Thinking of buying a new Wooden Front Door? free advice...
When wanting to replace the exterior wooden front door at your property, lots of homeowners tend to easily choose their back door or side door. When it comes to deciding which wooden front door to install; it is often not so easy. It goes without saying that this door plays such a huge role in the first-impressions of your home and for this reason, many are conscious of ensuring that they invest in the best possible door for their property.
Aside from the fact that you have a number of pre-made and mass produced designs to choose from in PVC; wooden doors are so much more bespoke and prestigious. Not only from from choosing any style of door you wish or have seen before; you can customise and make it bespoke to suit your height when it comes to spy holes or choose various different secure locks to suit you and your family.
When working with an experienced wooden front door company, you will have the opportunity to tailor almost every aspect of your wooden entrance door to suit your property and your family. So, to help any homeowners who are attempting to choose a new door, we have put together a list of different things to think about that can help you to ensure you install the perfect entrance door at your property.
The overall style of your new wooden front door
This is one of the very first things to think about whenever you want to install a new entrance door. You will need to think about things such as whether you’d like an arched or swept frame head and how many panels you’d like on the door. All of these design features will dramatically influence the overall styles of the door, so be sure to think about them carefully.
A high security locking system that suits you
This is arguably one of the most important things to think about when you’re buying a new entrance door, yet it is easily overlooked. Take some time to consider all of the different locking and security options available, from night latches and deadlocks (which are both locks of the past) to new systems which are all operated from a single operation. Security cylinders are also critical, so you have more options than you may realise in this regard.
The essentials for a Secure door is to insist on a 3 star cylinder and a locking mechanism which is an SBD Security tested and a certified safety lock, preferably with hook bolts.
Wooden Front Door hardware options
With every timber entrance door, you also have a wide variety of hardware or accessories to choose from too, including; the door handle, the house number, the door knocker, the letterbox, the spy hole and much more.
When considering the options you have, think about everything from the colour, installed locations to the finish and ensure that the decision you make is in line with the style you’re wanting and the residents who need to use the door.
The type of wood used
Many homeowners don’t realise that when they purchase a ‘wooden’ entrance door, they actually have different types of wood to choose from. Whether you opt for a softwood like European Redwood or a hardwood like Sapele or Oak, there are advantages to all types of timber. So, it is important to do your research and think about which you’d like to go for.
To help sum it up quickly; softwood is more energy efficient so if the door is not being used and abused daily then perhaps this is the best choice. The bonus for softwood is that it is also much cheaper than hardwood as resources are more plentiful.
If your new door is for example your front door, then perhaps a hardwood is the way to go. As it is self explanatory, hardwood is simply harder! So which hardwood is best? That depends on the type of finish you want and also on the location of the door in your property. I would choose Sapele in most cases, especially if the door is going to be painted in any colour you choose, be it a white door or black door or any other RAL colour can be chosen. You can also have a combination of colours.
Oak would only be my preferred option if the door is located in a shaded area with minimal exposure to the weather as Oak has a tendency to fade, especially when a light stain is used and it is exposed to direct sunlight. It is not a great decision to paint an Oak door as it has a natural tannin which can distort the colour of the paint, especially when exposed to a lot of rain.
The colour and type of wood protection
You will also need to think about the colour of your new entrance door. It goes without saying that the colour you choose can completely transform the whole look of the door and also your entire home. So, carefully consider the different colour options and shades available before you make your decision.
The glazing of your new wooden door
When choosing the type of glass for your entrance door, it is also important to think about the different glazing options you have. Whilst you may be set on double glazing or safety glass, for example, you still also need to consider the different glass types available. Decide whether you’d like clear, patterned or obscure glass and then narrow down your options from here. You can also have your property name or number coloured or sandblasted into the glass design.
Buying a new wooden front door
Hopefully, by taking the time to think about everything mentioned above, you will have a better idea of what your individual needs and requirements are for your new timber entrance door. You can then not only begin to narrow down the vast market but when working with a timber door company, you can ensure that any customisation you make is perfect for your property too. It is undeniably beneficial to know exactly what you’re wanting before you commit to anything.
When searching for a new timber entrance door, be sure to contact our team here at Authentic Timber Windows today. We have been supplying homeowners with wooden front doors for many years now and we create every product as if it was being made for our own home, so you will never need to worry about the quality of our doors. Our talented team will gladly assist you in creating the perfect entrance door for your property and with a number of customisable options to choose from, so you can trust that the finished product will be everything you hoped it would be.