Exterior Door Choices - Guidelines

Wood

steel exterior doors

Doors made of wood are highly recommended when they are protected by an overhang and not facing direct sunshine from the east or west.   Wooden doors have an aesthetic appeal and add to the feeling of warmth in a home. They also provide an authentic look.  However, they require some special care and attention in order to ensure a very long lasting product.

EXTERIOR DOORS

As wood doors are made of natural fibers, there will be some expansion or contraction under different temperatures. Each door will perform differently according to the particular environment in which it is installed. A wood door in a very hot environment may require some periodic maintenance, typically once a year. Protection will vary according to the finish applied.

There are many varieties of styles and finishes available in doors made of wood. Some are offered with impact resistant glass. Please see our Door Samples web page to get an idea of the tremendous variety of wooden doors now available.

Solid wood doors typically provide increased security, longer life, and require less maintenance than those that are not solid wood. The wood doors that we carry are only solid wood.

Fiberglass

Fiberglass doors require little or no maintenance. Many fiberglass doors are now available with the look of wood.

Steel and Other Metals

Steel doors (and doors made of other metal composites) are recommended when there is little or no overhang protection and at patios and front doors when they will be exposed to severe weather conditions. They do not require maintenance, as they are made of galvanized steel or other metal laminate with wood inside.

Steel doors are available in a wide variety of styles, including hurricane impact resistant types.

Energy-Efficient Doors

Custom-fitted doors made with polystyrene cores have been demonstrated to have superior energy efficiency ratings.  "Custom fit" status is achieved merely by making several key measurements of the door opening to ensure proper fit of the door before it is ordered and installed.  This ensures the air-tightness of the door and allows the polystyrene core to achieve its full effect.  Doors in hot climates such as Miami, Florida are rated as energy efficient if they keep warm temperatures out; doors in cold climates are rated to be energy efficient if they effectively keep cold temperatures out and retain heat inside. 

Regarding Severe Weather Conditions

As long as a door is installed so it opens outward, it will provide an additional measure of safety and security under severe weather conditions. For example, in high winds, the frame will help protect the door against inward wind force.

In areas such as Miami, Florida, hurricane impact doors provide an extra measure of safety and protection against hurricane force winds. Hurricane impact resistant doors vary in quality. Local governmental entities may offer certifications and approvals of specific door models and brands.

New Door Styles

New styles of doors have been introduced with blinds installed internally between two layers of hurricane impact door glass. This provides an additional benefit of not having to dust blinds.

Exterior Door Choices - Guidelines

Nick Covey is the Webmaster and content writer for J&M Doors, Inc. of Miami, Florida.

J&M Doors, Inc. at http://www.j-mdoors.com/ is a locally owned and operated family business, with an emphasis on friendly, courteous, personalized service. J&M opened its doors in 2007. This company was formed after the staff gained experience with a larger organization that was felt to be overpricing its doors and was not providing the individual service that each customer deserves.

EXTERIOR DOORS