Tips for a Bright Entrance

Hallways can be one of the trickiest areas of the house. Often lacking in windows, the room can be dark, dank and depressing. Being home to the front door, the room also accumulates a high level of traffic. Here are some tips for brightening up your hallway to create a welcome entrance for you and any guests to your home:

• Choose a front door with a white interior. A light colour, like white, reflects existing light, helping to make the most of any light which does enter your hallway.


• Choose a front door with glazing. There are many reasons why people prefer to choose a solid front door. Security may be one of these issues. There are front doors available which offer laminated glass - a security glass which prevents anyone gaining access by smashing the glass. Privacy may be another issue. Obscure glass, which (as the name suggests) obscures the view through the glass, can allow light into the hallway without giving a clear view to anyone who may peer inside.


• Paint the hallway light colours. As with the front door interior, light colours help to reflect existing light and generally give a brighter appearance.


• Use mirrors near any light sources to reflect the light around the room.


• If you really don't want a glazed front door, or a glazed front door doesn't offer enough light, consider getting glazed side panels. These can be full length window panels on either, or both, sides of the door, half windows or small windows at the top, known as top lights. You can also have a combination of all 3 if you choose.
  This can maximise the amount of light coming into your hallway if you have no other sources of natural light.

Don't get disheartened about dark hallways, a few simple changes can make a big difference and change the entire atmosphere of the room.

How to Choose a New Front Door

Part Three - Requirements

The third part of this buying guide, focuses on the requirements of your new front door.
These requirements cover both personal needs and the requirements of your home, like:

• Disability & Access requirements - do you need a wider doorway? A front door with a low threshold?


• Security requirements - does your home need an enhanced level of security? Does your front door offer you the protection you need?


• Light requirements - is your hallway dark and gloomy? do you require light passing through your front door, but also need privacy?


• Energy efficiency needs - whether you're trying to reduce your carbon footprint or just want to keep energy bills as low as possible, the energy efficiency of your front door is a key consideration for some.

Front Door Access

Some front doors give you no choice when it comes to ease of access. Some require a frame running along the bottom to function. If you, or someone in your household, has access needs such as a low threshold or wider door way, this is your first requirement to make a note of.

Front Door Security

Although already covered briefly in Part Two, home security is an important consideration in any property. The level of security you require from your front door is personal to you, your family members and your belongings as well as the risk of crime in your area. You may live in a relatively low crime risk area, but if you have vulnerable family members or valuable belongings you will still require a high level of security.

Front Door Glazing

Dark hallways are not appealing to anyone. If your hallway has no windows, or perhaps windows that are very small or in a shady position, it is important your front door is glazed and allows light to pass. The size of the window depends on your personal preferences. If you require light to pass AND privacy, you will need to consider windows backed with an obscure glass.

Other Front Door Needs

There are many other requirements to consider when planning to buy your new front door. It is important to think about your usage of your front door and make note of anything you can think of. Some of the requirements you may wish to consider include:

1) Energy efficiency

A thermal door can keep your home warm and reduce your heating bills. If you're concerned about your impact on the environment or just need to reduce your energy bills, getting a front door with excellent energy efficiency properties should be one of your main priorities.

2) Sound proofing

Partly a location consideration, the sound proof qualities of your front door may be important to you. Maybe you live near a busy road or have noisy neighbours. Maybe it is not external noise that you wish to keep out at all, maybe you'd rather that any noise you make is not easily heard by people outside.

3) Hardware requirements

Hardware requirements are a pretty important consideration. You don't want to buy a new front door, only to get home and realise that you forgot to get a door with a letter plate. Door knockers, spy holes, security chains, letter plates, numerals.. These are all additions to your front door you need to think about and make a note of before buying.

How to Choose a New Front Door

Part Two - Location

In the second part of this front door buying guide, I'm going to talk about the importance of considering the location of your door.
The location of your door includes several important factors:

• Appearance - does your new front door suit the style of your home? Does it fit in with your other doors and windows? Is there a colour scheme to consider?


• Climate - is your door exposed to strong daylight for most of the day? Is it near the coast? Does it bear the brunt of all weather conditions?


• Security - is your entrance hidden away or your home in a secluded area, where it may be easier for burglars to work on it unnoticed? Is your home in a high crime area?

From this list, you can see that the location of your front door plays several important roles in choosing the right door for your situation.

Front Door Appearance

If you have a period property, you don't want to install a modern uPVC front door. Not only would it look unattractive and out-of-place, but no doubt it would reduce the overall value of your home. If your budget does not allow for a real wooden door, why not consider a door with a wood grain appearance, such as a composite door? Composite doors have a smart appearance that is not tacky like uPVC, but not expensive like wood.

For modern homes with uPVC windows, you can easily buy a uPVC door for cheap to match. uPVC doors may not suit your every need though, in which case you can buy composite doors with uPVC door frames, so that the door does not look out of place in your property.

Front Door Climate

Harsh climates really limit your options when it comes to buying a new front door. Entrances that are exposed to strong sunlight, heavy rain or blowing winds require a front door which can take the weather and last. You do not want to buy a door and find that five years of weathering has taken its toll and you need to replace the door again. Especially in coastal areas, where the usual weathering is mixed in with the abrasive sea salt, you should avoid wooden doors. Unless you wish to sand and paint your door on a regular basis and don't mind rot setting in much earlier than it should. Although the surface of uPVC doors may fair better than wood, the flimsy construction can allow draughts and leaks in easily.

For the best protection against harsh elements, composite doors are incredibly tough and durable - the skin will not require maintenance or lose its shine and the door will not allow draughts and leaks into your home.

Front Door Security

Living in a secluded area, or having an entrance which is not in view of the world can make you feel vulnerable. It allows burglars the cover to work on your front door without being spotted. Installing security lights can help to protect you when you are home, alerting you of potential intruders, but what about when you're out? Security lights would only provide more light for the potential attacker to work with.
Even if your home and entrance is in full view of the street, your entrance remains a vulnerability. Some doors, such as uPVC doors, have obvious weaknesses which can be seen by attackers with experience. These weaknesses can be taken advantage of very quickly by those who know how.

With both of these situations in mind, you really should choose a high security front door. If you're in the UK, buying a Secured by Design door gives you the assurance that your door has the best security possible.

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How to Choose a New Front Door | Part One - Why Plan Your New Front Door?

How to Choose a New Front Door

Part One - Why Plan Your New Front Door?

There are so many factors to consider when you are buying a new front door, it can seem very daunting. That is, unless you do not realise the importance of choosing the right front door for your home.

This blog post is the first in a series of guides to help you make the right choice for you and your home when buying a new front door.

Lets start with why it is important to put some thought into the task of buying a new front door, rather than just buying the first front door that fits your door frame and your budget.

Lets consider the role of your front door.
It is:

• The first thing visitors see when they call on you.


• What protects you and your home from the outside world.


• Used on a daily basis.

It may not seem important to list the fact that your door is the first impression to visitors as the top priority. However, not all visitors are good visitors. If you consider a potential attacker checking your home for weaknesses and vulnerabilities, suddenly first impressions seem very important. Experienced burglars know exactly what to look for in a door. Certain features provide them with easy access if they use the right force - a kick or a crowbar in the right place. Do you know the weaknesses of your own front door?
Of course, to some first impressions to good visitors is also a high priority. Especially if you are planning on selling your property, you do not want the first thing viewers see to be a poor quality front door.

Next, your front door protects you and your home from the outside world. Again, this could be potential attackers as I just discussed, or it could just be protection from the elements. Heat escaping and draughts coming in through gaps can cause an increase of your energy bills. A well-insulated front door can keep your home cosy.
It is also important to consider how well your door will fair while it is protecting you. It might provide good protection from attackers or the weather, but will the door still be good afterwards? Weathering can often cause fading, warping and rotting in some doors. Attacks may result in a door that is dented or cracked, even if it manages to resist the attacker getting in.

Lastly, your door is used on a daily basis. Each member of the household coming and going, answering the door to callers, it's all wear and tear on the door. You don't want a front door that sticks and prevents your from opening it easily. It is important to have a door that will continue to function well throughout its lifespan.

Next post: How to Choose a New Front Door Part Two: Location

New Front Door Cost

A question that gets asked on a regular basis is "how much do new front doors cost?"

This question really depends on the factors involved. What kind of front door do you want? What front door furniture do you want? Do you need the front door fitted?
Despite the many factors involved, it is important to know what price range you should be paying for a new door so that you are not ripped off.

Often companies that knock on doors or call you will offer a much higher quote. They will then gauge your reaction and act accordingly. If you react positively to the quote they may highlight the benefits - leaving the price as it is. If you react negatively they may start applying 'special discounts' to entice you, as well as emphasising the benefits.
Of course, if you buy a front door online through a system with an instant live quote, you don't need to worry about inflated quotes. You know that you are getting the price everyone else gets, and you can easily compare it to other companies.

uPVC doors are known to be the cheapest. At present you can get a uPVC door for between £200 and £400. On top of that is installation - this really depends on the company offering installation. You shouldn't be paying more than £1,000 for both a standard uPVC door and installation.

Wooden doors are much more expensive. There are a number of factors when buying a wood door, which cause the price to vary greatly. Lower quality wooden doors could cost as little as £275, whereas higher quality, custom made or more intricate designs could cost you thousands.

Composite doors are in the middle of uPVC and Wooden doors. You can get a composite door from between £360 and £800.

Front Door Glass

We've talked about Front Door Designs, I think it's time we talked about new front doors and glass options.

When buying a composite door, there are many options for you to choose from. Designs, colours, hardware, accessories, thresholds, side panels.. You really can create your perfect door, rather than just going to a diy department store and buying a generic door that may or may not meet your every need.

Once you've chosen the important options of your new front door, you can start thinking about the appearance. Composite doors come in seven different colours and each style has a number of glass designs.

For modern and minimalist front doors, you can choose Zinc abstract art designs to add character to your property.
People who prefer more everyday front door design may prefer the diamond range. These feature diamonds in a colour of your choice, from blue, green, red or 'diamond'.
The Harmony range adds style and elegance to your new front door. Again, you can choose the border colour you like from green, blue, red or 'frost'.
Those who prefer individualism when it comes to the style and appearance of their front door can choose from the unique Murano range.
There's also a selection of other glasses to use in your composite door. Several different styles are available which feature roses and floral designs.

Front door glasses come with additional options - they can be backed with obscure glass to protect your privacy (again, there are a number of designs to choose your favourite style and preferred level of privacy) and for the security-conscious, the option of laminated glass to protect your house and family.

Front Door Security - Secured by Design

If you live in the UK, you can be assured that when you buy a product endorsed by the Secured by Design scheme, you are getting a high quality security product.

Secured by Design is an initiative set up by the UK Police. Its aim is to phase out security flaws within products, by subjecting them to more severe tests than standard security tests. If a product passes these intense tests, it is approved as being Secured by Design.

Many products don't make it through the vigorous tests, but composite doors are one of the few front doors to pass with flying colours.

http://www.SecuredByDesign.com

New Front Door Security

Being a key access point to your home, it is important to have the right level of security for your front door. Not only vital to protect your possessions and family, the best security also helps to lower the cost of your home contents insurance.

It can be a bit of a mindfield, assessing the security risks of your home and finding solutions. Luckily, when it comes to front door security, the Front Door Blog has written some informative guides to help consumers make informed choices.

New Front Door Security Guides

Front Door Security #1 - The Front Door
Front Door Security #2 - Hinges
Front Door Security #3 - Glass & Glazing

There are currently only three guides in the series, but readers are promised that there will be more in future.

If you're buying a new front door, there has been an increase of informative blogs and articles recently, which help you to be less baffled by the terms of sales people and make the choices which suit you.

Front Doors & Design

Last post, I talked about the different front door styles. This post covers the composite door designs on offer.

Composite doors come in seven different designs. Some of these designs have different glazing options - ranging from one glass panel to several glass panels. Overall, there are fourteen different doors you can choose from.

The Westminster Composite Door

A classic design that features six panels. It comes in 3 options - unglazed, 2 glazed panels or 4 glazed panels. For those who like their privacy but want to allow light into their entrance hall, the 2 glazed panel design is perfect, allowing light to filter through two small windows in the top of the door without allowing visitors to easily see inside.

The Kensignton Composite Door

A simple, smart design, featuring the standard four panels. Available without glazing or with the top two panels glazed. Suited to most doorways, this design is a firm favourite.

The Chigwell Composite Door

Very similar to the Kensington door, but with slightly more stylised upper panels. Only available in one option, with two glazed upper panels.

The Dalston Composite Door

Another variation on the Kensington, but with two arched upper panels. Again, only available in one option with two glazed panels.

The Mayfair Composite Door

A very fine and attractive design, the Mayfair features a wheel window at the top of the door. This design is available in 3 glazing options - the first with a panelled wheel, the second with a plain 1 panel wheel and the last a plain 1 panel wheel with two glazed panels.

The Trafalgar Composite Door

This door makes a brilliant back door. Available in two options, both featuring one large rectangular window.

The Finsbury Composite Door

For those who have a dark hallway, the Finsbury is an excellent choice. With the choice of one large arched window or a panelled window, you can ensure the light passes into your home.

Each glazed design comes with a number of glass designs to suit your tastes. If you're worried about privacy, there's a large range of obscure backing glasses to protect your interior from prying eyes.


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What is a Composite Door?
New Front Door Style

New Front Door Appearance

There are many different styles and colours of new front doors. Choosing can be easy if you take in to consideration the overall style of your home. Modern doors come in a range of designs which range from classic and traditional to more modern designs. Simple or extravagent, you are likely to easily find something which suits you.

When you have chosen the overall design of your door, it is time to think about the other aesthetic options. Composite doors come in seven external colours. No matter what colour the outside, the inside is white so that your hallway will always be light and airy. This means you can happily choose a darker colour, such as black or dark wood, and you will not have to worry about the interior being too gloomy or not matching your colour scheme. Although the doors are made from a GRP skin, they do not look plasticy. They have been finished with an attractive, deep woodgrain appearance. Because of the composite materials used, the door doesn't need to be sanded or painted again. UV protection and a high resistance to any cosmetic damage will keep the door looking bright and fresh.

If you choose a composite door with glazing, you will have to decide on a window design. Again, there are many choices over a range of different styles. There are colourful designs and more subtle, elegant designs. People who choose front doors with large windows often worry about their privacy. With composite doors this is not a problem. There are obscure glasses with different levels of privacy which back the glass, allowing you to have the external design of your choice AND the privacy.

Not only do you get to choose the main customisations of your door, but you also get to select the finer details. Select the door hardware that suits your needs and then match the finish of that hardware to your already chosen door style.

By the time you have finished, you will have created your perfect door, unique to your tastes and home.

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Front Door Checklist

New Front Door Blog

Buying a new front door can be a very lengthy process. With so many options on the market today, it can be difficult to know where to start looking. Is the company reputable? Can you purchase online? These are all things worth considering.

Hopefully, you should already have in mind what you would like for your home. Your entrance door holds a lot of weight for the entire look of your home. It also plays a large part in first impressions. Because of these reasons, a good front door can really add value to your home.

New Front Door Checklist

This is a short list of things you should have in mind before you even start looking for a new door.

• The style, colour, glass and hardware of your front door


• The security requirements of your front door


• The energy efficiency requirements of your new door


• The budget you have to buy a new front door


• The measurements of your entrance way