The front of house and in particular the door is one of the first things that people see when it comes to your home. So you may want to think about the things to consider when choosing a new front door. With that in mind we offered a lower price for our house as it was one of the major things that we needed to replace ASAP.
We replaced the door as soon as we could especially as the key got stuck in the lock and we ended up having to call out a Locksmith to sort it for us. This was not long after we moved in whilst awaiting our new door to be made and installed.
A new front door also has some great positives for one first impressions count. A new door brings great kerb appeal, which then adds a bit more value to your home. Then there is that it also improves your home's security and energy efficiency.
From experience we found getting a new front door isn’t as straightforward as you would think it is. Finding a door that suits your spec, budget and the safety regulations usually results in having to compromise in some way. Here are some of the things I recommend you consider:
Security
Security is a big factor when it comes to choosing a front door. As a minimum you should expect doors to meet or exceed British Standard PAS24; professional Doncaster Locksmith SF Locksmiths, advises that door locks should conform to the British Standard 3621 for tamper resistance, thief resistance and durability. Our original door locks weren’t up to British Standard so these were changed, whilst we waited for our new door to be ready.
Material
There are a good few different material options available. Although popular our previous door was wood which we felt wasn't a secure option for us. Low maintenance was also important as well so we opted for a UPVC door. This was the option we felt that was the best for us after doing some research into what we could also afford. However aluminium and composite are other alternatives that you may want to consider but tend to cost more.
Energy Efficiency
A good front door contributes significantly to heat retention in your home. The effectiveness of insulation around the rest of your house and double glazing will be compromised if the front door is draughty or not adequately insulated.
Design
Do you want a door that has glass? If so you need to consider glazing choice. Single, double-glazed and triple-glazed are the options available. There are many options of clear, tinted, frosted and patterned glass to consider too. For us we decided not to go for glass as it was an extra cost we just couldn't afford. You may also be able to make a statement with a transom light which we did go for. When choosing your design don't forget the colour we opted for white but there are a wide variety of colours to choose from including black, blue or red which are other popular choices. Then there are the fixtures and fittings, a good door supplier will give you a choice of fixtures and fittings with the choice being to either complement or make a contrast. We opted for our fixtures and fittings to be chrome. You might choose to remove some of the usual fixtures and fittings from the door itself - we chose to keep the letterbox but didn't want to have a knocker but went for the option of a spy hole.
Size
Once you have made the decision on the door you want make sure that you measure correctly. This was part of the service that was offered by the professionals who installed ours. You may want to check with who you buy your door off incase they also offer this.
Guarantee
Most installers offer a guarantee on your door so ask for one that is for 10 years. It's also important to make sure they have a good track record. You can find reviews online to help you with the decision.
Cost
Last of all you need to think about the cost. A new front door is going to cost quite a bit as it's an investment. So it's best to bare that in mind when researching and deciding a budget. When it comes to buying a new door it really is that you get what you pay for.
