External Doors - What You Need to Know By Joan One
The type of external doors you choose will depend on the style and type of building you intend to fit them. The most popular choices for external doors include wood, steel and fiberglass. Whichever type of external door you opt for, you need to ensure that it is able to provide security, privacy and protection from the vagaries of harsh weather. The quality of your exterior door will depend on the type of material used to construct it, as well as its installation technique. While wood and fiberglass are relatively expensive material choices for your external doors, steel is cheaper in comparison.
It is important to select the right style of door as these are what visitors to your home will normally use to create a first impression. In most cases, your external door style will be reflected in the remaining doors of your house. You also need a thermally efficient door so be sure to take into account thermal effects when choosing your door styles and materials. Modern doors will in most cases come with R value ratings which are representative of their thermal efficiency. This is an evaluation of the thermal resistance of the material used in the door's construction which is normally a ratio of temperature variation across the insulator and heat flux. In order to reduce your energy bills, opt for doors with inherent openings suitable for ventilation even when the door is closed. How and where you fit your door will also serve in mitigating door fire hazards. Take into account any building regulations that require specific distances to be maintained to an exit. External doors for public buildings normally open outwards and their frames have specific fire ratings. In order to take maximum advantage of natural light, select exterior doors that are sufficiently illuminated. For this, you may go for doors with glass panels or those that are entirely constructed out of glass. For maximum security, go for an external door which is strong and has an equally strong door frame. There is no point in having expensive locks on your external doors if their panels are not strong enough. Your choice of door material will depend on the type of building in which you intend to fit the door, external or internal use, weather conditions and your personal style and preferences. When it comes to wooden external doors, you may opt for real wood or go for the simulated grains on wood. You may also select simulated grains on fiberglass to match real wood.
If you settle for wooden external doors, you should note that these tend to deteriorate with constant exposure to the elements outside. Although they are beautiful, secure heavy and durable, these types of doors will require regular maintenance in order to have them looking good as well as to increase their lifespan. Ply woods and laminates on the other hand cannot be sanded and the top layers tend to absorb moisture which penetrates the surface and damages their insides.
Internal Doors & External Doors from Blacketts Doors UK