The front door is the first impression which your guests make on your house or apartment. Aesthetics come together with safety and insulation when it comes to choosing this essential element of your home. We enlighten you on the different existing materials to choose your grey front doors.
Wood, aluminum, PVC or composite, with or without glass … Many models of entrance doors are available commercially. Before you start, think about defining your needs in terms of insulation, style and safety.
Choose the material of your entryway
– A wooden entrance door:
If you want a beautiful door, choose the wood. Different types available to you: light exotic wood, French oak for beautiful moldings, dark wood … This material is sturdy and withstands time well. A wooden entrance door is repainted, making it easy to relook. Negative point: be careful to maintain your wooden door to avoid wear too fast.
– An aluminum entrance door:
If your primary concern is safety, it’s an aluminum entry door that must be chosen. Aluminum doors are unalterable, not prone to scratches and impossible to burn. Negative point: the aluminum doors isolate noise but little cold. They are a good thermal conductor and therefore require insulating panels if you do not want the cold to enter the house. However, there are ranges adapted to low temperatures but the budget is high.
– A PVC entry door:
For maximum insulation, opt for PVC. This material is ideal for harsh climates. This type of entrance door has choices in colors and style. The PVC door is suitable for all wallets. Negative point: PVC is not the most suitable material for safety.
– A composite entrance door:
The composite fiberglass entrance door is the latest in the range of entry doors. Thanks to its density, it is resistant and isolates the house well. They offer many possibilities in terms of finish and color.
Select the right glazing for the front door
There are three main types of gateways. The solid door is safer but does not let in natural light. The semi-glazed door offers a compromise between security and brightness. The glass door is a good solution to bring clarity in the entrance but it requires great caution in the choice of glass. A security glass anti-offense is essential. For more privacy, opt for a frosted glass that lets in the light and prevents the curious to observe what is happening at home.
Provide insulation through the front door
To choose your front door, the insulation is to be taken into account. If it is glazed, double-glazing is necessary in terms of sound insulation but also thermal. There are double glazing with enhanced sound insulation, for town houses overlooking street for example. The insulation also goes through the seal. Be sure to add a peripheral seal between the opening and the frame of the door and an aluminum threshold.
Namely: the thermal insulation of an entrance door is defined by its coefficient Ud. It is expressed in W / m2. The lower the number, the more insulating the door.
Trends in the doorway
In 2018, aluminum doors are on the rise. More expensive than those in wood or PVC, they offer a more contemporary design. As for the PVC door, it continues to conquer the market thanks to its strong insulation capabilities. The wood, long leader, back, the fault to expand the PVC and aluminum ranges. For composite doors, their use remains minor. This material is still too new to impose on the gateway market.
