Oak Front Door Design

Before you dig into hanging your new oak front door, you will want to walk yourself through the steps to ensure that you have everything you need, and that you can knock out any potential problems before they arise. Follow the list of steps below to run over the installation in your head.

Check The Door For Damage Before Hanging It - If the door contains any damage, you are going to want to make sure that you have it swapped out for a good condition model before you start hanging it. This will help save you a ton of time if you have to remove it later because it came damaged from the factory.

Remove Your Old Door, Examine The Mounting Brackets - Take the old door off its hinges, and examine the mounting brackets to make sure they are going to be ale to hold the weight of the new door. If they are more than 10 years old, you should replace them.

Consider Replacing The Door Jamb - Another area that may need to be replaced is the door jamb. If your doorway is more than 10 years old, the jamb may have lost its structural integrity, which could cause problems when the weight of your new oak front door is placed on it.

Add Shims To Level & Plumb The Door - After examination, if the mounting brackets and door jamb are sufficient, or have been replaced, you will need a pack of shims to properly level and plumb the door. You are going to want to achieve 1/8" to 1/4" gap between the door and the jamb.

Entry doors should be tough enough to withstand the vagaries of weather yet appealing and welcoming to you and your visitors. They should give protection to your home from burglars while giving you and your family quick access and exit.

Old wood and veneer doors warp crack and delaminate with age due to exposure to the elements. Old metal doors are also prone to peeling and creaking after many years of faithful service.

Aging can create accessibility problems with your front door making it a hassle not only for you, but for others especially those with mobility problems.

It is important to have an entry door which is accessible all your visitors able and disabled. The threshold and the front door must be made in such a way that no one will find it too cumbersome to gain entry despite of their physical conditions.

There are dozens of door designs and broad collections can be found at lumberyards home centers and door dealers. You can specify the types of panels and glass designs you want. You will however have to wait for a couple of weeks for such special requests.

Choosing the material for your door is an important decision. Most doors are a combination of materials although the surface is what mostly affects appearance, durability, security and price.

The following materials are available for your front door:

Wood- Wooden doors are the most common types of doors. They are beautiful and versatile. Naturally finished stock and custom wood doors come in oak, cherry, walnut, mahogany, maple, fir, and pine. You can also find wooden doors in several softwood varieties such as pine and western hemlock.

Steel Doors-They are the best choice if security and durability is your major concern. Steel doors are stronger than wood and composite doors. They will not warp or crack and are easy to repair in case they get dented or dinged.

Composite or Fiberglass Doors- Composite doors are made to resemble wood in terms of texture and appearance. They are stained to mimic walnut, cherry, oak, pine and other wood varieties. Such doors are tough and durable making them appropriate for harsh and humid climates. Composite doors have wooden stiles and rails beneath their moulded surfaces and are filled with polyurethane foam insulation to give them extra weight.