4 Questions to Ask When Buying A New Front Door

Have you been considering a new front door for you home but unsure where to begin? You are not alone. Listed below are some of the top questions we hear every day.

  1. HAVE YOU ASKED YOURSELF, HOW MUCH DOES A NEW FRONT DOOR COST? It is a great question and probably one of the most important. A new front door can range anywhere from just under $100 from Lowe’s or Menards to upwards of $25,000 or more for a custom wood entry system. This broad range makes it challenging to budget for your own home. Some considerations to keep in mind when budgeting for your own front door is the size of the door. Do you have a single entry door or a door with sidelites and a transom? The bigger your door, the more expensive it will be. The glass you select also plays a significant part in the cost with decorative glass being more expensive than clear glass. To help you budget for your new front door, here are some ranges that should provide a good starting point. • Single entry door – $1,000-$4,000 • Entry door with sidelites or a double (French) door – $3,500-$9,000 • Entry door with sidelites and a transom – $6,000- $15,000 • Fully custom entry systems – $12,500 and up
  2. WHAT TYPE OF FRONT DOOR SHOULD I CHOOSE? That depends on what is most important to you. Is energy efficiency your top concern? Maybe a maintenance free option is what you are looking for. No matter what your wish list contains, there is a material that would be a perfect fit for you and your home. Lets look at the pros & cons of the most common materials available. WOOD Pros: Beautiful. Endless options, Fully Custom, broad price range. Cons: Requires maintenance, natural material that expands and contracts depending on outside temperature, moderate on energy efficiency. FIBERGLASS Pros: Energy efficient, low maintenance, lots of design options, broad range of price points. Cons: More limiting than wood on customization, different levels of quality available, which can be confusing. STEEL Pros: Cost effective, energy efficient. Cons: Can dent easily, which leads to rust if not maintained, limited customization.
  3. SHOULD I GO WITH A STANDARD SIZED DOOR OR CUSTOM? This question causes more confusion than probably any of the others. The reason being is that many door manufacturers use slightly different sizing for their so called “standard size.” Just because your door is a “standard size” in one brand, it may not be in another.
  4. I LIKE THE PICTURE OF THE DOOR I SAW ON HOUZZ, BUT DOES IT FIT THE LOOK OF MY HOME? Fortunately, the advancements in technology have helped us with this question. We can now superimpose new door styles onto photos of your home to help you visualize what your new door would look like. This is a great option if you are looking to completely change the style, color or layout of your front door.

Whether you already know what you want in your new front door or you are just beginning your journey, Franklin Window & Door is here to help. Give them a call at 317-993-3660 to schedule an in-home design consultation. You can visit them online at franklinwindowanddoor.com.

by Cori Brown

Franklin Window & Door
1069 3rd Avenue SW
Carmel, Indiana 46032
317.993.3660
franklinwindowanddoor.com