Before you head out to buy an exterior door for your home, make sure that you are familiar with the materials used to make this type of product. You should also know some of the terms commonly used to describe doors so that you and your sales representative are speaking the same language when you are making your selection.
Exterior Door Buying Guide: Materials
- Wood Doors
For a traditional look, opt for wood doors. They have a substantial weight that will give you and your family a feeling of security each time you open and close them. Wood doors may be painted or stained in various colours to give your home a natural, inviting appearance.
Wood doors are usually constructed using frame and panel construction to counteract the effects of seasonal changes. This type of exterior door is available in a number of choices, ranging from a relatively inexpensive composite wood up to a fir or walnut.
- Steel Doors
Steel doors offer the advantage of having an energy-efficient foam core insulation. They are fully weather stripped by the manufacturer. This style is resistant to swelling, shrinking and warping. Steel doors are highly durable and stand up well to extreme weather conditions with a minimum amount of maintenance.
They can be bought with pre-drilled door knob and lockset holes, which makes installation a very easy process. Steel doors come pre-primed; all you need to do is apply the top coat in any colour you choose.
- Fiberglass Doors
By choosing fiberglass doors, you will get the same level of energy saving as if you buy a steel door. This style of exterior door has a woodgrain texture moulded into its surface to give the appearance of real wood when the product is painted or stained.
Fiberglass doors are weather resistant, as well as able to stand up well to scratches and dents. They are a good choice for high traffic entrances.
Exterior Door Buying Guide: Terminology
Inswing: A door that opens in
Outswing: A door that opens out
Left Hand: On an Inswing door, the hinges are on the left and for an Outswing door, the hinges are on the right (when viewing the door from the home’s exterior)
Right Hand: For an Inswing door, the hinges are on the right, and for an Outswing door, the hinges are on the left (when viewing the door from the home’s exterior)
Lite: A pane of glass in a door
Divided Lite: Panes of glass that appear to be divided
Grille: Assembly in a door that gives the appearance of divided lites; may be made from plastic, wood, or metal
Caming: Strips for joining segmented glass
If you are looking for exterior doors this spring, George Kent Home Improvements Ltd. can help make your purchase more affordable with 12 months no interest, equal payments. Contact us for more information on this offer.
