10 Tips for Choosing Door to Enhance Your Home Security, Energy-Efficiency & Style

Best Digital Lock Singapore - Doors meant to be years. Learn 10 tips for choosing doors that make you satisfied and have no regrets.

Tips for choosing doors will help you take the comfort and security of your home to the next level. 

The proper door not only enhances your home's curb appeal but also ensures your home is secure and leaves peace of mind.

This article will provide you with a detailed overview of the factors to consider when selecting a door, including material options, design considerations, and practical features.

Read till the end so you know how to choose a door that suits your needs and style perfectly.

1. Determine the Purpose

Before considering the materials or design, you must determine where to install the door.

Are you looking for a door to be installed as an exterior entryway or interior room divider or for a specific function like a closet or pantry? The purpose will influence the door's material, design, and features. 

For example, exterior doors need to be sturdy and durable. They need to withstand much exposure to the rain, wind, and sun. 

Furthermore, they should be able to protect you from forced entry. In this case, you may want to consider installing a digital lock for maximum security and convenience.

On the other hand, interior doors may not face the harsh elements like their exterior counterparts. However, they serve a variety of purposes within your home.

They should be able to give you enough privacy. Some rooms, such as the bedroom, home office, or media room, may need soundproofing and noise reduction features.

Understand each location's specific needs, so you can pick a door that balances functionality, aesthetics, and values in your sweet residence.

2. Consider the Materials

The door you have can be made from various materials. Each has advantages in terms of durability, maintenance, security, and aesthetics.

Think carefully before deciding on the door material. Make sure it suits the purpose of the door. 

For example, the one in the living room and kitchen will be better if made from a hollow core with clear glass inserts. It will allow the light to flow while maintaining some separation.

As for the entryway that faces outside, you will like to use a reinforced door. It provides durability, security, and energy efficiency. This way, you can also prevent excess heat from entering your home in the dry season and escaping in the rainy season.

For example, you can try the AMARANTHINE laminated wooden door from HOZ. It combines the advantages of wooden doors, like durability and sound resistance, along with the benefits of laminated doors, such as scratch resistance, weather and dust resistance, and easy maintenance.

For your consideration, take notes at this comparison table between materials.

Material	Advantages	Disadvantages
Wood	Aesthetic, customizable design and finishing, good insulation	high cost needs regular maintenance, termites
Metal	Extremely durable, low maintenance, secure, and fire-resistant	limited design option, poor insulation, high cost
Fiberglass	Highly durable and resistant, low maintenance, good insulation	Higher initial cost, limited design option
Glass	Aesthetic, light can pass, has a variety of designs	Lower security, fragile, needs regular maintenance
UPVC	Very low maintenance, resistant to rot, rust and corrosion, affordable.	Less durable

 

3. Consider the Space and Layout

Utilizing space and layout harmony will not only improve functionality but also make your home more aesthetic and mesmerizing.

If there is enough space, why not install a French door as an exterior entryway? Otherwise, a traditional swing door is particularly suitable for any occasion.

For areas with limited spaces, sliding doors or pocket doors will be a great space-saving option. Place them in the bathrooms, laundry rooms, or even as room dividers in open floor plans.

To create visual harmony, try to place the doors appropriately sized for the space. A large door for a small room and vice versa doesn’t look appropriate at all.

4. Match the Architectural Style

The other aspect you need to consider is how to bring up visual harmony through the door style, color, and finishing. 

Choose between a classic traditional or modern style, a light-colored or darker one, and finishing touches that complement the existing trim and hardware throughout your property.

Modern buildings usually use sleek and plain doors with clean lines and minimalist design. On the contrary, traditional homes apply paneled doors, arched tops, and elegant details. They’ll match the classic vibe perfectly.

The purpose is to create a cohesive look of the entire building by matching the style with the rest of your architecture. Use the right hardware (handles, locks, and hinges) and consider going custom if you have a specific vision.

However, keeping the balance of function and aesthetics is always important. That’s why picking a door that also fits your practical needs is also a must.

5. Plan for the Maintenance

Nothing lasts forever. Doors, like any other home feature, require proper care to ensure longevity and functionality.
Every door needs regular cleaning. 

However, to keep it in the best condition, different doors require different treatments that suit the materials. 

For example, Fiberglass doors exposed to the sunlight may fade over time. You may consider applying UV protectant to minimize the risk.

On the other hand, steel doors require relatively less maintenance. However, there is a need to pay extra attention to the rust spots, especially at the hinges. Otherwise, it is necessary also to apply some lubricants to keep your door operating smoothly.

Meanwhile, you need to do a lot of maintenance when you have wooden doors. They should be repolished every few months to keep the surface shining and protect against moisture. Moreover, you can’t use harsh chemicals or abrasive cleaners that can damage the surface.

If you want to keep the luxury of wooden doors but still hope for easy maintenance, try premium laminated wooden doors from HOZ. A simple wipe-down with a damp cloth is sufficient to keep your door clean.

 

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6. Asses the Energy Efficiency

 

This feature is essential when installing an exterior door. This term refers to the capability of the door to repel the excess heat from the outside and conserve the one that comes from the inside.

Doors with this feature contribute to lower heating and cooling costs. In other words, the building will stay cool during the dry season and warm during the rainy season at less cost.

How do we know that particular doors are energy efficient?

• First, inspect the gap between the door and the surrounding frame. The efficient one will prevent leakage, allowing heat and cold air to pass.
• Check the U-factor and SHGC (Solar Heat Gain Coefficient). These 2 factors show how much heat can pass through the material and make a mess at room temperature.

If possible, ask the seller whether there is a certification for the door or not. The certified energy efficient may require more cost. Otherwise, you can just use the previous tips to categorize its efficiency.

7. Evaluate Security and Safety Features

Security features must come to mind first when contemplating how to choose exterior doors. 

Internal ones also require it, but it is not as crucial as the gateway or entryway.

Security is not just about the lock, but all aspects that can prevent the people inside from getting harmed.

 

So, what's to consider?

• Basic security features include proper materials, reinforcement, installation, and, of course, a locking mechanism.
   
• Solid materials with strong reinforcement and proper installation are necessary for exterior and interior doors. Exterior doors may need stronger and better-locking mechanisms. Meanwhile, interior doors can use standard ones.

• Additional features such as peephole, smart locks, and alarm systems offer more convenience. However, you need to make sure that the digital lock you use has strong encryption to prevent hacking.

You can trust Hoz for it. Digital locks from HOZ are digital solutions that modern houses require. From fingerprinting to facial recognition, Bluetooth, Wi-Fi, and even NFC, many features will make you feel what true convenience is.

The other necessary feature is fire rating. It is a feature that prevents or delays the fire from spreading. This way, it gives you an extra layer of safety if a fire breaks. 

Check our collections that have this feature as an optional. It may save your life.

8. Check the Quality and Durability

Quality and durability are intertwined concepts that define how well a door performs its functions over time. High-quality doors are usually more durable than low-quality ones, and vice versa.

Quality talks much about the craftsmanship, materials, and overall construction, including aesthetic and functional features.

The excellent door will be well-crafted using solid materials with strong structure integrity and aesthetic value. 

There’s no way to ensure the quality of a door without seeing it and trying the functional features personally.

Durability emphasizes the door’s ability to endure physical stress and environmental factors over time, maintaining its functionality and appearance with minimal maintenance.

Typically, the more solid the door, the more durable it is. However, the frame and joints also play a big role in making it durable over time.

It’s even better if you ask for a guarantee. Good manufacturers won’t hesitate to give you one because they believe in the quality of their products.

For example, in HOZ, you can get 1-year onsite warranty for every door you purchase. This shows that we believe in the quality of our products and services.

9. Set a Budget

Installing a door is not a major home improvement - still, you need to prepare some budgets so the project can be done.

To set your door budget, you need to set the priority of each door. Remember, not all doors need to be top-of-the-line. 

For example, exterior doors need higher security, while bedroom doors need soundproofing features. Different needs require different budgets.

Allocate a larger portion of your budget to high-priority doors (front door, master bedroom) and a smaller portion to less critical interior doors (closets, laundry rooms).

To save budget, you can explore cost-effective options like laminate doors for certain interior applications where aesthetics are less crucial.

Look for sales and discounts if available. It’s better if you can get quotes from local contractors or installers to factor in the average installation cost per door into your overall budget.

However, don’t just look at the current price. Consider the long-term value and maintenance cost over time. It’s better at long last if you get one that has high durability and is easy to care for.

10. Get Experts Consultation

Naturally, not everyone has a good understanding of buildings and doors. 

So, why not get an expert consultation to know what you need for your residence?

It’s not that hard to reach an expert. For example, you can get so much insight from online reviews.
  
Also, talk to your contractors or local sellers in your area. Tell the seller how the situation is, where you'll be placing the door, and what features you want it to have. 

With their experience, they will recommend some products and why those will fit your criteria.

Obtain quotes from several different door experts before making a decision. Compare the prices and services they offer. Use cost vs benefit analysis and pick the most profitable one. 

Enjoy the Journey

A door is something you use for only a few months. It will accompany you for years and more. So, take your time in picking the right one.

Enjoy the process of determining the purposes, materials, and style. Take enough time to try the security and safety features. Feel the excitement when you talk about your vision to the experts. Celebrate your choice, as you deserve the best.

Open your mind, be creative, and focus on positive impact. That’s how you can turn a seemingly mundane task into a rewarding and enjoyable experience.

Feel free to involve us in your journey to get the door you dream of. We will be happy to accompany you on your journey and provide the best support.

The tips for choosing doors above will get you where you want to be. And HOZ will be there along your journey to get the best door you deserve.

 

Cheers,

Hoz,

 

Your Best Digital Lock Provider.