7 Front Door Types That Boost Curb Appeal

Exterior doors are an important part of any home. Your front door is something that you will be seeing and touching almost every day, and it will be the first thing your guests see when they come for a visit. It's also the first thing uninvited guests will see if they try and come through your door. So, you definitely want your external doors to be beautiful, durable, and secure. 

As with interior doors, there are a lot of different options to choose from in today’s market when it comes to outside doors. There are different materials, colors, styles, and even different installation methods. This might seem overwhelming at first, but it's important to recognize that each option comes with its own set of cool pluses as well as factors to consider.    

1. Wood Doors 

If you want something that is purpose-made to be simple, durable, functional, and secure, a wooden door is the one to go for. Wood is a great option for front doors thanks to their understated look and sturdy construction. These doors tend to have a reassuringly heavy look and feel that exudes quality. Wooden front doors offer really good insulation and come in many different colors. They are made from a range of different woods which means that it can work with almost any home design style. Because wood is a bit more sensitive to the elements than other materials, they do require a bit more maintenance than other front doors. Moisture and temperature changes tend to make wood doors swell and crack over time, and they do need refinishing to preserve their look and functionality. Wood doors also need an overhang to avoid water damage. 

Opting for Classic Wood Means Your Entry Is Sturdy, Chic, and Well Insulated

Having said that, most maintenance jobs that wooden front doors require are relatively simple, and can even be DIY projects. Wood is an easy material to work with and regular maintenance is usually enough to head off any major issues that can come up.   

2. Fiberglass Doors

Fiberglass is another great choice for anyone looking for a long-lasting entry door. Fiberglass doors are becoming more popular thanks to a host of cool benefits they have over traditional materials such as wood. They are very durable and can increase your home’s thermal efficiency. This is thanks to the foam core insulation that comes in fiberglass doors and ensures that your home stays warm in the winter and cool in the summer. The resilience of fiberglass means that your door is also unlikely to scratch or dent from weather or high foot traffic.  

Plus, the versatility of fiberglass means that it can come in a variety of finishes and colors. You can give your fiberglass entry door a rustic wood finish without having to put up with the maintenance that wood doors require. No warping, no cracking, no water damage. Just style, convenience, and functionality. 

With Fiberglass Your Front Door Is Both Durable and Low Maintenance

3. Steel Doors 

Unlike how it sounds, steel doors don’t mean a shiny, metallic appearance. They actually have a steel skin, can be made to look like wood, and mold into any design aesthetic of your choice. If you want a modern front door with maximum durability and security, there’s nothing quite like a steel door. Steel doors are easily the strongest exterior doors you can get, and are unrivaled in their sheer toughness. This makes them great for keeping out unwanted visitors such as burglars and pests. Steel entry doors are also great at resisting extreme weather and will stand the test of time for decades to come. Much like fiberglass, steel doors are also great for increasing your home’s energy efficiency since they also come with foam core insulation. 

The Versatile Front Door that Checks All the Boxes

If you’re not a fan of the bland neutral color that standard steel doors come in, you can easily spruce things up. Steel doors are easy to repaint yourself, and you can even give them wood grain finishes if you want something more traditional-looking. Steel doors can also be given a wood panel look with wood plating if you want to go the extra mile with your wood-look steel door.    

4. Pre-Hung Doors

If you’re wondering what a pre-hung door is, you’re not alone. “Pre-hung” is a fancy way of saying that a door comes with a frame that will support it. A slab door, by contrast, is a door package where the frame isn’t included. Pre-hung doors are designed to make installation easier and to ensure that your new front door fits snugly. Because a pre-hung door comes with hinges and door framing, as well as thresholds and weather stripping, installation is much easier. 

Front Doors that Make Installation and Personalization a Breeze

To put in a pre-hung door, all you have to do is remove the old door and frame and make sure you get all the measurements right when you order the new door. Pre-hung doors usually don’t come with doorknobs, handles, or door locks, giving you a greater degree of customization with your door hardware. The only real drawback of pre-hung doors is the sheer heft of the whole assembly. Because it comes with a frame, a pre-hung door will almost certainly need to be delivered and installed by professionals. But when it is, it sure does leave a stately impression.   

5. Slab Doors

Because slab doors don’t come with a frame, they’re better suited for homeowners that just want to switch out their old door rather than replace the door and frame entirely. This makes slab doors a more convenient and affordable option that’s simpler to install than prehung doors. You could install a slab door yourself with much less difficulty than a pre-hung door. Slab doors do not come with hardware, so you’ll need to get your knobs, handles, and locks. However, it’s important to consider that a slab door may not be the best choice if you have an older door frame. 

An Easy Replacement Door You Can Install Yourself

As door frames age they tend to warp and become misaligned, which means it will be quite difficult to put in a slab door. In those cases, it will be a better idea to strip out the door and the frame and get a pre-hung door. Nevertheless, slab doors are a great option if you just want to replace your doors and keep a reasonable budget.  

6. Iron Doors

Iron doors are another great option to consider if you want an exterior door that’s a perfect balance of aesthetics and functionality. This is because they combine the charming qualities of traditional materials with the strength of modern ones. As with steel doors, iron doors are built to stand the test of time and are immune to the problems that can affect wood. Iron doors don’t warp, rot, or splinter and don’t need as much maintenance as wood. Unlike steel, iron doors can come in a wider variety of designs and can be made to look quite ornate. This means an iron door doesn’t have to be a blank slab of metal, and can also be designed with windows so that it lets in more light.

A Chic Entryway Means Unique Materials and Worthwhile Investment

A good-looking iron door can give a nice boost to your home’s curb appeal, and increase your home’s value. However, all this style and function comes at a price, and you can expect to pay more for an iron door than for other door materials. 

7. Storm Doors

This isn’t so much a standalone front door as something that you add to an existing exterior door. Storm doors go over your existing door and provide it with a measure of protection and security. This will keep the weather from beating up on your main doors and will also make things more secure. They can also help to increase insulation. Because storm doors tend to be hinged so that they swing closed on their own, many homeowners like to use them as screen doors and leave their front door open. This is a nice convenience to have, especially on hot summer days. 

The Benefits of Having a Storm Door Installed

While the classic storm door comes with a glass panel that spans the entire door, you can also get them with screens that let in fresh air but keep out the critters. If you want something more secure, a security door is another option. These are usually made of reinforced steel and come with a strong lock so that your front door has an extra layer of protection. If you’re planning to sell your home, investing in increased home security is a good choice.