Guidelines for Buying Replacement Doors

Although many homeowners probably don’t give much thought to the type of doors they have in their homes, doors are extremely important. Besides offering cosmetic appeal, doors should also be practical. When shopping for doors, people often don’t consider their needs and what’s in style. If you’re in the market for replacement doors, here are the basic types of interior and exterior doors, along with some buying guidelines and what’s trendy.

Interior Doors 

Interior doors are situated inside your home and don’t offer outdoor access. The basic types of interior doors include:

  • Passage doors, also called hinged doors, are the most common type. This kind of door has at least two leaf hinges that allow it to swing open and close. You can buy them as a slab (which is just the door itself) or as a pre-hung unit. The benefit of pre-hung doors is that they’re quicker and easier to install.
  • Bypass or sliding doors, which slide from left to right, are often reserved for closets or bathrooms, besides other areas that have wide openings. Because sliding doors don’t swing open, they only take up half the space for an opening, meaning you can have more room for placing furniture. This includes the growing trend in sliding barn-style doors that can serve as unique room partitions and create stylish entryways to dining rooms, dens, bedrooms, closets, bathrooms, kitchens and pantries.
  • Pocket doors, which have been around for decades, are making a comeback along with everything mid-century modern. These are doors that slide in and out within a wall. A huge advantage of pocket doors is that they give you more floor space and are ideal for the smallest rooms or narrow hallways.
  • French doors hang on hinges on the sides of a door opening so that they can swing toward each other and meet in the middle. This style gives your home an exceptionally dramatic look, in addition to an unobstructed outdoor view.
  • Bi-fold doors are mostly reserved for enclosing pantries, closets or laundry areas. They turn on pins that are inserted in both the bottom and top edges. This door design gives you more opening space than what you would get with sliding doors.

Exterior Doors 

Besides offering insulation and home security, consider that it’s your front door that gives your visitors either a positive or negative first impression. The three main types of exterior doors are:

  • Steel doors these doors are reasonably affordable and are somewhat stronger than wood and fiberglass doors, making them especially suitable when extra security is paramount. However, they tend not to last as long as wood or fiberglass doors.
  • Fiberglass doors can resemble real wood and come in a wide range of styles. Unlike wood doors, they only require a small amount of upkeep and have a longer lifespan than steel or wood. Another perk is that fiberglass doesn’t contract or expand as wood does, thus making it an ideal choice for waterfront homes and homes exposed to harsh weather.
  • Wood doors depict a classic, luxurious look, and they’re often seen in high-end neighborhoods. Wood is the most costly material and needs the most maintenance. They require repainting or re-staining about once a year, particularity if they have direct sun contact, to protect them from warping, splitting and weather damage. On the other hand, repairing scratches on wood is easier than what’s involved in fixing dents in fiberglass or steel.
  • Storm Doors are often constructed of steel, fiberglass, PVC, or aluminum. Storm doors can often still be found on older homes because they used to be popular before exterior doors evolved to boast efficient weather-resistant and insulating properties. While storm doors are no longer deemed necessary, these old-fashioned doors are making a comeback because not only do they offer wood doors extra weather protection, they can serve as a screen door that allows more airflow and light through your home during warmer months while keeping pests outside, and pets and babies inside.

Popular Door Trends 

  • Textured doors are exceptionally trendy. Popular and unique surface treatments include using nail-heads, chalk paint, leather or wallpaper on door surfaces. This is done by applying details such as an ultra-shiny colour or textured finish to an otherwise ordinary door.
  • Wider openings are in style. The advantage of having wider gaps between spaces is that it gives you the option to keep a space open or divide it when necessary. Common examples of flexible doors that have wide openings include double pocket, bi-fold and barn doors.
  • Taller front doors are becoming more popular with many people choosing doors that are as high as 9’. What’s more, front doors are also becoming wider with some as wide a 4’.
  • Colour trends for interior doors include earthy matte colors, ranging from light or dark greys to natural browns, and even black doors which add elegant drama to classic-style interiors.
  • As for front door colours, red will maintain its appeal, while black and dark blue are making a comeback.

Considerations and Warnings 

  • Before shopping for interior doors, determine the number of doors you need for your home by going through each room and deciding the main function of each door.
  • Buying energy-efficient doors may result in tax credits.
  • Steel and fiberglass front doors have as much as five times the R-values (or insulation values) of solid wood doors.
  • Select doors that go with the overall appearance of your home. While a fiberglass or steel product will most likely be the best fit for a contemporary home, a wood door may look better for a rustic home.
  • You can purchase solid core and hollow core doors. Solid core doors provide more sound proofing between rooms.

Do you need new doors? Maybe you’re in the process of building a new home. Don’t hesitate to visit The Finishing Store. Please contact us and learn more about our wide selection of products and services.