Home | What's New | Site Map | Share Photos

Exterior Front Doors

Make A Statement On Your Porch

It's hard not to notice beautiful exterior front doors. Whether solid hardwood or painted a vibrant color, front doors make a statement on your porch.

Want instant curb appeal - paint your front door a vibrant color! Or, select an exquisite wood door with light panels.

No matter your preference, the front door is something everyone sees.

exterior front door

photo courtesy of szczel

Add to that front door decorations to complement your porch and you have a winning combination. A colorful wreath can make an ordinary door extraordinary quickly.

Enjoy viewing the exterior front doors we have in our gallery and envision what one of these doors would look like on your porch. Then check out our front door information that follows.

Click on these pictures to enlarge them.
Photos are water-marked and copyrighted; please do not use without permission.

Exterior Door Materials

Wooden: You can't beat the natural warmth and rich appearance of a solid wood door. As a woodworker, wood doors are my favorite choice. You can find wood doors made from mahogany, hemlock, pine, walnut,oak, alder, cherry and even juniper. The only drawback is that wood doors need regular maintenance.

Fiberglass: Virtually maintenance-free and ideal for almost any climate, fiberglass exterior doors will not warp, rot, or split. They can be painted or stained and usually have woodgrain finishes so refined that you can't tell it's a fiberglass door.

Steel: Extremely low-maintenance, steel doors are made from heavy gauge galvanized steel. They have the best fire ratings (up to 90 minutes or more) and are designed to meet hurricane-prone area code requirements. They too, can be painted or stained to look like wood doors.

Composites: The core of composite doors will not rot, warp, or twist when subjected to high levels of humidity because manufacturers blend different materials to form a strong door. The core is then wrapped with real wood. Composite exterior doors offer the beauty of wood, but without the problems of warping or splitting.

Wooden Screen Door: There's nothing quite like the sound of a wooden screen door slamming shut in summer. A beautiful wood screen door will instantly add charm to any home.

Instant Screen Door: When you want to enjoy the outdoors and catch the breeze but can't have a standard screen door installed, consider using an instant screen door.

Your porch's front door needs to be strong to withstand the weather, secure to repel intruders, stylish to make a great first impression, and last but not least, fit your budget. Your front door can also add immense curb appeal and value to your home. Exterior front doors make a first and lasting impression!

red exterior front door

photo courtesy of Michael's photos

Exterior Front Door Style Tips

Match your front door with your home's architecture:

Queen Anne: The Victorian-era doors have either a single pane or leaded glass in their tops and elaborate carvings and moldings below.

Craftsman: Craftsman doors have wider stiles and bottom rails along with flat panels. Craftsman era inspired glass designs and windows may have elaborate leaded-glass.

Contemporary: Authentic choice for homes with modern architecture; their visual warmth makes them suitable for traditional homes too.

Ranch: Contemporary doors match an exterior that has clean horizontal lines.

Tudor Revival: Adapted from the English Renaissance, Tudors have board-and-batten doors, often with arched or pointed tops.

Cape Cod: The doors of this post–World War II style usually have raised panels and are complemented with upper windows.

Colonial Revival: Raised-panel doors have a symmetrical style and are accented with a fanlight and flanking sidelights.

brightly colored exterior front door