Buying a new front door isn’t everyone’s idea of a fun and exciting purchase experience. From the outset it would seem that there isn’t really that much to think about; pick a colour pick a style and worry about how you are going to fit it. You would be wrong.
Your front door not only says a lot about you, but there are a lot more things to consider than the short list above. Below we have tried to highlight the considerations which most potential buyers wouldn’t think about, but which can make a big difference.
How easy will it be to maintain?
Ok, so having just purchased a door or thinking about purchasing one fresh from the factory maintenance isn’t too high on your priority list. However, how much money it will cost to maintain is definitely something you should think about. Wooden doors for example require sanding and treating at regular intervals whilst a composite door with a GRP coating might just require a wipe every so often. Some materials such as wood tend to swell in overly damp and humid conditions.
Do I need to fit my own hardware?
It is rare these days to be able to buy a door without any hardware attached. By hardware we mean locks, letter flaps, numbers and basically anything else which you might append to your door. Therefore if you have a specific finish in mind you might want to search for a company which allows you to customise your door prior to order. A lot of companies now have online configurators which help make the process even easier.
How secure it is?
You really do need to think about this, after all when you think about it the primary reason for having a door is to keep unwanted visitors out. Every country has its own standards and legislative bodies which manufacturers need to comply with. Firstly make sure that the door you are considering meets the minimum standards, you might also want to look at the next levels up. Remember that stepping up security may also positively affect your home insurance premium.
Will it reduce your carbon footprint?
Government initiatives and a greater willingness from product developers to comply mean it has never been easier to lower your impact on the environment. The UK government just implemented minimum U value ratings (a measure of how much heat is lost) for doors meaning that every new door must meet a very strict 1.8 or lower. Thus buying a well insulated door will not only lower your heating/cooling bills, but it will also have a positive effect on the environment.
What’s in a colour?
Probably the first decision you will make when looking for a new door is picking a colour. When you think about famous doorways it is usually the colour not the period style which sticks in your mind. Different colours have different properties, and everyone has an opinion as to their favourite. This decision really does in the end boil down to personal preference as you are the one looking at it for the foreseeable future.
This article and ideas are brought to you in association with Yale composite doors. All Yale doors adhere to the strictest security regulations. Yale’s contemporary doors range combines bold design with state of the art manufacturing techniques.
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