Your front door makes a big impact on visitors and adds to your home’s overall curb appeal. It also serves a number of important functions, such as security and energy efficiency.
There are many considerations to make when choosing an entry door for your Dallas home. You need to balance aesthetics with durability in a harsh climate.
Fiberglass
If your entry door is in need of replacement, upgrading to a high-quality model is one of the best home investments you can make. While wood doors tend to warp, rot or delaminate, fiberglass alternatives are tough and nearly maintenance free.
Fiberglass exterior doors have a beautiful natural look that complements any architectural style from traditional to contemporary. They’re also extremely energy-efficient, minimizing heat transfer and keeping your house comfortable during all seasons.
Manufacturers have become better at imitating the appearance of real wood grains on fiberglass doors. In addition, a wide range of customization options are available for these durable, attractive and secure exterior entries.
Wood
The front door of a home is its first impression and creates a sense of entry and welcoming to guests. While there are many factors that should be considered when choosing a front door, some of the most important include style and design, durability, security, and energy efficiency.
Wood doors exude a timeless elegance and can enhance the beauty of any home. They are available in a variety of colors, styles, and finishes to complement any architectural style. They are also durable and versatile, and can be customized with molding and designs. Many wooden doors have a solid engineered wood core, which helps improve insulation and save on energy costs.
Steel front doors are resistant to rot, warping, and cracking, making them ideal for the Texas climate. They are also a good choice for homeowners who prioritize security, as they are more difficult to breach than other types of doors. They are durable and can be easily cleaned with soap and water.
Wrought Iron
Iron front doors make a strong impression of elegance and luxury. They are durable and easy to care for, and their strength is a deterrent against burglars. Iron doors are available in a variety of styles, from simple curves to intricate twists and scrolls. They can be molded into unique shapes that add curb appeal to any home.
Wrought iron is made from semi-fused pure iron and slag, which contains silicon, sulfur, aluminum and phosphorous. It is then worked into a design using the skill of a blacksmith who heats the metal and hammers it to shape. This process is what gives it its name, as wrought means “worked.”
Today the term wrought iron is used to describe any piece of metal that has a traditional wrought iron look. This is a bit misleading because mild steel that is machine-bent into a design or cast iron that has been painted black are both regularly mislabeled as wrought iron work. The best way to tell if you’re getting true wrought iron is to perform a spark test and see how it burns. Wrought iron will burn with long sparks while steel produces short, smooth flames.
Storm Doors
A storm door offers a range of benefits for homes in the Texas region, including reduced air and dust infiltration and enhanced security. A quality storm door should also feature a deadbolt lock and tinted or insulated glass panels. When shopping for a storm door, be sure to choose one that matches your home’s style and location. A good way to test a storm door is by standing in front of it and looking around—a good install will have no daylight visible between the door and the Z-bar.
Two staple choices for storm doors are full view and half-view styles. Full-view doors leave the original door frame exposed and come in various frame colors to match your aesthetic, while half-view models create a new frame around the original door. Both types of storm doors provide protection from harsh weather conditions and offer a wide range of ventilation options.