Southwest architecture can be perfectly complemented by entry doors from this collection.
- SMOOTH Fiberglass Collection: For a fiberglass door with the look and feel of painted wood, choose from the SMOOTH Fiberglass Collection. You can enjoy the beauty of wood without its drawbacks, like splitting or cracking. If you want a front door that adds a clean, contemporary look to your home, select a door from this collection.
Entry Door Styles and Colors
Your home’s front door says something to visitors about who lives inside. As such, you want an entry door that fits the style of your home, adds aesthetic appeal and increases your home’s value.
What do you want your front door to say about you or your family? What personality do you want to convey? If you want to convey a traditional, classic style, consider a door with a wood look. If you’re nontraditional or artistic, maybe you want a door that includes unique, decorative glass to make your home stand out.
- In our Arbor GroveTM Fiberglass Collection, we offer three grain options — cherry grain, oak grain and mahogany grain. We also offer nine cherry panel styles, six mahogany panel styles and seven oak panel styles. You can also choose from 18 glass options and 18 paint options.
- In our Craftsman Collection, we offer a fir grain option, two panel styles and an optional dentil shelf. You can also choose from seven glass options, eight stain options and 18 paint options.
- In our Rustic Collection, we offer a cherry grain option, five panel styles and 17 glass options. You can also select from eight stain options and 18 paint options.
- In our Smooth Fiberglass Collection, we offer 19 panel styles, 17 glass options and 18 paint options.
- In our Steel Collection, we offer 15 panel styles, 18 paint options and 17 glass options.
Considering Front Door Security
Homeowners shouldn’t rely on a door lock for their safety against burglars and home invaders. Burglars can pick locks and kick in doors if they want to enter a home. A front door that can provide you and your family with the security you need is an important consideration as you select the perfect entry door for your home.1. Best Materials for Front Door Security
Reinforced steel front doors can be your best option for the security of your home, and fiberglass front doors are one of the most well-rounded options for an entry door, as they provide your home with ample security. Similar to solid wood doors, entry doors made of solid fiberglass can last for more than 100 years. Beware of cheaper, hollow fiberglass doors, which are less secure and can crack easily. Vinyl doors tend to be hollow and can crack under the right amount of force, which makes them less secure than steel or fiberglass doors.2. Windows vs. No Windows for Front Door Security
A door without a window provides more security than a door with a window. Front doors without windows also provide more privacy to homeowners, while a front door with windows is easier to break into.3. Hardware for Front Door Security
Beyond the type of door you choose, you can also use a deadbolt lock and mounting screws that lodge in the framing of the door past the door jamb to make your home more secure.Energy Efficient Front Doors
What type of door is the most energy-efficient?
1. Best Materials for Front Door Energy Efficiency
Fiberglass and steel front doors tend to have more insulation value than wood or aluminum doors. The frames offer a tighter fit, the cores are built to be energy efficient, and models with insulating glass reduce the transfer of heat.2. Windows vs. No Windows for Front Door Energy Efficiency
A window on your entry door can negatively impact the energy efficiency of your door. Glass is a poor insulator, which makes a solid door without windows more energy-efficient than a front door with windows.3. Reducing Heat Loss for Front Door Energy Efficiency
To ensure your front door is as energy efficient as possible, reduce the air leaks surrounding the door. Heat is lost through the air leaks around a door, so ensuring this space is sealed as well as possible should help enhance the energy efficiency of your home.What Entry Door Is the Best Choice for Your Home?
An entry door can increase or decrease the security and curb appeal of your home, so replacing an old front door with a higher quality door is consistently a valuable investment for homeowners, especially if the added value of the door to your home exceeds the upfront cost. What should you look for when you’re choosing a new entry door? For your new front door, you want a door that is secure, durable, visually appealing and energy-efficient.1. Security
Reinforced steel entry doors and solid fiberglass entry doors are the best choices for the security of your home. When you choose your steel or fiberglass front door, select one without windows to ensure the entrance of your home is secure. You can also pair your front door with an additional door to increase the security of the entrance. Beyond security, this second door can also add more protection from the weather and enhance your front door’s energy efficiency.2. Durability
Fiberglass and steel are among the most durable options for front doors. These doors don’t warp or crack like aluminum or wood. Fiberglass can hold up against extreme climates and weather and is resistant to moisture. Fiberglass front doors also won’t scratch, corrode or rust. For an entry door that is made to last, consider a steel or fiberglass front door.3. Visual Appeal
Visual appeal can greatly enhance the curb appeal of your home, which can have a significant impact on the value of your property. Beyond low functionality, old, rundown front doors are unpleasant to the eye and decrease your home’s value. A new steel or fiberglass door can provide your home with an enhanced, sleek look. These doors can be customized to your preferences and to fit the style of your home.4. Energy-Efficient
Because steel and fiberglass front doors have more insulation than wood or aluminum doors, they are also the most energy-efficient entry door options. If you’re seeking to keep your home energy efficient or to enhance your home’s energy efficiency, select a front door that has an adjustable threshold. Air can be blocked from flowing under the front door by raising an adjustable threshold. When you select an energy-efficient door, you can lower your heating and cooling costs. You can keep your house cooler by choosing a front door with a transom. This is a small window that is placed above a doorway. When you push open the transom, you allow air to flow into the home, even when the door is shut.Contact Marvin’s Garage Doors for Entry Doors Today
Does your home in North Carolina need a new entry door? We’ve served the area for more than 40 years, and we offer several entry door options as well as service options for our residential and commercial clients. Our commitment to excellence and customer service has resulted in recognition from the Better Business Bureau.
To learn more about how to choose an entry door or request a free estimate, contact us at Marvin’s Garage Doors today.