A wooden front door is typically a solid contender when compared with fiberglass and steel doors. Picking a door for your home amidst a plethora of options can be a daunting process. Starting from the color, material, style, and size, everything holds equal importance, as the front door of your house is the first element of attraction. If you’re building a new home or renovating the existing one, investing time in choosing the right doors should be of extreme importance as it could enhance the overall look of your house. I believe you have done your part of the research and are still unsure if a wooden front door would be the optimum choice for your home. To help you out in the procedure, let’s delve deep into understanding the efficacy of wooden front doors.
Why Choose Wooden Front Doors?
Wooden doors are the best for resisting wear. It leaves no dent or scratches over time. A solid wooden front door is made of species like oak, maple, knotty alder, mahogany, etc. A solid wooden front door with proper installation, together with weatherstripping and caulking can improve the efficiency to a greater extent. Wooden doors are a traditional choice and have proved to remain popular over the decades. You can also consider wooden doors a cost-efficient option if you’re conscious about the budget. Wooden doors are of remarkable versatility and can be tailored with a unique design. Wood, being a natural insulator, keeps the warmth in and noise out. They also establish a magnificent resistance against ice, wind, snow, and rain. If you’re looking out for a long-lasting and rust-free option for your exterior, then a wooden door is the best choice.
Insights On Maintenance
Reapplications as it weathers, painting, and varnishing as and when needed are the primary maintenance required for the wooden doors. Regular tabs and maintenance and care are vital for the doors to remain undamaged and function effectively for a greater number of years. A well-maintained front door not just creates an enticing first impression but also adds value to the aesthetic look of your home. The common problems to address regarding the maintenance of wooden front doors are dirt, wind, moisture, intense light, etc. Examine the following facts to act on them before it’s too late.
- Bubbles
- Rotting timber
- Peeling Paint
- Dark streaks
- Woodgrains
- Cracks
Once you find any of the above defects in the door, you must repair the door as soon as possible. Perform periodic checks to minimize the time spent in reworks.
Costs Involved
Though wooden doors are not very costly, the cost solely depends on how fancy you expect them to be. Simple engineered wooden doors range from about $200 whereas solid wooden doors start from $500. A solid wood door with a pre-hung door in the frame, locksets, hinges, sidelights and weatherstripping can range anywhere between $2,000 – $4000. A wooden door with a pre-build insulation core is more economical compared to the latter. This ranges between $300 – $500 for the door and the installation would cost an additional $250.
The cheapest among everything is the stock wood door which is typically an intercede of wood-veneer skin over engineered-wood cores. It is also the least durable option. If you opt for this option, go for furniture-grade veneer, which is at least 1/16’’ thick. Anything below that will wear off quickly and easily.
Are They Safe?
Contrary to the general notion, it is an arduous process to break in a wooden door than a fiberglass or steel door. However, there are a few other factors to consider for safety and security, as these are two things you cannot compromise on. Few of the other essential things that attribute the safety:
- Lockset: A mortise lock is a viable option, as they’re built with elevated grade steel, which is stronger than the other boring locksets.
- Hinges: A 3-inch-long screw in all the hinges to dock the side jamb safely to the stud.
- Thickness: A hefty 1 3/8 inches with standard locksets is essential to ensure safety. Anything more than that would require a special lockset and even bigger hinges.
Tips To Buy
If you’re now definitive about buying a wooden front door, let’s look at how to choose the best one for your home.
- Width: Give the topmost priority to the width. Scale your door in feet and inches, starting with width and then the height.
- Lingo: The most common size, called the ‘three-oh, six-eight, has a width of 3 feet and a height of 8 inches.
- Right from left: Doors come in both left and right-handed. This depends on the hinges. The right-handed door has hinges on its right side and vice versa.
Also, there are two types of wooden front doors: Prehung and Slab.
The Prehung door comes docked to a weather-stripped frame, with pre-built holes for the locksets. They’re the ideal choice for a newly constructed house. On the contrary, slab doors come without hinges and with no pre-built bores for locksets. They’re optimum if you’re looking out to replace the existing door. Additionally, a good measurement eliminates the nuisance of alterations and other after works.
Also, there are four common configurations for doors:
- Panel
- Windowed (1/2, ¾, ¼ or full view)
- Patio/sliding
- Carved wood/ decorative
Within these categories, there are again different styles like craft workers door, classic door, arched door, custom door, rustic door, contemporary door, etc. to choose from.
Final Thoughts
The style and look of your front door can break or make the curb appeal of your home. If you want to replace the old door or are looking for a door for your newly constructed house, there are ample features and styles to choose from. Unless you’re dealing with an intact budget, you can opt for a completely customized design from scratch that would fit in perfectly for your home. Start with getting quotes from professional vendors to ensure you get the safest and secure wooden front door fitted to your house. You will love the feel, look, and sound of wood. Go for it!
