A Guide to Choosing the Right Entry Door – PART III – Other Features to Consider: Cost, Safety, and Energy Efficiency

Almost no other part of the home gets as much exposure and attention as the entry door. It’s what greets family, friends, and guests as they step into your home. It speaks volumes about the people living inside. However, aside from beauty and style, there are also other factors and features to consider to ensure that your investment proves practical and valuable.

Cost
Like most investments in your home, purchasing a front door means that there will be upfront and long-term costs. These costs cover the purchase, installation, and maintenance requirements. Thus, when searching for an entry door, you must carefully consider your budget. Below are the specific factors that you must look into when trying to determine the relative cost of a door:

• Upfront costs vs. long-term benefits
• Estimated service or useful life
• Maintenance requirements and related costs
• Energy efficiency
• Strength and durability
• Features, hardware, and accessories
• Pre-finishing and finishing costs
• Additional features like locks, lighting, doorbell, etc.

In the end, it will be best to go for a door that not only offers beauty, but cost efficiency as well. And to determine that, you must weigh all the mentioned factors above.

Safety
Exterior doors must be well-built and must be made of a strong, solid material. Unlike indoor doors, entry doors take more of a beating from the external elements. They must also be tough enough to discourage unwelcome guests. To ensure that you have a safe and secure entry door, keep these pointers in mind:

• Exterior doors are meant to be heavier than interior doors that close off rooms and closets. It is recommended to opt for doors that have three or more hinges for extra strength.
• Steel doors offer the greatest security, but solid wood and fiberglass made of quality materials can also work well.
• Installing a deadbolt lock can enhance security and safety.
• Adding door chains and an all-metal security door over your front door can also greatly improve protection.

Energy Efficiency
Fenestration — including doors — can be a source of energy wastage due to leakage around gaps or conduction in the material, or both. You can lose much of the heated or cooled air through the door, which can lead to high utility bills. Thus, it is important to look at the energy performance of an entry door and learn of ways to enhance its efficiency. Consider the following when looking for energy-efficient front doors:

• Energy-efficient exterior doors are those that can withstand all types of weather and have adequate insulation properties.
• You may opt for doors that come with foam insulation.
• Weather-stripping around a door can help prevent drafts, so make sure to ask your dealer or contractor about this.
• Fiberglass and steel doors generally insulate better than solid wood.

Choosing the right entry door for your home is crucial, as it plays a huge role in keeping you and your family protected. Consulting with home improvement professionals can better help you find the product that best suits your personal preferences, while maintaining industry and local building standards.