Perhaps no area of the outside of your home gets as much use – or attention – as your front door. Here you receive guests and visitors, here you pass out Halloween tricks, and here you string the holiday lights. And for those passing by, the front door can say a lot about who lives inside. What kind of statement does your front door make?
When you’re choosing a front door, the possibilities are almost endless. There are a wide range of design options as well as materials. You can add interest with glass sidelights, or in-door glass, grilled or not. And then there is size, ranging from standard to extra-wide to double doors. What you choose often depends on the space you have to work with, but even within those constraints personal style has plenty of room for expression. Here are some things to keep in mind when choosing a front door:
Style: Your door needs to blend with the overall design of your home and needs to fit in well with the existing architecture. If you have a historic Victorian, don’t choose a full-glass contemporary design. And if your door will sit in an entry area with plenty of other ornamental features, keeping the door itself simple in design might be preferable.
Material: Choose from fiberglass, wood, or steel. Wood has an unmatched natural beauty, but of the three it’s the most expensive choice. It also requires the most maintenance. And since wood is highly affected by sun and the elements, if your front door is exposed to constant sunlight or harsh northern winds, you’ll probably need frequent repainting or staining, and it may have to be replaced sooner than other types. If you’re looking for a more economical choice, consider fiberglass. In spite of being light, it is also very durable, and its foam core makes it well insulated. Of the three materials, steel is the least expensive. It’s also strong, but it is susceptible to denting. And since steel conducts temperature, it may not be the greatest energy-efficient choice.
Cost: When calculating the cost of your new door, consider more than just the up-front cost and installation price. Take into account the useful lifespan, maintenance costs, and possible energy savings.
Your front door is where your home greets the neighborhood, ,and it’s where you welcome people inside. When choosing your next front door, look for something that fits with your home and the statement you want to make. If you’re not sure what will work for your home, contact the replacement window and door professionals at Window Outfitters today. Serving the entire Minneapolis/St. Paul metro area.
Window Outfitters is a premier Window Replacement, doors, siding contractor and installer. As Contractor in the St Paul, Minneapolis, (Twin Cities) Minnesota (MN) metro, we proudly serve, but are not limited to, the following areas: Minneapolis Energy Efficient Vinyl Windows, Replacement Window Contractors Minnesota, Burnsville, Apple Valley, Lakeville, Savage, Bloomington, Edina, Richfield, Eagan, St Paul, Hastings, Minnetonka, Plymouth, Maple Grove, Eden Prairie, Farmington MN, Chaska, Shakopee, Chanhassen, Victoria, Mendota Heights Anderson Windows Minneapolis, Marvin Windows Minneapolis.
