Most homeowners don't think much beyond aesthetics in planning their renovation. That's especially true when it comes to replacing the front door, one of the most important elements of a dwelling's appearance. There's a variety of door options to be aware of, as well as installation and maintenance issues that can't be ignored.
The first thing you have to decide when you sit down with your window and door contractor is what material you want the door to be made of: wood, metal or fibreglass.
Another consideration is protecting the door as much as possible from the elements. Storm doors are helpful, but I don't like to see exterior doors without a roof or porch over them. With wooden doors, protecting them from the weather will keep them from rotting out. Even if your door is steel, the frame isn't, and water will roll down to the sill and get through to the interior. I see it all the time.
Traditionally, exterior doors were made of wood, but they are losing popularity because they aren't as durable as metal or fibreglass. They can still be the most expensive option, however, especially solid-wood doors.
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A wooden door has an enduring beauty to it. The problem comes in trying to keep it looking beautiful. It will require fresh paint or varnish every few years. Even though they look spectacular and are built well, they are the most vulnerable to weather in cold winter climates.
The biggest problem with solid-wood doors is that they absorb moisture from the air, especially if the edges aren't sealed properly. The sun can also do a lot of damage, especially in the winter when it's above freezing in the sun and below freezing in the shade. The constant expansion and contraction can cause warping and a deterioration of the paint or varnish in a single winter.
Manufacturers have come out with doors that have engineered wood cores and a laminated veneer finish. Since engineered wood is made from wood sheets and fibres glued together, it resists warping.
A better-quality door will have strong laminate, sealed at all the edges to prevent moisture seepage. A cheap wood-core door just doesn't compare, regardless of the price. Remember you get what you pay for.
The most popular alternative to a wood door is a metal one. But the quality of these products varies widely. Steel doors are made with a wood frame, filled with dense polyurethane foam, and covered with a steel skin, crimped at the overlap. The foam acts as a thermal barrier and the wood frame acts to stiffen the slab and make it easy to attach hinges, handles and locks.
One advantage of steel is that it is perfect for magnetic weather-stripping, which is a great seal against cold, just like in your fridge.
The newest innovations are fibreglass doors and frames, which are ideal in hot-climate zones since they do not absorb heat. They also don't warp, split, dent, rust or rot. They come in any texture and can be painted or stained and varnished. Best of all, a fibreglass door and frame will cost only about 20 per cent more, installed, than a good-quality wood or steel system. That's not bad for a door that will last forever.
You've got to remember that the slab is only one part of the door — no matter what it's made of. You've got to think about the frame as well, since most exterior doors come prehung. Cheap doors will have thin particleboard frames, possibly only three-quarters of an inch thick, compared with a standard, higher-quality frame made of 1-1/2-inch thick, finger-jointed wood. Make sure the door sill is reinforced with wood below. A cheap door has a hollow sill that will collapse with use.
Installing an exterior door isn't just a matter of choosing a door and hanging it.
Is your door a standard size? Lucky for you if it is, but don't assume it will be, especially in an older home. Custom doors are always special order and will cost you more. They also may take six to eight weeks — some times even longer — to deliver.
Is there any special work required to install a door? Probably. You may need to cut back the brickwork, and you can bet that some framing will be needed. Also, if you are replacing a door that's been leaking over time, there will be wood rot — no question. That means that framing or even the structure needs to be replaced before the door can go in. You may have to spend as much on the installation as on the door itself.
But installation is key, so make sure you hire a pro. No matter what your door costs, if it's not properly put in, it will look like crap and lead to a world of trouble. When it comes to doors, spend your money right. Buy quality and have it installed professionally.
Mike Holmes is the host of Holmes on Homes on HGTV. E-mail Mike at mikeholmes@holmesonhomes.com or go to www.holmesonhomes.com.
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