According to This Old House, a front door should be “tough, yet handsome and gracious.” Not all prefabricated and/or metal doors provide this sense of grandeur or even hominess, but a wooden front door does! Front doors made out of wood can be massive and stately, or project warmth and welcome-ness. How does one choose a front door made out of wood? Here are some tips:
Type of Wood: Wood doors are available in a variety of wood types. Cherry, walnut, maple, fir, pine, oak, mahogany, western hemlock – the list seems endless. Before deciding on the type of wood you want your door made out of, consider whether or not you will stain the door to bring out its natural beauty or if you are going to paint the door. Selecting a wood that looks best stained or simply clear coated may be more expensive that using a lesser visually appealing wood that looks great when painted.
100% Wood or Wood Veneer? A front door made from 100% wood is quite beautiful, but also expensive. Another option to get the look and feel of a true wood door without the expense is to purchase a door made from wood veneer. Here, a veneer of wood (any type of wood as listed above) is laid over a wood core. The advantage to a wood veneered-door is not only cost, but also in care and maintenance, as a wood veneered-door tends not to warp as much as a door made from 100% wood.
Decorative Features: Do you want to simply have a solid front wood door? Or, are you looking for the door that has some character. Intricate carving, glass (clear, frosted, stained), sidelights, transoms, etc.) – these are all features that either are part of the door you purchase or that can be added at a later time.
Maintenance Required
Any wood door is going to require maintenance. Sun, rain, thawing and freezing, and use will impact the wood door’s longevity if you do not maintain it on a regular basis. Maintenance of a wood door includes regular inspection for cracks and warping as well as annual re-application of stains or sealers.
Wood Doors Make the Home
There is no question that the traditional front door made from wood has significant curb appeal. Driving up to and entering a home with a wood door that matches the look and feel of the home’s architecture draws you into the house. It is truly the one accent to a home that rises above all others.
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