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 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

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 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