Every home needs exterior doors. From front exterior doors to patio doors, there are several different types of exterior doors your home needs for certain locations. Here is your all-inclusive exterior door buying guide to help you choose the perfect door for any spot in your home.

Types of Exterior Doors

Patio Doors: A patio door is a home exterior door that opens up to your backyard garden or patio area. Instead of these doors being mostly closed (like front entry doors), these types of exterior doors contain glass panels, which allows sunlight into your home if you do not put blinds in front of the glass.

Screen Doors: Screen doors are supplemental doors that go in front of your front entry door or other doors. The all-around mesh material allows you to open your main door to let fresh air and sunshine into your home on a nice day (without having to worry about letting insects in or pets getting out).Don’t let all of the mesh fool you – screen doors are made with a solid wood or metal frame to keep the doors in their place.

Front Entry Doors: Front exterior doors are what makes a statement and boosts your curb appeal.These doors are typically placed at the front entrance of your home since they are made with aesthetics that other exterior doors don’t have. Front entry doors are mainly made out of wood, fiberglass, or steel, and can be customized with the hardware you choose for the knobs. Most of the time, front exterior doors contain little to no windows so you can have security and privacy.

Security Doors: Speaking of security, security doors are types of exterior doors that are also placed in the same location as front entry doors to prevent break-ins or threats, but can also be placed in other locations around the home. They are constructed with stronger materials than traditional front exterior doors, often using steel and aluminum materials for another layer of protection. These doors can also come with a passcode lock instead of a key lock to prevent lock picking from occurring.

Exterior Door Materials

Wood: Front exterior doors made out of solid wood have been the traditional selection for decades. Wooden front doors offer lots of protection and durability to the entrance of your home while also providing an elegant addition to your front porch. Another benefit to wooden front doors is their impeccable insulation capabilities to conserve your home’s energy and temperature. Remember to maintain your wooden doors by oiling and sealing to avoid warping overtime due to consistent sun and heat exposure. Just be sure to watch out for warping over time!

Manufactured Wood: If you want the appearance of a wooden front exterior door for less, opt for a manufactured wood option. This material is durable enough to withstand weather conditions and other forces while also adding to the curb appeal.

Metal: Metal exterior doors are a more budget-friendly option than wooden doors without compromising on durability and security. Metal front doors are very durable, great insulators from the heat or the cold, and do not warp over time like wooden doors do.

Fiberglass: Fiberglass exterior doors feature a wood grain texture to give you the appearance of a wooden door without the same solid wood materials. Fiberglass doors are another strong and durable option that contain a polyurethane foam between the two molded sides of the door to keep it insulated. These types of exterior doors can be more durable than wooden doors since they are strong enough to withstand external forces without leaving a dent.

Door Installation Types

Prehung: Prehung doors make installation a breeze since these doors come fully intact with their siding and hinges. All you need to do is insert the kit to the opening of your home (where you plan to install the door).

Slab: A slab exterior door is the opposite of prehung. These do not come with the frame or siding, and are just your selected door. If you are needing to replace your front door without replacing the frame or siding, this is the best option.

Glass Types

Clear: Front exterior doors with clear glass contain no obstruction for natural light entering the home. Doors with this glass type may have one large pane of glass to look fully open, or may contain little decorative cutouts in the door with glass openings.

Decorative: Decorative glass front doors, unlike clear doors, contain some shading that prevents natural light from entering in completely. These doors feature glass panels with decorative elements, such as floral patterns, intricate shapes, and lines. This option adds style and flair to your overall front door aesthetic for a stunning welcome.

Frosted: These doors feature frosted glass panels that are made with sandblasting or acid etching of clear glass to provide a blurring effect. This glass gives you the maximum amount of privacy with its blurring of images (so you can’t see through clearly) while still allowing light to shine through the panels.

Textured: Textured glass is very similar to decorative and frosted glass since it still blurs the images like frosted glass, but adds decorative style and flair with its ridges. Textured glass front doors do not have the smooth look as clear glass doors do. Rather, glass on these doors contains ridges or waves to give a pop-out illusion.

Tip!

Pair your door with the right knobs and locks with our guide: The Best Types of Door Locks & Door Knobs for Your Home

Now that you know about the different types of exterior doors, it’s time to find the right one for your home!

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