Selecting Entry Doors

When it comes time to selecting an entry door, it is important to understand the various materials and style options available to enhance your home's curb appeal. Because the main entrance commands the most attention from the street, it also commands the most attention in the marketplace, which is why manufacturers are making it easy to customize an entry door. You'll find dozens of options for panel and glass designs, grille patterns, sidelights, and transoms.

When it comes to choosing the material for your entry door, you need to consider cost, performance and aesthetics. Our designers and architects recommend considering fiberglass first because its high insulation properties make it one of the most energy-efficient doors on the market. Because of its design flexibility and ability to mimic natural wood, you can easily customize your door to perfectly match your home's architectural style.

When it came to high safety and protection from the elements, steel was always the preferred material for entry doors until high-end fiberglass doors came along. Thanks to new technology from companies like Therma-Tru®, fiberglass doors now have the same strength as steel doors, but without the cons of rusting, denting and limiting design options.

No matter what material becomes available in the home building industry there will always be the consumers that demand "real" wood. This is no exception when it comes to entry doors, especially for higher-end homes that want the look and feel of authentic wood grains. The drawback to all wood products is the high maintenance — they can crack, warp and fade.

Aesthetics aside, your doors efficiency level and security features should be a major consideration in choosing an entry door system.

Try On A New Door Design

Shopping for a new door can be an overwhelming experience especially when your home's curb appeal is on the line. For most of us, the hardest part is visualizing what an uninstalled door in a dealer showroom will look like on the front of our new house. Will it coordinate with the paint color and exterior texture? How does it complement the architectural style? Does it convey a warm and inviting entry? To help you visualize your entryway options, Therma-Tru® Doors offers an Interactive Door Designer tool online so you can "try on" a new door design before you buy it.