The entry door is the first thing that your guests get to see and touch. At such, it can speak volumes about your home and you. Sure, your entire house is noticeable, but the front door tells an entire story on its own.

People were always choosing solid doors that would protect them from the outer world and keep unwanted intruders out. Today when we can choose from a variety of front doors in any design, colour and material, things may be challenging. Which door is the right for you? It should protect your home, look good and match your exterior, while being made of a material that won’t be ruined after several years of heavy rainfalls and other harsh outdoor conditions.

Picking a front door is serious business and can’t be done just like that. Here are the types of materials to consider when exploring the range of front doors.

Steel

Naturally, the first thing you want from your front door is security. Steel doors are ideal for security and durability. This is the strongest door material that won’t crack or warp. They have an inner frame made of wood for even more strength. The inside of the frame is filled with high-density foam insulation. The surfaces are smooth and have an embossed wood-grain pattern.

Most of these doors have a baked-on polyester finish which you’ll have to repaint occasionally to preserve the sleek look. When it comes to installation, steel doors have a prehung system. They come with attached hinges or predrilled holes for the hinges. The hinge area on the door needs to match the hinge area on your door frame.

Solid Hardwood

The good old hardwood is perhaps one of the most popular materials for a front door. These front doors were the main option for people for many, many years. Wood is aesthetically pleasing and there are many different colours and designs you can choose from. It’s a natural material that will prove you with the security you want.

Most door manufacturers use oak, walnut, maple, cherry, mahogany or pine. Many wood doors are made as a sandwich of wood-veneer skins over an engineered-wood core. This combination reduces the expansion and contraction that will inevitably happen as the weather changes. Depending on your budget, you can find a door that can be a few hundred dollars, up to models that are quite expensive. So it’s excellent for everyone’s budget.

However, you should have in mind that this is a natural material that can expand and contract as the weather and temperature change. You will certainly have to repaint it every few years, especially if you live in a humid climate area. This way you’ll secure your front door to last for many years. But don’t let this keep you away from the door you want to get. Many people have no trouble repainting their wooden exterior front doors. In fact, wood is such a great material that you can combine it with glass or steel and get the door of your dreams.

Fibreglass

This is a smart choice for harsh and humid weather. Fibreglass can be designed to resemble wood so it’s a double win. These doors are tough and don’t require any special maintenance. Underneath the moulded surface there’s a framework of wooden rails and stiles and wood edges for the lockset.

If you’re looking for a door with a long lifespan, this should be high on your priority list. The simplistic fibreglass doors are also an excellent choice if you want a Scandinavian living space; The fewer details the better. Since there is glass included, there’s always the risk of breaking. To secure the door, use a double-glazed laminated glass. It’s a good way to keep intruders out.

Glass-reinforced Plastic

Composite front doors are quite new on the market; their first appearance happened around 10 years ago. These doors were aimed at homeowners who wanted to maintain the appearance of a wood door whilst benefiting from modern materials. Modern materials mean less work and maintenance. These doors are usually about 44mm thick and are thermally efficient, but they may not be the most secure. And, they are usually painted (over the white fibreglass skin) these doors are prone to scratches.

Match the Door to Your House Design

Now that we saw the potential materials for your front door, we’d like to discuss a few things about aesthetics. We’re sure you already have some pre-set ideas and plans on how you want your door to look. But these tips might help you put things into perspective.

What’s important is to match your front door to the period of your home’s exterior. For instance, if your home is a contemporary building with simple lines and minimalistic decor, then you certainly should go for a similar style. If you go for a wooden door, pick something free of ornaments. A large door handle made of steel and wood could make a wonderful focal point.

Another thing to think of is the colours. The house facade will determine the colour of your door. For instance, a white facade is excellent because you can literally add any colour of door you want. You can go with brown, red, black, even grey door. For modern houses that have dark facades, you can easily make a good match if you get fibreglass and steel, to add that modern, even a bit industrial look.