Front doors introduce your home to onlookers and greet your visitors as they come inside. They have a great part in accentuating the style or era of your house, and thus give it character. That is why there are plenty of considerations to consider when trying to replace it. While our main principle is to restore than replace, here are some of the considerations in finding a new front door.
You might also want to check out: Internal Doors: Factors to Consider Before That Purchase
Why you should NOT replace
Staying true to our conviction to restore doors, let us first tell you the reason why you should not replace your front door. Front doors made from the older era are made from stronger wood materials and are highly durable. They already complement the style and era of your home, and with just a few tweaks and restoration jobs, they can be significantly improved. It can even exceed its previous look! Apart from that, damage to wood front doors can mostly be restored which will cost you much less than what you will need for a new one. However, if you are not convinced enough, then consider these important factors for your replacement.
Factor #1: Material
Front doors can be made from different materials. The most prevalent ones are made of wood, steel, or fibreglass. Wood doors typically fit most house styles. This type can match easily with your house and is versatile in terms of shape and style. Wood doors are prone to rotting and cracks after some time, however, this can be solved with better maintenance. Steel doors provide the most security and are the least expensive. However, it has a shorter lifespan, is prone to rust, and conducts temperature which can be terrible at extreme temperatures. Fibreglass doors are less likely to develop cracks, dents, or scratches. On the other hand, they are difficult to fit in varying sizes, so only standard sizes are usually available. Steel and fibreglass doors are more energy-efficient, however, wood doors can be transformed to be energy efficient as well.
Factor #2: Architectural Style
Most architectural styles present in the UK are Georgian, Victorian, or Tudor style houses. Georgian homes lean to a “traditional” style, usually made of brick or stone. Traditional doors are usually wood with fibreglass features. Victorian homes usually have entry doors with glass panels with stained glass effects. They use bold colours for their doors as well. Tudor styles are patterned with the medieval times and have doors that have arched tops that meet at a point in the middle. They mostly come in dark colours and have other fixtures such as a knocker to fit the vibe.
Factor #3: Budget
Budget plays a big factor in that purchase, as it can dictate what you can and cannot buy to fit your home. Steel doors are the least expensive of them all, however, since their lifespan is shorter, then a replacement may come again after some time. Solid exterior wood doors can be expensive, especially with tweaks to design and sizes. Fibreglass can be the most expensive especially with its varying styles.
While these are some of the most important factors to consider when you purchase, they can still differ depending on your actual purpose. You might want to elevate the house style or be more energy efficient, or simply replace it for a better working one. In case you have some of these troubles, remember that there are smart restoration solutions that can extend your door’s lifespan just as a new front door can!
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Pieter Boyce
Wooden Window and Door Specialist
This article was written on behalf of The Wooden Door Company by Pieter Boyce. Pieter has an intense passion for English Architectural history and has been specialising in the conservation of original wooden windows and doors for decades. His exceptional knowledge of timber windows and doors, both listed or non-listed, is attributed to his hands-on approach to learning all aspects of the complete restoration of original features as well as having personally surveyed thousands of items throughout his long tenure as a head surveyor for one of the largest window and door restoration companies in the UK. He now runs a boutique wooden window and door consultancy and fervently champions the retention of original windows and doors. To learn more of Pieter’s services, visit his website at www.boultonboyce.co.uk.