Front Door - Creating That Illusive View From The Curb

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Front Door - Creating That Illusive View From The
Curb
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Introduction

• Creating that all important first impression
  that guests, visitors or even passersby see is so
  crucial to many homeowners but it requires a lot
  of hard work and artistic skill in transforming
  the visual appearance of the front of the house.
  The first impression is often crucial especially
  when trying to sell the property. Indeed a
  welcoming porch or entrance can add to the value
  of the house. This is why so many people invest
  so heavily in creating the right impression by
  trying so hard to create an ambiance and
  welcoming impression to the entrance of their
  home. After all a welcoming entrance along with a
  carefully planned feature will do wonders for a
  visitor or potential buyers first impression.

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• Today modern housing in the citys suburbs
  and in towns and villages are built to maximize
  the efficient use of the land that builders have
  available to them. This means that builders will
  need to plan their projects to meet not only the
  requirements of their potential customers but
  also the planning regulators. Of course they will
  also need to make a profit. Therefore what
  happens is that to get planning permission they
  will plan for symmetry throughout the estate
  using a very limited selection of house designs.
  So they will use the same exterior design but
  with a selection of say 2-bedroom or 3-bedroom
  options. Importantly from the builders
  perspective in order for them to get the economy
  of scale that they need to generate profit they
  will incorporate into the design standard
  components such as the type of windows and front
  doors that they use. By using standard designs
  means that they can negotiate lower prices from
  suppliers and also greatly reduce the effort and
  training required in fitting them. The downside
  however from the homeowners or tenants
  perspective is that all the houses look the same.
  As a result many homeowners will go to great
  lengths to differentiate their property from
  their neighbours. They do this typically by using
  their artistic fair and acumen to decorate the
  property using plants or strategic lighting to
  accentuate the visual appeal of the front of the
  house usually focusing on the front door,
  entrance or porch.

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Table of Contents

• Changing the view from the curb.
• Types of Front Door.
• Wooden Front Doors.
• Steel Doors.
• Fiberglass.
• Adding the Locks.
• Conclusion.

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Changing the view from the curb

• Designers call this perspective the view
  from the curb as it is the front entrance to the
  house that is the focus of attention as it is the
  first thing that catches someones eye when they
  view the property. For this reason proud
  homeowners will go to great lengths to create
  that good first impression. One of the most
  significant changes that can be made to capture
  the allusive best view from the curb is not
  through plants, lighting or a lick of paint but
  simply to change the design of the front door.
  Changing the front door has an immediate effect
  on the appearance of the property and is the
  single best way to differentiate from your
  neighbours. Also there are a wide variety of door
  designs and materials which will suit any taste
  or budget.

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Types of Front Door

• Front doors come in a vast array of designs
  and standard colours and if there isnt a design
  that meets your needs most suppliers have
  computerized design tools so that you can usually
  customize a design to meet your requirements.
  However whether you are buying off-the-shelf or
  customizing a bespoke design the first choice
  will be what material to use for the door. Front
  doors typically come in a choice of materials
  available for both residential and commercial
  properties. The choices are generally from using
  wood, steel, polyurethane or glass. Each material
  has its benefits and some drawbacks that you need
  to be aware of and of course the prices will vary
  as well.

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Wooden Front Doors

• Wood is possibly the first material you think
  of when considering a front door as this is how
  doors have been traditionally made over the
  years. Wooden doors can be very attractive when
  they are stained to bring out the lovely grain
  and natural beauty of the wood. However they can
  also be painted if you prefer either at the
  factory or you could do it yourself if the
  colours you want arent available. The
  advantages of wood is that it is easily
  customized and fitted as it can be readily cut or
  trimmed to fit any door frame. Wood is also a
  good insulator for both temperature and sound and
  it is naturally strong with a reassuring weight.
  Wood is also readily customized so it can
  incorporate other materials such as glass panels
  to let in more ambient light or just for
  decorative purpose. Factory prepared doors using
  wood as the material are typically long lasting
  and require little maintenance. However, if you
  are painting and preparing the door yourself you
  must ensure that it is fully sealed before or
  immediately after installation. If you do not
  then the wood will absorb moisture in the air and
  swell or even warp over time. This is why wood is
  often not a good choice for very wet climates or
  those that have high temperatures and humidity.
  In addition, you will need to reseal the door
  every two years or so. Another consideration is
  that due to the wooden naturally solid build and
  heavy weight it will sometimes have a tendency to
  sag over time. This is nothing too drastic as it
  can be easily remedied by skilled maintenance and
  adjustments to the frame.

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Steel Doors

• The first thought that springs to mind about
  steel doors are visions of heavy plated
  protective doors to keep out all but the most
  determined intruder. However nothing could be
  further from reality as steel doors are very
  surprising. Therefore you should clear your mind
  of steel doors being too ugly, too heavy and too
  expensive because surprisingly steel doors have
  none of these qualities. Indeed steel doors come
  in a wide range of designs and finishes and they
  can even incorporate glass panels into the
  design. They are also relatively light weight and
  less expensive compared to a solid wood front
  door. Also steel doors are incredibly robust and
  stand up to heavy frequent use so much so that
  they easily surpass wooden doors for low
  maintenance and longevity.
• In addition steel doors have other
  surprising qualities such as they have great
  sound proofing and temperature insulation
  characteristics. This might at first not seem
  intuitive at all but the secret id in how they
  are made. Steel doors are not as you might thing
  solid steel plate. Instead they are made using
  two very thin plates of steel around 20 - 24
  gauge that sandwich a dense layer of polyurethane
  foam. It is this construction method that give
  steel doors that high-performance sound and
  temperature insulation qualities. Whats more
  steel doors come in a vast array of finishes and
  designs that make them visually indistinct from
  the other materials such as wood and fiberglass.

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• Additionally steel doors have more intuitive
  qualities that we do come to expect such as they
  are tough the strongest of all the materials
  have tremendous longevity and very low
  maintenance. Consequently, steel doors make an
  excellent choice for properties located in areas
  of inclement weather such as in hurricane zones.
• Of course, there wouldnt be a choice of
  materials if steel doors didnt have their faults
  so here are some of the flaws you need to
  consider. Steel doors are strong but can be
  dented and scratched which doesnt affect their
  performance but diminishes their appearance.
  These aesthetic flaws are also not nearly so easy
  to repair as wooden doors which can be filled and
  stained to repair any surface damage. Another
  problem is steel is a great conductor of heat and
  in this case they will get hot or cold on the
  surface depending on the temperature the
  polyurethane cavity provides great temperature
  insulation but does nothing for the external
  temperature of the doors surface.

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Fiberglass

• So far we have seen that wooden doors look
  great and provide both excellent strength and
  durability as well as great insulation against
  sound and temperature but require significant
  maintenance. Steel on the other hand requires
  little maintenance, is strong and an excellent
  insulator but can be easily dented or scratched
  and have depending upon who you ask limited
  visual appeal. Fortunately there is a third
  choice, fiberglass, which provides the looks and
  aesthetics of wood and the temperature isolation,
  strength, longevity and low maintenance of steel.
• Using fiberglass to make external door is a
  relatively new choice of material but it is
  already becoming popular due to its inherent
  durability. Fiberglass can be used in any climate
  unlike wood or steel as it is impervious to
  water, or extreme temperatures or humidity.
  Moreover Fiberglass has superb insulation
  properties and is incredibly versatile so can be
  made into any size or shaped into any design. It
  can also be finished to mimic any finish even
  wood with intricate grains and is often said to
  be almost impossible to tell apart. Though the
  latter is perhaps more wishful thinking it does
  seem to adequately resemble a natural wood finish
  at least from a distance.

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• However fiberglass also has its issues.
  Fiberglass doors are manufactured to standard
  sizes so if your door frame is non-standard it
  might be difficult to source a door. Also as
  fiberglass doors are currently the most expensive
  type of door it is unlikely that a manufacturer
  is going to make a custom sized door as it would
  be cost prohibitive. Also as fiberglass is
  moulded and made to a factory design it is nigh
  on impossible to trim, cut or customize it in
  anyway so you must make sure it fits your frame.

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Adding the Locks

• As we have seen the choice of material and
  design when considering a front door is perhaps
  the first and most significant step but we must
  not overlook fitting a secure and robust lock.
  After all a front door isnt much use to you if
  it isnt secure. Therefore we need to consider
  fitting a lock that is impervious to water,
  humidity and the elements while being highly
  resistant to intrusion techniques. Therefore we
  should consider using a multipoint locking
  mechanism as these have several bolts or hooks
  that latch the door firmly to the frame spread
  evenly across the entire length of the door. This
  makes it highly resistant to brute force attempt
  to force open the door. But a multipoint bolt
  lock also performs another task in that it
  prevents a door from warping as it creates a seal
  along the length of the door that also keeps out
  draughts.
• Making sure that your front door is protected
  by a multi-lock mechanism is essential for home
  security so make sure to order one as part of the
  door design. Not only will it keep the premises
  secure it will also ensure that sound and
  temperature insulation is optimized.

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Conclusion

• When selecting a front door do make sure
  that you select the one that meets your criteria
  for the aesthetic design, quality and longevity
  you want. Therefore look to the beauty, strength,
  versatility and low maintenance that you require.
  Dont just go for the cheapest or convenient make
  sure this is the door that will significantly
  change that view from the curb.
• It is often very important to contact and
  consult with professionals in the field. For
  example in Canada a country with very intemperate
  weather seeking out professional guidance is
  critical. An example of a company that delivers
  front doors fit for all purposes and
  environmental conditions is HomeTech Windows and
  Doors. They can provide a vast array of energy
  efficient designs, using the highest quality
  materials and fittings. But if you need a bespoke
  design then you can customize your own design.
  Based in Edmonton in Canada they have everything
  you need to make the front door that will ensure
  the perfect view from the curb.

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The End

• For more details, please visit-
• https//hometechwindowsanddoors.com/products/doors
  /