Your front door says a lot about your home. It should be warm and welcoming to guests, yet strong enough to keep out intruders.
A good Houston entry door can withstand the elements of the Texas climate without requiring a lot of maintenance. But what kind of door is right for your home?
Fiberglass
Fiberglass doors are an excellent choice for homeowners who want the beauty of a wood door but prefer the durability and energy efficiency that fiberglass provides. They are also a great option for homes in hot and dry climates like Texas, because they don’t swell or shrink with changes in weather.
These doors are made from two sides of molded fiberglass with a thick polyurethane core wedged between and sealed in place. This creates a sturdy and durable door that is five times more energy efficient than standard wood doors.
These doors are easy to care for and come in a variety of colors, finishes, and styles. Some offer a textured appearance for that authentic wood grain look while others are smooth and can be painted to match any style. This versatility is why so many homeowners choose a fiberglass door for their home. They can also be crafted to include decorative features like speakeasy glass and grills, wrought iron glass inserts, or privacy/clear glass.
Wood
Wood doors exude a classic, sophisticated charm that can elevate any home. They’re also an excellent choice for homeowners who prioritize security. Solid wood doors are more challenging to breach than many other types of front doors, offering an extra layer of protection for your family and belongings.
Choosing a wood door can also improve your energy efficiency. The material naturally provides insulation, which helps keep your home cooler during our hot Texas summers. Solid wood doors are also rated for their SHGC and U-Factor, which describe how well they can resist heat transfer from the sun into your home.
Unlike steel and fiberglass options, which need to be painted or stained, wooden doors can be customized with different colors and stains to complement your entryway’s aesthetic. This gives you the opportunity to make your entryway truly stand out without sacrificing any of your home’s energy-saving benefits. Moreover, you can always change the color later on if your style preferences ever change.
Multi-Point Locks
Most doors have just a single point of locking, either a doorknob lock or a deadbolt built into the handle. These locks are convenient and easy to use but do not offer the same level of security as a multipoint lock system.
Multipoint lock systems provide multiple points of locking on the top, bottom and center of the door and frame. This makes it much more difficult to force a door open, even with blunt or sustained pressure.
Unlike cylinder locks which have a single latch plate that covers both the latch and the deadbolt, multipoint locks have a lock case mounted on the interior of the door with hooks attached to the top and bottom and a deadbolt in the middle. To activate the system, the handle set hardware must be turned 90-degrees with a thumb turn or key. The locking points will then engage and hold the door against the frame of the house to create a secure seal.
Hardware
Your front door sends a message to the world, inviting family and friends into your home while offering ironclad protection. It is also an important design feature that complements your home’s overall style and offers a main focal point for your entryway.
When buying new door hardware, you want to consider both the style and material. You also want to think about how easy it will be for every member of your household to use.
Stainless steel is an excellent choice for your new door handle set because it does not contain any pores that dirt, grime, and bacteria can hide in. This makes it easier to keep clean and hygienic for the entire family.