Monday, 26 October 2009

Choosing External Doors - What To Look For?

By Hazel Wig

External doors exist to protect us and to make a clear demarcation between our homes and the outside world. The home may have more than one external door, but it's likely that the front door is the main entrance. It's rare today to have a "tradesman's entrance" at the side or back. For security reasons, side and back doors are often fenced off from the house front and are very different in style and use from the front door.

The important concept of transferring between our private life and our social or work life can be represented by our external doors.

The first aspect to consider is the one that's been vital wherever and whenever people are creating external doors. Weather can be a very uncomfortable aspect of life in your home if the doors aren't adequate. Dust, wind, cold, water, heat and many other weather considerations have always been vital when choosing the type of door to install. Even if you don't live in a dramatic climate, you still need to look at the physical situation of your home. Open aspects, and the lack of any protection may make your situation very different from your neighbour's.

Sun coming in through a glazed front door creates pleasant patterns on the walls and floor of the entrance to a home. This makes for a very welcoming entrance. However, do be aware that you may be showing more of the inside of your home than you wish. Patterned and/or obscure glass can solve this problem.

It's essential to select a door which is built to withstand attempts to force an entry. Doors intended for use inside the home should not be installed as front doors and you should remember to keep this door locked.

Please check your home insurance to see what sort of requirements your insurer demands. Such advice is very helpful as it clearly lays out what is necessary and how the items should be installed. You'll find your door manufacturer will be familiar with these types of requirements. It's not only the handles and locks that you need to consider, but also the door frame and the method used to secure it to the walls.

As well as deterring unwanted intruders, the main entrance door can also make your friends feel welcome and appeal to new visitors. Natural wood doors can be beautiful, secure and welcoming.

When choosing your external doors, you may want to look at samples that reflect the tradition and age of your home's external appearance. Look at other homes in the street and you'll get a good idea of possibilities - even if there are some things you decide you must avoid!

Having considered all your requirements, visit a door manufacturer's showroom or look at their website (often easier). You'll be able to see what there is available to suit your needs in a variety of styles and materials. Oak and hardwood doors make very attractive home entrances, but you might also want to consider uPVC which requires little maintenance. Other woods, such as pine can also be bought as cheaper alternatives to traditional oak and hardwood external doors.

uPVC doors come in standard styles and there's little that can be done to personalise them. It's easier to create a more individual style by painting or staining and varnishing a wooden front door. You also have a wide selection of door furniture available for wooden doors. At this point you can also consider extra items such as weather bars and security items.

After carefully considering all the aspects of security and welcome in your particular home, it should be easy to find external doors which fit your needs, style and budget perfectly.

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