Most homeowners don't tend to think much about their entry doors, as long as they work and don't have noticeable drafts. However, the doors that came with the house were probably simply the generic design the contractor installed for economy and overall appeal rather than something to suit your tastes for cosmetic appeal while incorporating modern features for security and convenience.
Entry and Welcoming Guests
The primary function of the door, especially the front door, is to allow entry to the home while closing securely. Secondarily, the door should invite your guests in with a touch of your décor style that personalizes your home. A number of styles are available to give an air of formal elegance or relaxed comfort, with or without windows which can either be transparent or made of glass block to allow light but not vision through.
Access to Porch and Patio
Porch and patio doors typically have a different design than front entry doors. Sliding glass doors are somewhat of a standard option, but there are many nicer options available as well. French doors can provide a larger opening, assuming you have room swing. Even if you don't have room for them to open inwards, new styles are on the market which allow them to open out, with locked hinges for security.
Security
Security is also a feature doors have to incorporate. What thieves know and homeowners don't always realize is a door is only as strong as its connection to the frame. It's essential at the very least to use screws in the hinges long enough to reach the actual house structural framing, not just the door frame.
Additionally, the receivers for the locks and deadbolts need to be reinforced. An even better means of security, especially if you're away from home often or live in an area with higher than average crime rates, is to incorporate a steel door frame. A steel door frame is locked into the home's structural framework and as such a door is essentially impenetrable, at least in terms of the time and effort a burglar is going to put into trying to enter the house.
Whether you need new doors as a practical function of your home or simply want to upgrade, be sure to contact a representative from
Anderson Exteriors to discuss options and pricing before deciding on a plan to install a new door according to your needs.