Choosing the Right Exterior Door Material

Exterior doors often serve as a defining feature in a house. They can give an old mansion an upscale look, or they can make a small house cozy and inviting. While there are many types of exterior doors, the type of door you choose will depend on your overall preference. Choosing the right door is important because it has a significant impact on how the outside of the house looks.

While interior doors are usually made of one material like wood or PVC, exterior doors tend to be more durable compared to interior ones. Interior doors made of hardwood for instance, can be expected to last for about 20 years before having to be replaced. On the other hand, exterior wood doors can be expected to last for about twice as long. This is why it makes a lot of sense to buy exterior wooden doors for houses with less expensive houses.

When looking for exterior doors, you should also look at the glass options. There are a wide variety of exterior doors with different kinds of glass such as frosted, etched, or stained glass. Each kind of glass has its own strengths and weaknesses, so you have to choose wisely. However, if you can afford it, having etched glass is always preferable since it is more durable than regular WDMA.

Meanwhile, if you are looking for interior doors, you can expect them to be more expensive. The reason for this is that they are typically constructed from a single material like wood. There are usually fewer types of wood used to construct interior doors. However, there are typically a wide variety of woods to choose from, meaning that you have to do some research to find the right one.

The best option for exterior doors is to get them custom-made. If you want to get them customized, you should inquire from door dealers about the best options you have when it comes to wood, color, and so on. Keep in mind that the more you ask, the more options you will have, so be prepared for a lot of talking.

Aside from the usual kind of wood used to construct interior doors, another option you have is vinyl. This is a relatively new door material that is constructed out of a composite of plastic and metal, which give it the strength of a wooden door but the look of steel. They are typically constructed out of a single material, making it easier to clean and maintain. Vinyl exterior doors often come in white, beige, black, or brown shades, giving you a wide variety of choices when choosing the appropriate interior door.

Keep in mind that buying a prefabricated exterior door is not a good idea. It is most commonly used for construction trailers since it is less expensive than building the entire house from scratch. In addition, prefabricated exterior doors cost more because they are made in bulk, which increases the company's manufacturing costs. Instead of saving up and buying a new door, you should opt to buy a prefabricated interior door. The savings you will have on the building costs will more than make up for the additional amount you will spend for the interior door.

Last but not least, if you want to have glass as the primary entry door material, it is important that you get solid wood doors. Aside from the aesthetic appeal of having hard-to-break glass, it is stronger than other door materials. As for the locking system, a good locking mechanism is one that requires key cutting. In this case, the lock will not break once the key is cut but it will just fall off when pressure is applied to the lock. In fact, most manufacturers recommend installing solid wood doors for security and safety purposes.