Exterior Doors
Types of Exterior Doors
Styles of Exterior Doors
Materials & Features
Types of Exterior Doors
Entry
A beautiful entry door gives visitors their first impressions of your home, adds to a house’s curb appeal, and increases property value. Thus it’s important to select a door that enhances your home’s overall architecture while signaling your distinctive style. You should also think about how the entry door will look from the inside. Since entry doors provide security and noise-abatement as well, they should be strong, well framed, and solidly constructed.
French (Hinged)
French doors have transparent or glazed glass panels extending the door’s entire length. Often used in pairs as a more traditional-looking substitute for patio doors, French doors swing outward or inward depending on space and function. Some manufacturers make ‘sliding french doors,’ which are patio doors with framing characteristic of classic french doors with the larger bottom and top rails.
Scenic Doors
Scenic doors offer panoramic views and blur the lines between the inside and out. With custom colors, sizes and hardware available, these high performance doors create an elegant and effortless transition from the interior to the exterior of your home.
Storm & Screen
Storm doors help weatherproof your home, seal drafts, and increase energy efficiency. Screen doors open interior spaces to natural light and fresh air, while keeping out insects and blowing debris. Always popular as back doors and side doors, today’s storm and screen doors are so well designed that they are being used more and more as entry doors.
Patio (Sliding)
Patio doors are made from wood, fiberglass, vinyl or a combination of materials that frame large expanses of glass. They open by sliding or folding and are available in many style. A new type of patio door, the ‘lift and slide,’ offers full retractability and unobstructed views. With all patio doors, careful consideration of glass options is particularly important.
Cellar
Rugged, easy-to-operate cellar doors can add useable square footage to your home. As they are exposed to the elements, cellar doors need to be weather-tight; for safety, they also need sturdy locks and internal mounting flanges.
Styles of Exterior Doors
Our job at Ring’s End is to help our customers build well and to realize their aesthetic vision. While there is virtually an unlimited number of door style options for any taste, the following are some common styles.
Colonial
Craftsman
Classic
Eclectic
Georgian / Federa
Modern
Materials
Wood
Hardwood is the classic material for entry doors. The wide variety of available woods, ranging from tropical exotics to domestic hardwoods, along with the ability to add hand-carved details make wood the most sought-after material for custom and semi-custom doors. While manufacturing advances have greatly improved the durability and weather-resistance of premium wood doors, these products are best used in entryways that are sheltered from the elements.
Fiberglass
Fiberglass exterior doors are quickly growing in popularity. They offer superior durability in nearly any climate, as they will not warp, rot, crack, or split, and they are virtually maintenance-free. Energy-efficient and well suited for high-traffic entrances, fiberglass doors come in beautiful wood grain finishes such as oak, mahogany, and fir as well as an unlimited number of paint and stain finishes.
Steel
Projects for which door security and strength are paramount often require steel doors. Treated to deliver superior rust resistance, steel doors require little upkeep, are very energy efficient, and will withstand years of extreme weather. Steel doors are available in solid panel and in glass insert styles, primed and ready for painting.
Features of Exterior Doors
Safety & Security
Proper installation is the key to having a secure door. The door should fit snugly in the frame; its hinges should be tightly affixed, perhaps reinforced with setscrews, crimped pins, or safety studs. Other security features include multi-point locking systems and high quality bolts and key locks.
Glass Options
Glass options include textured, decorative or tinted glass as well as features like between-the-glass blinds, shades, or grilles. You will also want to consider the energy efficiency, ultraviolet protection, and shatter resistance of the glass inserts or panels you select for your door.
Swing
Inswing entry doors are popular because hinges and deadbolts are located inside the home, thus increasing security. Also, an entry door that opens into the home provides guests a gracious welcome. An outswing door can be more durable, keeping out water and reducing wear; it is a common configuration for screen and storm doors.
Hardware
Handles and locking systems for exterior doors are available in many styles, materials, and finishes. You might also consider decorative hinges and straps for a unique look. In every case, you’ll want to choose door hardware that complements your door’s style and that balances security with convenience.
Ring’s End has one of Connecticut and Southern New York’s finest selections of superior quality exterior doors. Our premium lines of entry doors, patio doors, and weather-smart screen and storm doors are not available at most building supply stores; we also offer design services, project coordination, and professional installation. When you visit a Ring’s End showroom, you’ll find a vast array of door styles, materials, and finishes to consider. Our professional staff is eager to help you select the exact door that meets your needs and expectations now and for many, many years to come.