If you are looking for an addition to your home that will make an immediate impact on your San Diego home’s curb appeal, a custom front entry door is the way to go! A custom front entry door can take a cookie cutter house and make it stand out, or it can take an already well-designed home and put it over the top. No matter the size or style of your San Diego home, you can have an entry door designed that will complement it, and make it look like it was always a part of the home’s design.
Creating your custom front entry door involves making many decisions. First of all, you need to decide what material you want your new door made out of. Your options include wood, steel, or fiberglass. Each material has benefits and drawbacks.
Wood Entry Doors
Custom wood entry doors are a popular choice and are readily available from many manufacturers, or they can be made by a local woodworker. To determine what type of wood to use, first you need to decide if the door will be stained or painted. Painted doors can be made from less expensive “paint-grade” wood, such as pine. If you want the natural wood grain to be the star of your custom door, consider options like oak, walnut, cherry, maple, or fir. The style of your home will help you determine what type of wood to choose. For example, for a Craftsman style home, oak may be the best choice to complement your home’s design.
Wood doors are usually the most expensive option for San Diego homeowners looking for a custom design and do require regular maintenance. Some of the larger, well-known companies that manufacture custom front entry doors include Jeld-Wen and Simpson Door Company.
Fiberglass Entry Doors
Fiberglass is a popular material choice for San Diego homeowners looking for durability in their front entry door. If you live near the coast, fiberglass may be the way to go, as it can withstand the elements with virtually no maintenance. However, if you do choose to refinish your door down the road, it is a job best done by a professional. Another advantage of fiberglass doors is their energy efficiency, which is better than that of wood doors.
If you want the look of wood, but the durability of fiberglass, doors embossed with a realistic wood-grain pattern are an option.
Due to their durability, lifetime warranties for fiberglass doors are relatively standard. You can get a made-to-order fiberglass door from a company like ProVia , Therma-Tru, or Jeld-Wen, all of which offer many popular options and sizes.
Steel Entry Doors
Steel entry doors, like fiberglass doors, are strong and durable and also offer excellent energy efficiency. They are relatively low maintenance, but can be susceptible to dents and scratches. However, when damaged, they are easily repaired with a standard auto-body repair kit.
Usually the least expensive of the three material options, steel front entry doors are a great choice for San Diego homeowners looking for a secure door with many options for customization. Some great companies to consider for custom steel entry doors include Portella, Jeld-Wen, and ProVia.
Options and Additional Features for Custom Front Entry Doors
When designing your custom front entry doors, you have almost limitless options. Popular additions to custom front doors include glass inserts of all shapes, styles, and glass types, and ornamental iron. A couple of companies making beautiful doors incorporating ornamental iron are First Impression Security Doors and Tuscan Iron Entries. Another option is to include glass sidelites that will let more light into the entryway of your home and provide an additional architectural element to your home’s exterior.
A custom front entry door can be a substantial investment, so make sure to do your research and choose a design you will be happy with for many years. You can get inspiration for your custom door by visiting the websites of any of the custom door companies mentioned above, or by going to a site like Houzz, which has many photos of beautiful and unique entry doors.
