It’s the last place you check to make sure you’re secure, where you meet friends, and the comforting barrier between you and the world. A well-designed door shouldn’t just keep your home safe and lower heating costs; it should reflect your style and the atmosphere inside your house. Choosing an exterior door might seem difficult, but it’s not. Select yours in 3 steps with these guidelines.
Step 1: Ask these questions
You might already have an idea of exterior door design styles you like. Maybe you’ve logged on to a site like Pinterest to scroll through various looks. The next step is to dig deeper and refine your searches by your preferences. Consider the following questions, and let your answers determine where to browse next. Will you remodel your home soon? If so, what are your goals and how will your home change? If you’re planning a remodel soon in the near future, it makes more financial sense to install a door that dovetails with your future remodel. If you’re not planning a redesign anytime soon, choosing an exterior door that matches your home’s current character is a more practical choice. Which features do you require in an exterior door? Note what you’d need or prefer.
- Affordability: does your door need to fall within a certain price range? If you’re doing a remodel, then the cost might already be calculated in your remodeling plan.
- Usability: do you need a door material that can withstand accidental knocks from children’s toys? Or perhaps you have a dog that exercises in your fenced front yard, and you want a door with glass to check on him.
- Maintenance: how much time can you put into maintaining a door? Cleaning, painting, and other preventatives might be required of some exterior door styles.
Maybe style isn’t an issue, but your current door is operating poorly. Use these diagnostic questions from home expert Bob Vila’s website to see if a new door is necessary. “Is your front door weathered, scratched, or dented?” “Are there cracks or breaks along the door’s edges or within its panels?” “Does the door let in drafts?” “Have you encountered difficulty getting the door to hang level on its hinges?” “Is it often a hassle to close and lock the door?” If you need to purchase a new exterior door for everyday reasons, you should also take time to choose a style you like.
Step 2: Browse styles, save your favorites
From single doors on urban stoops to stained glass on patios, Lake Washington Windows and Doors’ gallery has 20 ideas for unique home doors. Save your favorite photos for Step 3. Pin looks from Pinterest and flip through exterior design magazines and books. Need more door choices? Here are 15 more looks to click through.
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Step 3: Consult with a doors and windows professional
Consolidate Pinterest pins, photos from our gallery, and your notes from Step 1. Consult with a local doors and windows company like Lake Washington Windows and Doors. Industry professionals are well-versed in prices and specs (energy efficiency, maintenance, usability), so ask them the questions that matter most, like “Will this wooden door get stuck in the summer?” and “Will this steel door keep drafts out?” The ultimate goal is to find an exterior door that overlaps your style and need. Imagine a Venn diagram where one circle is style, one is need, and the circle that overlaps both is a door that fits your budget, matches your home, and works with your family. For example, if aesthetic is important to you, This Old House notes the attractiveness of wood doors. Lake Washington Windows and Doors installs beautiful Provia wood doors that add both gravity and grace to an exterior. Or if you don’t have time for upkeep, fiberglass is an option This Old House references.Click here to see the Provia fiberglass entry doors we install. How can we help with your exterior design project? Wherever you’re starting from, Lake Washington Windows and Doors will give you a free consultation to help determine your best options for an exterior door.
About Lake Washington Windows & Doors
Lake Washington Windows & Doors is a licensed general contractor specializing in replacement window products, replacement doors, and home siding replacement. Our service area extends throughout the Greater Seattle area, including Bellevue, Issaquah, Kent, Renton, Woodinville and more. The professional team at Lake Washington Windows has more than 50 combined years of window, door and siding experience, so you can rest assured that we can recommend the best solution for your home and budget. Contact us online to request an appointment or inquire about products and services.
(Photo by Michelle Meiklejohn via FreeDigitalPhotos.net)
