Easy to follow guide for purchasing exterior doors
There is a wide selection of choices,types and materials these days for exterior doors. Some of the more traditional materials are solid wood and steel with an insulated core. Manufacturers are also taking advantage of some of the qualities of new materials such as vinyl and fiberglass to create strong doors which do not require much maintenance. There are many advantages to a solid wood exterior door, including the strength and beauty it provides.
There are many types of wood that are used to make wood doors with some of the most common being pine, mahogany, oak, walnut, and cedar. You will need to give your wood door periodic maintenance to give it protection from changing weather conditions. While many manufacturers will treat their wood exterior doors with a preservative they will still need to have a protective coating applied so they will last many years. Wood exterior doors will expand and contract over time in response to both heat and moisture.
Often the overall performance of the door will depend on where it is installed. If you install a wood exterior door in a climate which is hot and moist it will need regular maintenance annually. So before you buy consider all the choices you have about exterior doors. Steel is another material that many people are familiar with when it comes to exterior doors. These doors are most commonly produced with a wood frame filled with foam and then covered by an outer skin of steel. You will get strength and rigidity from the wood frame while the foam core provides insulation. These type of door do not require much maintenance.
Fiberglass doors are made in a similar fashion as steel doors except for the fact that fiberglass is used to create the outer layer. These doors are great for long term durability and energy efficiency. The outer skin of fiberglass can even be embossed to give the look of real wood. One of the most modern types of materials used to create exterior doors is vinyl. The structure of these doors is created using chambers in the vinyl with added strength coming from aluminum, steel or wood. These doors are very energy efficient and the ability to stand up under just about any weather condition.