Your entry door is the first thing people notice when they come to your home. It makes a statement and sets the tone for the rest of the house. Is your door sending the right message? If not, let us help you select the right door for your home. You will learn the key terms you need to know as well as different materials available for doors.
Exterior Door Terminology
Doors have their own special language. In order to make an informed choice about a new door, you need to learn some of the lingo:
- Inswing (I/S)- A door that opens in.
- Outswing (O/S)- A door that opens out.
- Left hand- For an I/S door, hinges are on the left and for an O/S door hinges are on the right (when the door is viewed from the house's exterior).
- Right hand- For an I/S door, hinges are on the right and for an O/S door hinges are on the left (when the door is viewed from the house's exterior).
- Lite- A pane of glass in a door.
- Divided lite- Panes of glass that are or appear to be divided.
- Grille- Plastic, wooden or metal assembly in a door that gives the appearance of divided lites.
Traditional Entry Doors
- Steel doors have energy efficient foam core insulation and are fully weatherstripped by the manufacturer. They are highly resistant to shrinking, swelling and warping. Their tough steel construction will withstand years of extreme weather conditions with minimum maintenance. The doors can be purchased with pre-drilled doorknob and lockset holes, making installation even easier. Steel doors come pre-primed and ready to paint.
- Fiberglass doors offer the same energy saving and easy installation qualities as steel doors. Fiberglass doors have wood grain texture molded into the door so they give the appearance of a real wood door when painted or stained. Their high quality composite construction makes these doors resistant to all sorts of weather as well as scratches and dents. These are an excellent choice for extreme climates and high traffic entrances.
- Wood doors offer the most traditional look. The familiar look and feel of a well-crafted wooden door sends an inviting message of home and hearth. The substantial weight of a wooden door adds a sense of security and sturdiness to your home. These doors may be painted or stained for a natural, warm appearance. Wooden doors are usually made using frame and panel construction to counteract the effects of climatic or seasonal changes.
Patio Doors
Patio doors, including French and sliding glass doors, range from five to over twelve feet in width. The selection of patio doors is as diverse as their sizes:
Sliding doors are like big picture windows. The doors are usually large panes of glass mounted in a frame with rollers. They are manufactured from a variety of materials including:
o Aluminum doors are usually the least expensive. Their all-aluminum construction won't rust and is easily maintained.
o Vinyl doors are low maintenance and energy efficient. The tough vinyl frames are easy to maintain and look new for years. Most vinyl patio doors offer low-e insulated glass and factory installed weatherstripping for maximum energy-efficiency.
o Wood doors are normally the highest quality and the most expensive patio doors. Wood patio doors offer the same natural aesthetic qualities as traditional wood doors with the added bonus of a full view through the large pane.
o Wood clad doors are wooden doors and frames with a vinyl, fiberglass or aluminum coating on the exterior face of the door. The coating serves as an armor to protect the wood from the elements and still allows you to have the look of real wood inside.
French doors are available in the same materials as sliding glass doors and more. They are also available in steel and fiberglass, with the same characteristics as those found in traditional entry doors of the same material. French doors are available with either left or right handed inswing or outswing. You can also purchase units where both doors open. These units are available with or without brick mold stops in the center.
Exterior Door Accents
There are plenty of accents available to help you fully customize your entryway to your liking.
- Glass- All door types are available with decorative glass. While most doors have insulated glass for energy efficiency, others may have beveled, silk-screened or stained glass with genuine brass caming (joining strips for segmented glass). The glass may be one large lite or have a grille that separates the glass into several lites.
- Sidelites- Sidelites are available for all types of doors. You may use one sidelite on either side of the door or have one on each side.
- Transoms- Transoms are available for all types of doors, in three distinct shapes: arch, ellipse and box.
- In-glass blinds- Some doors have adjustable blinds made inside the glass pane.
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