4 Advice to Choose a Wooden Door

This article was published on June 25,

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A wooden front door is not just an entrance to your home. It’s also an essential part of your home’s kerb appeal. When it comes to choosing a front door, wooden doors have always been a popular choice due to their timeless beauty, durability, and natural charm. However, selecting the perfect wooden front door requires careful consideration. In this blog, we’ll explore five top tips that will help you make an informed decision and choose a wooden front door that enhances the beauty and security of your home.

1. Consider the Style and Architecture of Your Home

One of the first things to consider when choosing a wooden front door is the style and architecture of your home. The front door should complement the overall design and character of your property. If you have a traditional or period-style home, a solid wood door with intricate details and panelling would be a suitable choice. Art Deco properties suit doors with intricate lead detailing, sympathetic to the era of the home. For a more modern or contemporary home, a sleek and minimalist design with clean lines might be more appropriate. Take into account the materials, colours, and finishes that will harmonise with your home’s exterior and interior design.
The benefit of choosing a wooden front door over uPVC or composite is the wide range of colour options available. Here at ERW, we have over 150 different colours to choose from meaning we’re sure to have a shade which suits you and your home.

2. Prioritise Durability and Weather Resistance

Since the front door is exposed to the elements, it’s crucial to select a wooden door that is durable and weather-resistant. Consider doors with proper weather sealing and finishing treatments. A well-sealed door with a protective coating will prevent moisture penetration and enhance its longevity, ensuring it stands up to various weather conditions for years to come.
Ensure the door you opt for comes with a guarantee against rot and fungal decay, giving you peace of mind regarding the quality of your door.

3. Pay Attention to Security Features

Security is a paramount concern when choosing a front door. According to the Home Office, 67% of intruders break into homes through the door, often through plastic frames and doors made of weaker and more vulnerable materials.
While wooden doors exude elegance, they should also provide robust protection for your home and loved ones. Look for doors that include state of the art locking mechanisms, such as multi-point locking systems, anti-bump and anti-snap locking cylinders and security glazing.

4. Evaluate Energy Efficiency

Energy efficiency is a significant factor to consider when selecting a wooden front door, as it can impact your home’s heating and cooling costs. Look for doors that are equipped with insulation materials and have a high energy efficiency rating. Choosing an energy-efficient wooden front door will not only benefit your wallet but also contribute to a greener environment.

5. Seek Professional Advice and Installation

Choosing and installing a front door involves various technical aspects that might be best handled by professionals. Seek advice from reputable door suppliers or contractors who specialise in wooden doors. They can guide you on the right door size, style, and material based on your requirements and budget. Professional installation is crucial to ensure proper fitting, alignment, and weather sealing. A well-installed front door will not only enhance security but also prevent drafts and energy loss.
We’re proud to have over 40 years’ experience of crafting and installing the finest timber doors across the North East of England and have earned a reputation for quality and exceptional service.

Summary

Has the wear and tear on your current doors reached its limit? Perhaps you’ve redecorated and your old doors just don’t fit in with your new aesthetic. Too often, doors fall to the bottom of home improvement to-do lists, but they’re a feature worth prioritising. 

Besides the obvious security and privacy reasons, properly functioning, well-built doors can contribute hugely to energy savings. And they have the power to transform the look of a home — inside or out. But how do you choose the perfect new doors for your property? Here are our top tips.

Choosing internal doors – where to start

If you’ve decided it’s time for a change, this is how you narrow down your search for internal doors.

Get the right size

Most internal doors are made to ‘standard’ measurements (most commonly, a standard internal door size measures x 762 x 35mm). However, this can vary, so it’s wise to check the dimensions of every door frame just in case. You can do this with a measuring tape — first, measure the width across the top, middle and bottom. Then measure the height on the left, middle and right. The largest width and height measurements should be the ones you take forward. At A Wood Idea, we have a made to measure internal doors collection, so we can create your dream doors for your home. 

Different door openings will be naturally suited to different types of door. Hinged doors are the most popular inside but if you’ve got a large space, why not consider double or French room divider doors instead? Alternatively, if your rooms are on the smaller side and your current hinged doors often get in the way, sliding and bi-fold doors are a huge win for space efficiency.

Chaoda supply professional and honest service.

Think about the aesthetic

Beyond the type of doors, you’ve got all kinds of materials and features to consider. Does the architecture and style of your home have more of a traditional feel to it? Wooden doors, such as oak, are a good bet. They have a warm and inviting feel, but can still be stained or painted as you please.

Prefer something a little more modern? Metal is a sleek, stylish alternative. Or you could opt for glazed doors, which help light filter through different rooms. 

DIY or professional installation?

Now you need to decide how you’re going to install the new doors. You’ll likely have some idea of whether your DIY capabilities are up to standard, but if you’re on the fence, think about the following.

Firstly, time. Are you in a hurry? It’ll take a few hours for a professional to install a door, but the DIY approach could take a lot longer. Is this time that would be spent on other home improvements? And bear in mind that errors in hanging doors can be costly. If you cut it in the wrong place, you’ll need to buy a whole new door.

How to choose a new front door

When you’re looking at how to pick a new front door, the guidelines change slightly. You expect a lot more from a front door in terms of strength and security, and there are other factors at play. 

Consider kerb appeal

Your front door is one of the most noticeable features of your home’s exterior. It’s a natural focal point that draws attention, and it can drastically change the property’s overall look — for better or worse. And while you might not be thinking of moving now, it’ll impact your property’s value too.

Aesthetics matter, so pick wisely. Take the rest of your property’s architecture into consideration, and find an appropriate design. And don’t neglect the paint and finish. This can easily be added afterwards and will have striking results that feel more personal to you.

Think about security

To protect your home against any unwanted intruders, you don’t want to cut any corners in making your front door as secure as can be.

There are two main factors to consider: the door’s material and the locking system. As materials go, a heavy, solid hardwood like oak is the best you can get. Then when you’ve picked your door, get a reliable multi-point lock installed.

Alternatively, composite and uPVC doors are often reinforced with an internal metal frame for extra strength and can have a good locking system built in. It’s worth noting that this doesn’t necessarily come as standard, so assess your options carefully.

What to do with your old front door

After choosing a new front door, you’ll likely have an old one to get rid of. Most local councils don’t collect large wooden doors from the kerbside, so your best bet is to take your old door to your local Household Waste Recycling Centre instead. Remember to remove any glass or plastic panels first.

Top-quality doors from A Wood Idea

At A Wood Idea, you’ll find internal and external doors that excel in strength, security and style. And there are endless options to choose from, so you’ll be sure to find the perfect fit for your home.

If you want to learn more, please visit our website Wooden Door.