Home Design Articles

Some of the better doors are made of oak. So do not hesitate if you are thinking of buying some new solid oak front doors for your home. Plenty of people actually prefer oak doors because they last a long time. Oak is a type of hardwood so it is resistant to break-ins, and dents. It can withstand inclement weather much better than other types of wood. Oak definitely is a beautiful piece of wood, and unmatched by any other. Mahogany is a tough wood but it cannot match the beauty of oak. When it is time for you to make a choice to buy a door, there will be many to pick from but oak is amongst the best. It appeals to the eye even when looking from far way. It is also extremely sturdy as a door.

Special care needs to be taken with solid oak front doors when they are being installed. Make sure that the oak does not shrink or become damp at all. When installing the doors, be careful, because if something is not done correctly, later on there will be relentless problems.

Each person has their own way of designing the “how” of the oak doors in their home. Plenty of people like to look outside from  inside the front door. If that is what you want than the door, gets fitted in a way that you can see out but no one can see in. The glass is good looking and durable.

The kind of oak front door that you might want is up for your own consideration. Smooth oak  doors decreases any extra maintenance, and they are easy to clean. If the contemporary style is your preference, than a door that does not have panels is a good choice. You can order a flat paneled door if you prefer panels.

Doors, front doors, oak front doors, solid oak front doors

UPVC doors are a popular choice for the main entry doors of a home. They are easily maintained, energy efficient, reasonably priced and come in a full range of colours and styles, including wood grain effect. 

UPVC doors have an airtight seal around the edge which keeps out draughts and minimises heat loss. Regular maintenance is not required and they can be easily cleaned with soap and water.

These doors come in many styles, as solid uPVC or with glazed panels. They are suited to both a contemporary style home, when a coloured or white door will usually be chosen, and also a traditional style home, when the wood grain effect is a more popular choice. 

When glass is chosen for an uPVC door it is usually double glazed and may include energy conservation properties for additional effectiveness. A popular choice, in this case, would be Low E glass which reflects long and short wave energy for greater thermal efficiency. 

As with all doors, the safety of the glass selected is of utmost importance. Doors are often pushed open or slammed closed, meaning the glass must be able to withstand such force. It is also a requirement of Building Code to have safety glass fitted. 

There are 2 main safety glasses available – Laminated safety glass and Toughened (tempered) safety glass:- 

Laminated Safety glass

This glass has a plastic membrane fitted between 2 panes. If the glass is broken the integrity of the panes will held by the plastic layer and will remain in position until replaced. The risk of injury is reduced. 

Toughened (tempered) safety glass

This glass is strengthened in the tempering process and is up to 4 times stronger than standard glass. If broken the pane will shatter and fall but the pieces will be small and blunt, known as dice. Again the risk of injury is reduced. 

Although uPVC doors are a popular choice for the reasons above there are many other front doors available, giving a wide scope for people to personalise the exterior of their home.

Doors, front doors, UPVC Doors