How to Choose a Front Door: A Step-by-Step Guide

At Green Doors, we understand that choosing a new front door can be a daunting task, and that’s why we’ve created this detailed guide to help. The front door is a statement piece, and usually dictates an onlooker’s opinion of your home.

Choosing a new front door doesn’t need to be scary, though, and we’ll guide you through each step of the process to ensure that you choose the perfect front door for your home. Read on to learn all about this important homeowner topic.

What Are Front Doors?

A front door is the entrance to a house, building or apartment that is located on the “front” of the property. This is typically the main entrance to the building, however, some people may opt to use their back door as the main entrance.

A front door is typically made of strong materials, examples include wood, composite, aluminium, uPVC and steel, and this is to ensure that the entrance to the property is secure.

Why Your Front Door Matters

There are a couple of reasons why your front door matters, including improved first impressions, security and energy efficiency.

Improved First Impressions

As we hinted at earlier in this guide, choosing the right front door can considerably improve the first impression of your home. Whether it’s a front door that is an eye-catching colour or has a particularly unique design, the front door of your property is crucial for generating a positive outlook on your home.

Security and Energy Efficiency

When it comes to front doors, homeowners are mainly concerned about the security and energy efficiency of their homes. Ideally, you’d choose a front door that makes your home secure, keeps the cold out and the heat in, but also looks great and suits your home’s aesthetic.

Learn all about this in our handy front door security guide.

What Types of Front Doors Are Available?

When it comes to choosing a front door, you’ll want to be aware of the different types of front doors that are available. The most popular types are:

• Wood
• Composite
• uPVC
• Aluminium and Steel

Wood

Wooden front doors have been a popular choice over the years, and for good reason. They offer great energy efficiency, a natural beauty aesthetic and can be easily customised.

Composite

These days, a popular choice of front door is a composite door. Why? Well, these doors require minimal maintenance, offer high levels of security and impressive durability, plus they come in a wide range of modern designs.

uPVC

Made from Unplasticized Polyvinyl Chloride, uPVC front doors offer an affordable option for homeowners who are renovating their home on a budget. Not only are these doors bang for your buck, they’re weather-resistant and secure.

Aluminium and Steel

For homeowners who are mostly concerned about security and durability, choosing either an aluminium or steel front door is a no-brainer. These doors will last you many years, proving themselves to be a smart investment for your home.

How to Choose a Front Door: 8 Key Factors to Consider

Now that you’re aware of the types of front doors that exist, what factors should you consider when deciding how to choose a front door? The top 8 considerations in our opinion are:

1. Style
2. Size
3. Colour and finish
4. Budget
5. Longevity
6. Insulation
7. Weather Resistance
8. Security Features

1. Style

Depending on what your priorities are, the style of your front door might be low or high on your list. Either way, we recommend taking the style of your door seriously, as you’re going to have to look at it every day when you leave and return to your home.

If possible, choose something that aesthetically aligns with your home and personal style.

2. Size

Arguably, the most important aspect to consider when choosing a new front door is its size. We also recommend buying any door with its accompanying frame, and ensure that it is installed by a professional.

3. Colour and Finish

The decision that arguably requires the most brainpower from homeowners is the colour and finish of their front door. Do you play it safe with a relatively neutral colour, e.g. grey, or do you take a risk and go for something that will stand out? Well, this comes down to the homeowner and their individual style.

If you’re someone who’s into fashion and style, you’re more likely to choose a standout colour as opposed to someone who’s not really into wearing colourful clothes. Decide what kind of person you are and whether you want your front door to reflect this, and this will hopefully help you make the best decision. It might also help to see which colours are currently on trend.

4. Budget

Budget is high on the considerations of most homeowners, regardless of the renovation project they’re undertaking. Ensuring that you choose a front door that fits within your budget is important, as you’ll want to be comfortable with your decision.

If you’re looking to buy a high-quality front door on a budget, we recommend exploring the uPVC options available, and if budget is less of a concern for you, we recommend either a composite, wooden, aluminium or steel front door.

5. Longevity

If you’re looking to make a front door investment that will stand the test of time, we recommend either a composite, aluminium or steel door. These materials are hard-wearing and weather-resistant, meaning you can rely on them for many years.

6. Insulation

If you live in a colder area of the UK, insulation will certainly be high on your list of priorities when choosing a new front door. Ideally, you want to choose a door that keeps out the cold and keeps in the heat. The best front door materials for this goal are composite and wooden front doors.

7. Weather Resistance

Mother nature also has to be considered when choosing a front door. Over the years, your external doors are going to be exposed to various weather conditions, and you’ll want to ensure that your front door is up to the job.

Luckily, these days, most types of front doors are prepared for the weather. If you’re unsure which material you should be going for, contact us, and one of our experts will be more than happy to help.

8. Security Features

One of the main responsibilities of a front door is to keep your home secure, so it’s no surprise that we recommend considering the security features of a new front door before making your purchase.

Materials, locking systems and size of glass should all be factored into your decision-making when it comes to security.

Choosing a Front Door for Different Property Types

The final aspect to consider when choosing a front door is how to choose the right door for your property type. Typically, there are three main categories of home: modern homes, period properties and flats/apartments.

Modern Homes

If you’re the proud owner of a modern home, you’re probably going to be most interested in purchasing a composite front door. Composites come in a range of modern styles, making it easy for you to find a suitable option for your house.

At Green Doors, we have a wide range of composite doors, eagerly awaiting new owners!

Period Properties

Period properties are where replacing front doors can become a bit tricky. But that doesn’t have to be the case with Green Doors, as we stock 1930s doors, and much more.

The bespoke nature of period homes can make it difficult to find a new front door. If you’re unsure about your choices, speak to a member of the Green Doors team. You can also consider getting a wooden front door and working with a carpenter if the door is bigger than your period home’s opening. We recommend consulting with a carpenter first, though.

Flats and Apartments

Finally, if you’re looking to replace the front door of your flat or apartment, there might be some additional factors to consider. If you’re the legal owner of the property, you may still have to liaise with the landlord of the building to ensure that you’re legally allowed to replace the front door.

Once you’ve checked this, you’ll be looking to replace your front door with a door type that matches the building’s aesthetic well. Composite doors will suit most modern-style flat buildings.

Find the Perfect Front Door at Green Doors

Hopefully, this guide has helped you feel more comfortable choosing a front door for your home. At Green Doors, we have an amazing collection of front doors available to buy today, alongside our collections of back doors, bi-fold doors, sliding doors, French doors and windows.

If you have any questions around front doors or anything else we’ve covered in this guide, don’t hesitate to contact us, and a member of our expert team will be able to help.

How to Choose a Front Door: FAQs