How to Choose Entry Doors

Yes, your front door’s primary purpose is to allow people to enter and exit your home. But that doesn’t mean it’s purely a functional object. It also affects your home’s curb appeal, security, energy efficiency, and more. Entry doors are available in a variety of materials and styles, and finding the perfect fit may feel overwhelming. So, in this post, we’re going to walk you through the key factors you should consider to confidently choose an entry door that complements your home and meets your needs.

Factors to Consider When Selecting Entry Doors

Material

What material appeals to you? Many people are initially drawn to wood’s classic beauty and warmth, but it requires a lot of upkeep. Instead, consider fiberglass, which can mimic the attractive look of wood but is far more low-maintenance and energy-efficient. Or, if your top priority is strength and security, consider steel.

Beauty

Look for a style that complements your home’s architectural design, keeping the color, panel design, and hardware in mind. Many people opt for doors with glass panels, which welcome natural light and use double- or triple-glazing for strong insulation and security. You might also want to explore brickmould (the decorative molding used to finish the exterior face of the frame) and transom (decorative glass located above the door jamb). However, these are just the start of your style options! To fully understand the possibilities, work with a door expert.

Energy Efficiency

Like your windows, your exterior doors play a crucial role when it comes to your home’s energy efficiency. Look for doors with ENERGY STAR^® ratings and thermal breaks to reduce heat loss. In addition, pay attention to the weatherstripping, which seals the edge of the door jamb to keep out air and water, helping to maintain your home’s comfort and lower your utility bills. You might also wish to consider a kerfed door bottom, which is attached to the bottom of the door and helps keep the weatherstripping in place.

Safety & Security

To keep your loved ones safe and your belongings secure, opt for doors with strong frames, reinforced locks, and deadbolts. When it comes to material, steel and fiberglass offer better protection than wood, and tempered glass undergoes a special heat treatment to ensure superior strength. You may also want to consider a multi-point locking system, which increases security by using three or more points of contact. This optional upgrade significantly reduces the likelihood of forced entry by distributing the pressure from a potential break-in across multiple points.

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At Liberty Home Solutions, we offer top-quality steel and fiberglass entry doors with an array of design and functionality options. Our Therma-Tru^® door systems maximize the seal between the door slab and the frame, preventing wind and rain from infiltrating your home. They also use AccuGrain^® technology to add realistic grains and textures to your door so that they look like real, premium, beautiful wood. To learn more about the features and accessories available and peruse our gallery of entry doors, view our Entry Doors page.

When you’re ready to purchase the perfect entry doors for your home, reach out to Liberty Home Solutions for exceptional quality and service. Our friendly team would be delighted to answer your questions and guide you through your search. We can help you find the ideal entry and exit solution for your home, whether that’s French doors, patio doors, storm doors, or steel and fiberglass doors. Contact us now to learn more or request a quote for your project.