What’s the first thing people see when they walk up to your home? The front door, of course. It can make a big impression — good or bad.
A visitor rings your bell or knocks, and as they’re waiting, they examine that portal closely for a few seconds: the stain or paint, the handle and other hardware, windows, hinges, doorsill, frame. Is your door dramatic or utilitarian? Immaculately maintained or weather-beaten and dirty? That simple slab of wood (or fiberglass or steel) can convey a wealth of messages about you.
Scott Sidler of Austin Restorations, a home-restoration company in Orlando, Florida., recommends spot-checking your outside doors at least once a year for chalky and peeling paint or other signs of weather damage.
There are two ways to see if the stain on your door is getting old, according to doityourself.com:
“A raised wood grain with a dry, rough feel means the finish is beginning to fail and needs to be reapplied. Dark streaks in the wood under a clear finish or a light or whitish haze to the finish itself may mean moisture is getting into the door and the finish is failing.”
It’s time-consuming but not difficult to refinish your exterior wooden door. For best results, remove it from the frame by tapping out the hinge pins and placing it on two sawhorses.
Remove all hardware then strip all six sides of the door with a high-grade paint stripper or paint remover. (I get good results with Jasco Paint and Epoxy Remover.) Two applications may be necessary for seams. After wiping it thoroughly, sand the door gently in the direction of the grain with fine sandpaper (150-180). If the door surface is rough, perform your first sanding with medium sandpaper; 120 grain is ideal.
After sanding, clean the entire door using a cloth dampened with mineral spirits. After it’s dry, apply a coat of high-quality exterior primer, then a coat or two of exterior paint. Exterior acrylic paint with anti-mildew properties works best. Lighter colors absorb less of the sun’s energy than darker colors and should therefore be more durable.
Perhaps your front door is simply too weather-beaten to repair, or maybe you want to go with a new look.
It’s easy enough to go to Home Depot or another big-box home supply store and order a door, at least if you have a standard-size opening. But in most cities you’ll find a small yet thriving community of specialty retailers who sell and install high-quality doors.
The first decision to make concerns materials: steel, fiberglass or wood.
Steel doors are affordable, durable and strong. They can be ordered with windows, glass inserts and other details.
Fiberglass has some of the more desirable qualities of wood, but its cost is usually lower and it has greater durability.
Wood doors can be mid-priced or expensive; the type of wood, number of windows and complexity of construction can increase the price dramatically. They also require regular maintenance. But to some people, there’s no substitute for the rich, natural look of a well-designed hardwood door with an attractive grain, highlighted by the right stain.
Doors go through trend cycles, just like other elements of home design.
“Right now, Dutch doors are really popular, though they can be difficult to install,” said Malik Jaleel of Today’s Entry Doors in Orange.
Door configurations depend on the size of the entry hall. Double doors create a feeling of grandness, but even a sidelight on each side of the door can achieve the same effect if you’re short on space.
“We can configure the doors in many different ways,” Jaleel said. “For example, if you have a 5-foot-wide entry, that’s enough room for a 42-inch door and one sidelight.” Jaleel’s company can also install sidelights that open. “We call them operable sidelights. They provide a breeze in your front hall without opening the door.”
The sweep of the door swing should be planned according to clearances and traffic patterns. Most exterior doors open inward (for security reasons, hinge plates and pins should be kept inside the house, not on the outside, where they’re accessible to burglars and intruders). Door handing refers to the direction of the door swing. For example, if the hinges are on the left as you open your front door, it is a left-hand inswing door. Evaluate door handing when you replace your old door. Perhaps it makes sense to move your hinges to the opposite side.
Glass or panel inserts give the front door a more substantial and designed look. Opt for opaque glass if you want light to enter the home yet are concerned about privacy.
Lastly, how do you want your visitors to announce themselves? A doorbell? A fancy knocker? An intercom system? Make sure there’s space for them, and get something as classy looking as your new door. Every small element helps make a good first impression — even new address numbers and a nice welcome mat.