If doors were the only factor in raising a property’s resale value, how much do you think the Winchester Mansion will be worth today? After all, it has 2000 doors, even though most of them lead to nowhere.
Yes, a Southern Living article confirms that an attractive entrance door could raise return on investment for a home for sale by almost 500%! So, if you’re doing some remodeling this season, we suggest you choose the parts that will usher in more value—such as your exterior and interior doors.
In this article, we’ll present some of the popular door designs that you might find perfect for your home. Let’s start inside.
Popular Interior Door Styles
As the name suggests, interior doors are the ones you have inside your home. They divide, close off, or connect your rooms and various parts of the house.
Interior doors don’t have to be intricate or elegant, but they are an important consideration in your interior design. Your bathroom, bedroom, living room doors, and all other interior doors call attention to your home’s overall aesthetic.
However, appearance should not be your sole reason for choosing door styles. You must also look at function, space, and cost.
Pocket Door
A pocket door is also called a hidden door because it slides into a hollow space in the wall and disappears when open. Pocket doors are sometimes used to separate two interior spaces that can be joined when needed. They are often used for closets and bathrooms.
Advantages
- Saves space and clearance: Pocket doors do not have a swinging door that could eat a small room’s limited clearance space. It enables homeowners to fully utilize the room, including the wall space blocked by a swinging door.
- Flexible: Pocket doors work perfectly for two rooms designed to be merged and unmerged as needed. For example, a dining room can be expanded to accommodate more guests by sliding open a pocket door. If you wish for a more intimate setting, you can close the pocket door to close off the other room.
Disadvantages
- Issues with functionality: Pocket doors tend to fall off their tracks if opened with a sudden movement. They can be difficult to slide or produce a screeching sound. While frequent maintenance, such as oiling, can improve the door’s function, some homeowners may not like the extra effort.
- Does not seal off the room: Pocket doors are not designed to seal off a room completely or tightly. They are not effective in preventing noise, light, or smell from traveling to the other room.
Average Cost of Pocket Doors
Pocket door installation has an average cost of $500 to $1000 if done during new construction. During a house remodeling, the average cost may range from $1000 to $3,500. These prices include materials and labor.
French Door
French doors are easily customizable and can blend with any home design, from modern to classic. They can be used as an interior or exterior door.
French doors are easily customizable and can blend with any home design, from modern to classic. They can be used as an interior or exterior door.French doors are elegant double doors that are made with multiple panes of glass. They open inward, whether separately or at the same time. They divide rooms without enclosing, which makes the interiors look more spacious. When closed, french doors provide an unblocked view of the other side, making them an attractive exterior door for patios.
Advantages
- Beautiful: French doors are elegant and timeless. Many consider them a classy addition that could truly increase the value of your home. They are easily customizable and can blend with any home design, from modern to classic mid-20th
- Versatile: French doors can be used as an interior or exterior door. For example, you may use them to separate your dining area from your living room without feeling cramped. It can also make patios feel like they are an extension of the home’s interior.
Disadvantages
- Requires more space: French doors are big and take up more space than most doors because their hinges open fully. You’ll have to make sure they are placed in an area of the house with enough room to open comfortably.
- Not energy efficient: French doors usually have poor energy efficiency ratings. The part where they join allows air to enter or leave your home, affecting your energy bills. French doors are also prone to water leakage, especially during heavy rainfall.
Average Cost of French Doors
The average cost of a french door ranges from $1000 to $4000. Most people pay around $2,500 for a fiberglass-hinged french door installation. A single interior vinyl french door with a fixed panel can go for around $800.
Sliding Doors
Sliding doors move horizontally by gliding along a track mounted either on top of their frame or at the base. Sliding doors are often used as exterior doors either on the side or back of the house. However, they can also be used as interior doors for closets, pantries, and utility rooms.
Advantages
Saves space: Like pocket doors, sliding doors save space because they don’t swing in and out. They make good patio doors because they make moving from the outdoor area to inside the home (and vice-versa) easy.
Provides an illusion of space: Sliding doors allow more natural light to enter. Its transparent nature helps create an illusion of space, making the interior look expansive.
Disadvantages
Security issues: Sliding doors are prone to various security problems. Depending on where they’re placed, outsiders could take a peek inside the house. Criminals can also break into the house by dislodging a sliding door’s lock or by breaking the door.
Vulnerable to extreme weather: Sliding doors can be vulnerable to extreme weather changes, so where you live will be a big factor when you choose this style of door. They can shatter in extreme heat or cold and get damaged by strong winds and storms.
Average Cost of Sliding Doors
Interior door installation for sliding doors averages $2000 to $4000. Prices vary depending on the type of material and features, like a dog door. A 72″x80″ aluminum sliding door can amount to $2,756, while a 72″x80″ single-glazed vinyl door can cost only $1,626.
Popular Exterior Door Designs
An attractive well-installed front door not only boosts curb appeal but provides security as well. It’s the first thing people see when they walk up to your house. Depending on the door you choose, you can make guests feel welcome or lure burglars to your home.
Wood Entry Doors
Wood entry doors are highly sought-after for their rustic beauty and appeal. Wood entry doors are:
- Sturdy and heavy. These provide enough security and are dent-resistant while maintaining a traditional look.
- Very customizable. You may choose the type of wood you want for your entry doors, such as maple, mahogany, or pine. You may add glass features for added attraction.
Wood doors are susceptible to the elements. Regular maintenance is required to retain their original look and protect them from rotting. They also require occasional staining and repainting every couple of years.
A solid wood door ranges from $500 to $5000, depending on the type of wood. Engineered wood doors are available at a lower price range of $200 to $500, but they require regular maintenance and have no decorative elements.
Fiberglass Entry Door
Fiberglass doors are very durable. They may come in different grain textures that make them look like real wood. They are also known for being low maintenance compared to other door designs and styles. Fiberglass doors are also:
- Weatherproof: Due to their high-quality composite design, fiberglass doors can endure extreme weather conditions.
- Energy-efficient: A fiberglass door has foam core insulation that keeps heated or cooled air from entering and escaping your home.
Basic fiberglass doors can range from $150 to $400 and usually comes with few decorative elements. An ornate and detailed fiberglass exterior door installation is more expensive, amounting to $400 to $3000.
Steel Entry Doors
Steel entry doors provide high security against the forces of nature and possible intruders. These doors are low maintenance but are prone to dents and scratches over time. Steel entry doors are:
- Highly durable: Steel doors are made to be stronger than most door types. A thick steel entry door can provide maximum protection and last as long as 30 years.
- Weatherproof: Steel doors are capable of withstanding any extreme weather conditions
- Energy-efficient: Similar to fiberglass doors, steel doors have foam core insulation that helps keep energy bills low and your home comfortable year-round.
A steel entry door replacement or installation has an average price range of $150 to $500. Fire-resistant steel doors can cost anywhere from $200 to $500, while highly decorative versions may cost $200 to $2,500.
Storm Doors
Storm doors or hurricane doors are installed over the main door as an additional layer of safety and protection from extreme weather. They are designed to allow ventilation during fair weather by remaining closed while the main door is open. They prevent insects from coming in.
Besides protecting the main door from the elements, storm doors act as extra insulation against air leaks.
Besides protecting the main door from the elements, storm doors create a pocket of insulation against air leaks. Keeping cold air out and warm air in, storm doors are very energy efficient.
Storm doors come in a variety of styles, but here are the three common ones:
- Steel: These storm doors are heavy and extremely durable. They are resistant to weeping, cracking, and rotting.
- Aluminum: These are good alternatives to steel storm doors. Aluminum storm doors are light but offer amazing strength and durability. They protect homes from extreme temperatures.
- Composite: Composite storm doors are the best option for energy efficiency. They provide good protection from abnormal weather conditions but are not suitable for extremely hot or freezing climates. Composite storm doors are best installed on coastal houses.
The average cost of a storm door installation can range from $100 to $550, depending on the material and setup. Labor can cost an additional $75 to $150.
Interior and exterior doors come in many forms and styles. Choosing the right door will depend on what you need and prefer. Whether it’s aesthetics, privacy, or durability, this list should serve as a good starting point to help you find the perfect front door replacement for your home.
G.H. Clark Contractors, Inc. is a door contractor in Maryland that provides many options for your house remodeling needs, including doors, windows, roofs, and sidings. If you are looking for a new interior door or an entry door replacement, contact us today. We offer a wide selection of high-quality doors and a free, no-obligation quote.