Installing a new, stylish exterior door is one of the easiest ways to immediately enhance your home’s aesthetic. You can create a customized entranceway expressing your taste with endless materials, colors, window designs, and decorative hardware options.
An aging, drab front or side entry door detracts from aesthetics and curb appeal. Replacing it with an on-trend, distinctive option shows your style to guests and neighbors. Consider finishes, glass patterns, intelligent features, and hardware to find your perfect match. Read on to understand how a stunning new exterior door can improve the curb appeal of your home,
1. Select Durable, Low-Maintenance Materials
When choosing materials, consider your home’s architecture, regional climate, and desired maintenance level. Fiberglass resists dents and scratches, while steel provides extreme durability and security. Wood demands frequent staining and sealing but provides natural beauty.
Iron and glass doors suit modern styles but require vigilance cleaning fingerprints. Composite blends like steel-clad wood offer a balance of strength and aesthetic appeal with moderate upkeep. Compare material warranties and lifespans before deciding.
Fiberglass doors are highly resistant to impacts, moisture, and temperature fluctuations. They require occasional cleaning but no refinishing over time. Fiberglass durability comes at the expense of customizable aesthetic options.
2. Incorporate Intricate Design Details
Add visual flair with colorful finishes, wood grains, leaded glass, iron scrollwork, window inserts, carvings, and arched transoms. Stained or beveled glass sidelights and transom windows allow natural light to enter while adding dimension.
Select traditionally styled doors with overlapping wood planks or wrought iron hardware for historic homes. Contemporary designs feature clean lines, oversized pivot hinges, and smart technology integration. Create depth with bold and contrasting colors that complement exterior paint schemes.
Led or stained glass sidelights and arched transom windows boost elegance while allowing sunlight to fill entryways. For privacy, choose obscured or frosted glass patterns that diffuse light transmission.
3. Choose Impact-Resistant Glass For Safety
Standard glass panes shatter easily when impacted, becoming dangerous and allowing intruder entry. Swapping in tempered, double-pane, or laminated glass windows boosts safety significantly. These specialty glasses resist cracking and remain intact if punctured.
Obscured glass acid etching also obscures the view into your home while allowing light transmission. For extreme durability, select bulletproof glass layered with polycarbonate sheets. Impact-resistant sidelights, transom windows, and door window inserts protect while retaining aesthetics.
4. Upgrade Hardware For Added Security
A gorgeous door still necessitates proper locking mechanisms for fortification against intruders. Prioritize sturdy deadbolts that extend deep into the door jamb, resisting lock-picking and kick-in attacks.
Install peepholes or one-way viewers to see who is outside before opening. Smart video doorbell systems enable remote visibility and communication. Electronic keypads and fingerprint scanners provide keyless convenience while limiting copied vital risks. Choose bulletproof glass and steel plating immune to ramming attempts for ultimate protection.
5. Accentuate With Eye-Catching Hardware Finishes
Even simple, affordable hardware becomes a focal point when finished in an elegant black, bronze, nickel, or distressed style. Satin nickel, rubbed bronze, and matte black complement traditional and contemporary designs.
Lever handles provide easier use for children and those with mobility limitations. Look for smooth, durable mechanisms that glide effortlessly when turning. For exterior doors in Toronto exposed to weather, select finishes touted for rust, corrosion, and tarnish resistance. Modern horizontal pulls or bars create a minimalist, accentuated look.
6. Hire Specialized Professionals For Installation
A proper installation sealing out moisture, insulating fully, and ensuring smooth operation is vital for entry doors. Trusting qualified professionals avoids future headache repairs from DIY mistakes. Meet with local installers to evaluate experience, licensing, training credentials, and charges.
Check reviews and request references to contact. An established company will explain building codes, measure precisely, and guarantee workmanship. They have the expertise to adjust units perfectly within openings and anchor securely. Investing in a pro yields reliable performance for years.
7. Compare Estimates And Credentials To Find The Best Value
Pricing for an entry door installation varies based on materials, size, accessibility, demo and disposal fees, and local labor rates.
When selecting, assess experience, training, certifications, reviews, and materials pricing. Then, balance cost savings with top credentials and quality materials to maximize value. Setting a clear budget beforehand helps guide decisions.
