Exterior Doors – Making Your Entrance

The entry door is one of the first things people notice about a house. Its color, style, and condition are a big part of how a property looks from the outside, a major factor in what is reffered to as “curb appeal”. A stylish, well-maintained exterior door distinguish a home from those around it, and can often increase the selling price of a home on the market.

An exterior door has to endure the elements, and is often baked in harsh sun, accosted by wind and dirt, and subject to temperature extremes. Since the entry door is the first door visitors see in a home, it’s crucial to make sure it works as it should. An entry door made of wood is likely to swell, shrink, and bow over time if it is not properly treated in the beginning and correctly maintained after that. Failure to do this will result in warping and swelling which will eventually cause the door to stick at times and also can leave room for a draft to enter the home, driving up heating and cooling costs. The best way to prevent this is to make sure that your door is properly sealed before it is installed. If bowing is already present, a good storm door can eliminate drafts without the cost of replacing the entire door. A door that sticks can be shaved and sanded, then resealed. A fiberglass door won’t have the same problems as a wooden one. High end fiberglass doors require very little maintenance, and do a good job recreating the look and feel of a wood door, though they are a bit more expensive.