Whether you are building or redesigning an older home, the entry door makes a definite statement about you and your home. Since an entry door can be seen both from the street or sidewalk and affects the inside view of your house, you want the entry door to match the look of your house from the outside, and the décor of the entry way or living room.
When you choose to replace exterior door fittings, you have many options to look at. Sometimes people replace exterior door fittings to add curb appeal to the house. You may be looking for additional security features in an exterior door. You may choose an entry door that lets more light in to your house or that adds decorative features not available in your original entry door.
You can choose to install exterior door fittings yourself or hire a carpenter or handyman to do the job for you. Unless you decide to enlarge the entry door opening as part of your remodel project, to replace the entry door is not an onerous task.
An entry door is generally made more solid than a similar design interior door. An entry door may be made of metal, wood, plastic, glass or laminate of some type. An exterior door may also be made of some combination of the above materials.
The entry door can be single or double doors. A patio door or sliding door is another type of entry door. The entrance door may be flanked by narrow windows for an attractive presentation. The entry door can also be topped with a fanlight.
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An entrance door often is designed as either raised or lower panels in either vertical or horizontal designs. There are several permutations of panel arrangements which have become quite popular in entry doors. Some paneled type doors have quite ornate finishing with occasional base-relief carvings; however this type of entry door is more likely to be custom-made.
Entry doors are often finished in natural wood, but may also be painted or stained to match the color and décor of the house. Entry doors present a first line of defense against burglars and thieves, so you will want to make sure the door you select has appropriate features in terms of size and thickness. The hardware will also have an impact on the safety and security of the door.