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The Aesthetic Importance of Exterior Doors
According to Bob Wilcox and Jerome Markson, editors of a beautiful photography book of over 500 front doors from around the world, “for anyone interested in architecture, history, travel or world cultures, doors have a special fascination. In addition to welcoming guests and keeping out intruders, a door creates the first impression of a building and provides a sense of welcome, security, and peace.”
A building’s exterior doors act as a barrier between the reality of what lies inside and our imaginations. A child sent to the principal’s office for bad behavior will often see the principal’s door as an ominous sign of punishment to come. Comparably, the weathered, wooden door of a farmhouse in the countryside perhaps brings to mind imaginings of hospitality, warmth, and frugal goodness.
In this sense, the exterior doors act as a portal between the public and private.
They bring a sense of mystery while also offering a first glimpse or initial impression of the character, style, and personality of those who live within the walls. A simple wooden door shrouded in flowers and vines perhaps lets people know that they are walking into the home of an avid gardener. A sleek, modernist, and minimalist design to a front door can similarly reveal the defining elements of the homeowners' nature and the home itself.
What Is The Best Material For Exterior Doors?
The aesthetic importance of exterior doors is undoubtedly crucial for several reasons. However, a front door should also not compromise the energy efficiency of your home. Wood, steel, fiberglass, and glass doors are the most common materials for exterior doors. All of these options offer particular advantages and drawbacks, which we will detail below.
How Much Do Exterior Doors Cost?
The cost of exterior doors will depend on several factors, including the design, materials, and quality of construction. In general, however, homeowners can expect to pay the following:
- Wooden doors: Solid core wooden doors start at around $200, though customized and thicker wooden doors will cost significantly more. If you opt for exotic hardwoods, you can expect to pay in the thousands.
- Fiberglass doors: These doors also have a wide price range, costing anywhere from $150 to $2,000. Design, additions, and R-value of the foam interiors will all affect the final price.
- Steel doors: According to one estimate, “the cost of a standard steel (door) typically ranges between $150 and $300. Add glass, and that cost increases to $300 to $1,200.”
- All Glass Doors: All-glass doors tend to be the most expensive option, especially when made from high-quality, triple-pane glass. These types of doors can easily cost around $2,000 or more.
- (Bonus) Passive House Doors: Regarded as the most energy-efficient doors on the market, they're typically finished in wood or fiberglass, have high insulation value, and can have a triple-pane glass insert. These doors typically sell between $3,000 to $8,000.
Is It Expensive To Change The Glass In An Exterior Door?
For homeowners who want to maximize natural light infiltration into their home, adding glass insets into wooden, steel, or fiberglass doors is a great option. Pieces of strategically placed glass enhance the aesthetic qualities of the door without compromising energy efficiency and thermal performance. Some homeowners, however, might worry that a carelessly thrown baseball or strong gust of wind could damage that glass insert leading to costly repairs.
Fortunately, replacing glass insets is relatively inexpensive, depending on the size and the type of door material. In general, most homeowners pay between $165 and $374 to replace window glass, though that cost could increase with double or triple-pane glass insets.
Solid core wood, steel, fiberglass, and all-glass doors all offer specific advantages and drawbacks.
In the end, choosing the best type of material for your exterior door will depend on how much you value energy efficiency balanced with your esthetic preference for the character of your home.
Tobias Roberts
Tobias runs an agroecology farm and a natural building collective in the mountains of El Salvador. He specializes in earthen construction methods and uses permaculture design methods to integrate structures into the sustainability of the landscape.