Exterior doors are used as entryways for many sections of the house. These exterior doors need to be very tough, durable, and available in different materials and styles.
Popular materials
Exterior doors can be made of wood, steel, aluminum, fiberglass, or steel. You can also install sliding glass doors on patios.
Ready-to-install doors
Are you shopping for just a door to fit inside a pre-existing frame? Be sure to take exact measurements of the door frame and also the height, width, and thickness of the door you are replacing. This will help you buy a door that fits correctly, whatever material you choose.
If you are looking to replace your entire doorway with the frame, you can buy prehung doors with frames. Again, be sure to take correct measurements. You can now buy entry systems with predrilled holes for knobs and deadbolts, with hinges, locksets, and other hardware designed to work together perfectly. These systems also ensure that the bottom of the door correctly engages with the threshold and can include weatherstripping around the outer edges of the door.
Appearance
The appearance of the door becomes more important depending on where it is going to be installed. Front doors are the first noticeable feature from outside the house, so they should look good as well as be tough and durable. Backdoors may also need to look good though not as attractive as front doors. Side doors and doors leading into the house from the garage need to be more hardy than attractive.
Make sure that your exterior doors are tough enough to provide good protection against the weather and against break-ins. Buy entry systems if possible and install good locks and security systems to enhance safety.