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