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Questions to Ask When Getting a New Modern Front Door

Are you planning to make a few updates to your home for the purpose of improving its curb appeal? If yes, then, make sure you go for an Inotherm modern front door. And if you think that all doors are just the same, you might want to give it a second thought. 

Just so you know, all doors are different and unique. This means that choosing the wrong door can easily make your home look a bit odd and off-balance. Your front door is among the very first things that people see when they visit your home. It also plays a very important job of keeping your house safe from drafts and of course, intruders. 

When shopping for a new front, it is easy to be overwhelmed and confused with all the different choices available. To make things easier for you, here are some questions you need to ask first before you make a final decision.

What Specific Door Style Do You Want?

The styles of front doors are as different as the architectural styles of houses. This means that whether you want a traditional panel door, a multi-light door, or a solid wooden door featuring an arched top, you can be sure to find something that suits your own taste and style. 

No matter what your chosen door style might be, there are three primary factors you should consider and these are style, security, and energy efficiency. Doors serve as the entry point yet only you, the members of your family, and your guests should be able to access it. The front door safety features are also very important. You must choose doors with features like unexposed hinges or special locks to make you feel secured and comfortable in your house.

Modern aluminum front door
Modern aluminum front door that can be opened using the application

A quality modern front door must also offer you protection from outside elements and keep you safe from the heat and cold of the great outdoors. If your top priority for a new door is security, you might want to stay away from doors that feature lights on the side or right in the door itself. However, if the foyer of your home is a bit dark, you can make things brighter with some sidelights. 

Residential door experts are well versed when it comes to the different style options so don’t think twice about asking them for some advice. 

What are the Best Materials for Front Doors?

Steel, wood, and fiberglass are the three most in demand options for door materials right now and each of them has its very own set of pros and cons. The material that you choose will probably depend on how much your budget is and if you have a covered porch or not.  

Fiberglass doors are low maintenance and energy efficient. These doors can also be made in almost all textures or colors and you can also paint them if you eve change your color scheme in the future. 

Fiberglass front door
Fiberglass front door with nice lighting

Steel doors are very durable and cost effective. Although they are not available in various options for texture like fiberglass doors, you can also paint steel doors. These doors also need less maintenance compared to wood doors. However, since bare metal will always have the tendency to rust, make sure you paint over dents or scratches. 

Wood doors are customizable and beautiful but they need constant maintenance to keep them protected from the elements. If you have an uncovered front porch, make sure you buy a glass storm   door to ensure that the wood door doesn’t deteriorate or warp. 

Should Your Front Door Swing Out or In?

Most front doors traditionally swing inward. But, it is now starting to become more and more common to see a modern front door that swings outward, especially in places prone to hurricanes. It is not possible to blow in doors that swing outwards so they offer improved defense against strong winds.

However, even if outdoor-swinging doors are great in windy climates, these might pose an issue in places that get heavy snowfall. Excessive accumulation of snow in front of your door can stop you from pushing your door open from inside the house. 

Video: Inotherm entrance doors

The primary reason why many people are hesitant about outdoor-swinging doors is none other than the issue of security associated with exposed hinges. In case an outdoor-swinging door suits your climate, remember that advanced hinged construction and technology in the past few years have made it almost impossible for intruders to damage or remove the hinges on doors that swing outwards. Also, outdoor-swinging doors are very hard to kick in or force, thus adding an extra security layer for your home.  

How Do You Pick the Right Locks for Your Front Door?

A dead bolt is definitely essential to ensure your home’s safety. A dead-locking latch bolt can stop burglars from using a credit card to open your lock. See to it that the strike plate and the lock are both installed properly. Your door won’t be as secure as you want it to be if the strike plate is not anchored with the correct hardware.

Many residential front doors feature lock sets that bear the Grade 2 security rating. Grade 1 duty is the most secure and is commercial duty but expect it to be pricey, too. Grade 3 locks are just simple handle locks not suitable for front doors. 

There are various styles to choose from when it comes to lock and handle sets, ranging from totally basic to extremely high tech and fancy. When deciding on the style, always consider your preferences and needs for safety, your budget and your door and home’s overall look.  

Do Front Doors Come with Warranty?

The lengths and types of warranties can differ among installers and door manufacturers so be sure that you ask around first regarding the options for warranty prior to making your final decision. 

A warranty can cover the costs of different issues and could also last for several years and for as long as your home stands. Modern front door installation is not a cheap process and a good warranty will save you from the need to spend more for unexpected issues in the future.