How To Choose The Right Exterior Doors For Your Home

A number of factors determine the kind of exterior doors to choose for your home. The main considerations are style and function. You want doors that fit the style of your home, but you also want to make sure the doors meet the necessary security, storm-proofing, and other weather-proofing requirements of your home.

For example, you don't necessarily want glass panes in your doors if the sun shines directly on them. Likewise, security should be a priority for doors that are vulnerable to break-ins, such as those that are at the back of the house. Exterior doors can provide security without looking like security doors. Security screen doors are an excellent option for vulnerable doors, and can be a stylish addition to your home.

New Exterior Doors Could Save You Money

Energy-efficiency is another key consideration when choosing exterior doors. Doors and windows are the most significant areas of heat transfer in your home. If your doors are inappropriate or ill-fitting, you could be losing a lot of energy and money.

To ensure that your exterior doors are energy efficient, check that their energy performance rating is appropriate for your home design and climate. Consider the U-factor, solar heat gain co-efficient (SHGC), and air leakage rating to determine the level of heat-flow, solar radiation, and air flow around the door frame. Other measures of energy efficiency for your exterior doors are the visible transmittance (VT) and light-to-solar gain (LSG). Doors that qualify for an ENERGY STAR^® rating carry a National Fenestration Rating Council (NFRC) label that outlines the doors' energy efficiency ratings.