Knock, Knock! Who’s There?

What a Front Door Says to the World

Did you or your friends ever play the old childhood prank where you knocked on someone’s front door or rang their bell and then ran away before someone could see who was there?

Front doors are often the first thing people see when they visit someone’s home, and, if yours is in shabby condition, it may make folks run away in a similar fashion. Whether you host guests frequently, are hoping to resell soon or simply would like an upgrade, a front door makeover can make a difference in how a house looks to the outside world.

Do you use your actual front door?
Other types of exterior doors, such as patio doors, are important as well. Some people have many doors on their homes and don’t use the actual front door, in favor of using a side door or back door to greet guests into the home. If this describes your family, you may want to consider examining all the doors, front included, especially if you want to upgrade the appearance of your home to the public. And, if you’ve never updated your front door because no one uses it to go in or out, now is the time to give the front door some well-deserved attention.

The Material of Your Front Door
Take a long, hard look at your door. Does it need to be replaced? Is it in good condition, creating a solid welcome to your home – or does it long for repair? Doors typically are made of one of three materials. These are:

• Wood;
• Steel;
• Fiberglass.

Each of these three products can offer different benefits to your home’s exterior and your family’s wallet.

Steel

There are a few benefits of a steel door. They can offer security, and they come in a variety of different finishing possibilities, such as stained, wood-fiber coating or a baked-on, polyester glaze. And you can generally buy a steel door already ready to go – most of them have holes drilled and hinges attached.
If your family is on a budget, a steel door without all the bells and whistles (such as upscale hardware) can be the least expensive option for a new door.

Wood

Wood doors are beautiful and come in a variety of different materials – pine, cherry, maple, oak and mahogany, for example, are often used for naturally finished doors. Paint-ready doors are typically made of pine or Western hemlock.
While a solid wood front door might look luxurious, the price tags that come with them can be quite steep. Thus, if your family likes the idea of a wood door but not the cost of one, try a stock door in wood-veneer skin over an engineered wood core. These hearty doors are less susceptible to warping and usually cost hundreds of dollars less.

Fiberglass

Because they are sturdier than steel doors (less susceptible to dents and other marks), fiberglass doors are becoming more and more common. They are also energy efficient and are therefore popular in harsh climates.
If you crave the appearance of wood, keep in mind that fiberglass doors can look just as good as wood doors, and they are easy to stain to mimic wood. In addition, they often carry long warranties.

The Color of Your Front Door
Colors often convey different ideas and symbolize certain traits. A new paint job on the front door (or any door of the home) can give your home a new “vibe” more easily than you think.

Red

As one of the most popular paint colors, red doors usually symbolize welcoming. A door painted red is thought to bring positive energy and opportunity into the home.

Blue

A blue door usually stands for serenity and calmness. If you want to convey a sense of peace to your family and guests, try a blue door.

Green

Paint your door green if the ideas of prosperity and harmony appeal to you. Like blue, green has a calming effect on people who enter.

Black

Black doors stand for strength and sophistication. A black front door can make your family and guests feel protected inside the walls of your home.

Purple

Perhaps you haven’t considered a purple front door, but, if creativity, passion and spiritual wealth are important to you, a purple front door might be for you.

Yellow

A yellow door lets your guests know that all who enter will experience merriment and happiness. Yellow can also symbolize wisdom and a sharp mind.

Our homes should reflect who we are, and the front door is no exception. Upgrading the front door is a simple way to improve your home’s interaction with the outside world.

Jay Harris is a Home Depot sales associate in the Chicago suburbs. Jay writes for the Home Depot website, where he provides homeowner tips on front doors, patio doors and many other home improvement topics.