Which exterior doors to choose for your home?

They must look good, refer to the style of the interior, as well as match the colors of the façade, but above all, they must effectively dampen noise and provide protection against cold and burglary. External doors to the house should therefore fulfill several extremely important functions. Unfortunately, not all models available on the market are suitable. Some delight us with their original design, while they let the cold through and are not solid enough. Others, on the other hand, are characterized by above-average technical properties, but do not meet current visual standards. Do you need a compromise?

Exterior doors are made of different materials, and each of them has different properties. The most popular are wooden exterior entrance doors, but more and more often, especially in modern buildings, we come across aluminum, steel and even plastic doors. Let’s get to know them better!

Wooden exterior doors

They are usually made of coniferous wood, but there are also variants made of mahogany and oak. The most important advantages of wooden doors include their durability. Wood is a very solid raw material, which also provides excellent thermal insulation. Wooden exterior doors have low thermal expansion, but it should not be forgotten that they are not very resistant to weather conditions, so they should be maintained regularly. Manufacturers protect them with protective varnishes and oils, which certainly extends their life. If you decide on wooden doors, an additional roof in front of the entrance will also be a good solution.

Metal exterior doors

Aluminum and steel are used for the production of metal exterior doors. They usually consist of two sheets of metal attached to the frame. To increase thermal insulation, the space between the sheets is filled with insulating material. Metal exterior doors to the house are very solid and also have above-average resistance to mechanical damage. Metal is also not sensitive to the adverse effects of weather conditions, so the door does not change its properties or deteriorate due to low or high temperatures, rain, snow or UV radiation. Aluminium and steel doors, due to their properties, are very often additionally equipped with anti-burglary elements. Compared to wooden doors, however, they provide weaker acoustic and thermal insulation.

Plastic entrance doors

Until recently, they were used only in public buildings, in shops and warehouses. External doors made of plastic, made of PVC, i.e. polyvinyl chloride, are also installed today in private homes. Their frame is made of plastic, and additionally reinforced with aluminum inserts. This is necessary to provide better protection against unauthorized entry into the building. PVC doors are sealed with polyurethane foam and supplemented with steel and aluminum elements. The finish is made of PVC veneer, acrylic foil and paint. Exterior entrance doors However, PVC has low rigidity, so they provide less protection against burglary than wooden and metal doors. They are attributed with very good acoustic and thermal parameters.

Wood, metal, plastic – these are the most commonly used materials in the production of entrance doors. If you care about excellent thermal insulation, choose wooden doors. Are you looking for an anti-burglary door? Bet on steel or aluminum. Do not give up on PVC doors if noise protection is a priority for you.

Read also which house to choose: wooden or brick?