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We just replaced our wooden front doors in Houston with steel doors with thick double glass. It is smooth, quiet and secure. It has a layer of blown, distorted glass for openness, light, and privacy. Strangely enough, the company that we bought from (with installation) was “Durango Doors”. There were many options for window size, arrangement, and shape.
Dave, do you want windows on the door, and if so, for what purpose? Do you want to be able to see who's on the other side? Do you want them to see you looking at them? Do you go nakie in your house? Do you want windows to let light in?
I want windows for light to come in but I also want to be able to walk on the inside, nakie, and be a blur to the person on the outside. A peep hole is a must-have, for me. High up windows work for me or lower windows that have diffused focus glass to allow light in. I need a natural lit house.
The front doors on my house in Cali are nice but would not match the style on my Colorado house, and visa versa. These aren't suggestions as much as photos to show options you might get in a single door. I love how front doors set the stage for the interior. What do I have in my immense photo files just for ideas?
^Someone I adore who was at 17 years-old at the time(2004), in Acton, CA.
^The doors on the Acton, CA house. I LOVE wood. I loved that house that I lived in from April 1985 until March 2008. My ex-husband built the deck and pond and planted the trees and plants.
^Front doors in Orange County, CA. The peep hole is perfect. The light from the high door windows helps. Outside or inside, we can't see each other.
^Nest on top of the wreath at Orange County, CA house. It's a covered porch so the birds were smart!
^Colorado front door. Glass is not clear so they can't see me but I can't see them, either. I have to look out the windows in the dining room. There's no peep hole. The wood is the same finish as all the cabinets in the house. I love the door. The only people who come to the door are for deliveries.
^3-14-2021. Day after a blizzard.
3-14-2021. My snow cat, Maury, tested that snow but came back in.
We have the builders grade steel clad wood door that I believe was on the house when it was built in 1984. Like yours, Dave, our door is protected. But it is as good as new after 38 years. Been thinking about replacing it with something a little more contemporary with some glass for light.
We do factory painted steel doors all the time, fully framed. The factory paint is pretty durable these days, and very smooth, lots of nice colours to choose from . Our front door has a window running down the center about 6 inches wide and 4 feet long, we like it as you can see out, it allows in some light, and you can see if anyone is outside of the door, no peephole needed. Energy star rated door that doesn't use a sweep is my preference. Pretty affordable, they will last a long time. Some people just toss on primered white doors and they can rust down the road if not painted properly. The metal doors can go 20 years without worrying about rust. We don't worry about crime in our area where the front door window would be broken to access the home, you're probably in a similar place.
The placement of our door makes it very well protected from rain, snow, etc. I put in a steel door to my separate garage and it was not protected well, so it's rusting through in a lower corner.
Yes, fiberglass. I don’t like front doors with glass. Too easy for break ins. A ring door bell will let you see who is on the other side of the door. Just my HO.
I would avoid windows that can be broken and an arm passed through to unlock the door. But no doubt you thought of that already.
Did the 18 grand come with a new roof too Jerry? What were they thinking?
Dean, we are so for from anyone, they could use a chain saw to cut a hole and no one would notice.
Front door security is a misnomer anyways. I assure you. with a good kick 99% of front doors swing wide open.
One full speed adolescent male chasing another adolescent male will do the same thing when the door is slammed in front of him. ( ask me how I know)
Doors aren't usually secured all that well.
By the way, part of the reason I like the Anderson is they have triple latches, bottom, middle and top, in the door. It snugs it in real tight so no leaky airflow.
It is an aluminum exterior but a wood interior. They are expensive though. I think ours with sidelights and toplights was around $6K.
Pella does good stuff too.
^ I had a lady I know pass away in her unit a couple days ago. The Police said they had trouble forcing the front door open, so they had to break in the rear sliding patio door to gain entry (front door damaged to hell and rear sliding door smashed in). I swear they must have been the weakest Police anywhere, as you stated entry doors are quite easy to breach. I could not believe this, I wanted to start laughing when the cop told me they couldn't break in the front door, but I kept my composure.
Do you want to be able to see who's on the other side? Do you want them to see you looking at them? Do you go nakie in your house? Do you want windows to let light in?
