Entry Doors make a Statement

If you are considering replacing your windows, consider also upgrading your faded and weather-beaten entry door.  A beautiful entry door can do more to enhance the appearance of your home than most people realize, especially if you are in the process of selling your home.

Upgrading your front or entry door is not an extravagance expense as there is an astonishing amount of doors and related hardware for you to select from, all in a wide variety of styles, materials, and prices.

You can select from a door that is as simple as a flush door, which is usually the least expensive style.  A Flush Door if it made from wood, fiberglass, or metal can be painted to match or complement the color of your home.  Wood and some fiberglass or composite flush doors can also be stained. 

The next style is the Panel Door, which is a very classic style that has three or four horizontal rails and three vertical stiles.  The areas between the rails and stiles are filled with thinner panels, surrounding each panel is decorative molding known as “sticking,”  which provides a rich textured door suitable for both traditional and contemporary style homes.

Windowed Doors are doors that have windows or lights as they are sometimes referred as, are more expensive than panel doors.  Widow doors can be made of solid hard wood such as oak, or metal, or fiberglass.  The windows can be plan glass with attractive muntins or grills, or the glass can be cut glass, stained glass, beveled and opaque, just to name a few of the many options available.  

The most expensive style of entry door is the Decorative carved-solid wood doors.  These usually have rails and stiles with a carved decorative section in the middle.  Decorative carved doors may or may not have lights, which will increase the cost, but will make a memorable impression on your guest. 

What makes decorative carved-wood doors so expensive, is that the door is often made from solid woods, such as cherry, mahogany, walnut, pine, ash, oak, maple, and more.  In addition to the rich wood used in creating these beautiful doors, they may also have wrought iron grills, and decorative beveled glass lights.

If your entry door is exposed to the elements, there is something you should know, wood has a tendency to warp, expand, contract, and even crack.  Therefore, consider protecting your beautiful entry door with a storm door.  Storm doors can be made of metal, vinyl, fiberglass and even a few models are made of wood.  In addition, security storm doors are also available, which not only gives you the benefit of protecting your entry door from the elements, blocking drafts, but security storm doors can also be locked to keep out intruders.