Like any major home improvement project, hiring the right products and professionals for the job is important. When it comes to entry doors for your home, nothing makes a statement and curb appeal impact like the front door. You’ll want to check the reputation of the companies you are considering, taking a close look at ratings and reviews to make sure they treat their customers well. A lack of ratings, low average, or complaints on resources like Yelp, Google and the Better Business Bureau should be taken seriously.

And speaking of ratings, looking at the energy efficiency ratings of the products you are considering matters, too! If it’s a front door with a large expanse of glass, that has a large impact on the overall energy efficiency. You’ll want to be sure there are ample low-e coatings on the glass to reflect direct and ambient heat. You also want to choose a frame material that’s energy efficient, especially when it’s a metal door. Those conduct heat, so you’ll want features to reduce the conductivity, which prevents heat absorption from traveling inside the home. We’re partial to aluminum-clad wood doors, and fiberglass doors if the budget is under $4,000.

We have a blog article that might be helpful, on how to buy energy efficient windows. Sure, it’s about windows, but most of the information applies to doors. There are also some links to useful door articles below. Check them out!

Like purchasing replacement windows, the most common places to purchase a new front door would be through window and door companies, which are independent dealers, franchises and home improvement stores. The first two might have showrooms and/or provide in-home quotes (we do both), and for home improvement companies, you have a choice of using their partner services for the installation, hiring a handyman or doing the installation yourself.

There are pros and cons to each, which mirror what we’ve outlined in this article on where to buy new windows for your home. It’s basically the same for either windows or doors.

Window and door companies only install products purchased through them. This gives them total control over quality control, and makes them responsible to make things right if the opening is mis-measured, or there are problems related to either the product or the installation.

If you’ve purchased a door through a home improvement store or a thrift store that sells construction supplies, we recommend hiring a handyman to install the door for you. We refer people to Handyman Connection quite a bit, but you’ll want to do your own due diligence to check reputation, pricing and reliability for anyone you hire. The store also may provide installation partners or recommendations.

We urge you not to use anyone who isn’t licensed with the Arizona Board of Contractors, though. It can leave you high and dry if there’s an issue.

Front doors with abundant glass are beautiful, and can make a strong statement. But are they safe?

Absolutely. Not only is the glass much, much thicker and stronger than window glass, statistics show that most burglaries do not happen at the front door of a home. They’re much more likely to be in the back, where they are less likely to be seen. Breaking in through a front door leaves them exposed, and it requires far too much work. Learn more in this blog article we’ve written on the topic.

When a break in does involve a front door, it’s typically someone pushing their way into a home, which has nothing to do with the amount or type of glass in the door, and everything to do with how the door is answered and who you open the door for. To improve safety, we highly recommend installing a video camera doorbell. If the door isn’t opened, they can’t push their way in, right? It’s a smart thing to do.

Yes, DunRite Windows & Doors install single doors, double doors, doors with sidelights and/or transoms, and more. We also have construction expertise if you need a window enlarged to become a doorway, or if you need the size of a door changed. Request a quote today, and we’ll come out to look at your home’s construction, and discuss pricing and options.

The only type of doors we do not install are interior doors, unless it’s part of a larger project.

In terms of materials, fiberglass doors are extremely popular right now, because they are durable and affordable, and aluminum-clad wood doors, which offer the beauty of wood on the interior side of the door, and the energy-efficiency and durability of aluminum on the outside of the door, which reduces maintenance.

When it comes to colors, black doors and those with a bright pop of color are trendy right now. It can really have an impact!

For style, we’re also seeing a trend of pivot doors for both the front door and the patio. They’re lovely, and can go all the way up to ceiling height.

It’s very simple to replace a set of double doors with a single door plus sidelights, or to do the reverse. It’s also very simple to change the size of a door opening, although enlarging it may require the services of a contractor and/or a fairly hefty cost for labor, depending on the home. Not only is the size of the opening a concern, but there may be unexpected costs for moving a light switch or outlet, putting in security wiring, adding a support header or changing the physical structure of the opening, and repairing drywall and/or stucco and painting when the job is complete.

All of these things should be discussed when you are obtaining estimates, along with the pros and cons of the change you are considering. Will it help or hurt curb appeal? Will it change energy efficiency and what you are paying for air conditioning? Does it impact privacy or safety? Will it impact the ability to move large furniture in or out of your home?

For homes in the Metro Phoenix area, we typically recommend fiberglass doors when the budget is under $4,000, and aluminum-clad wood doors when the budget is higher.

Fiberglass is better than steel or aluminum doors, because it won’t dent, scratch or rust, and it provides a natural sounding knock when someone is at the door. It also provides a wider range of styles, glass inserts and colors to customize the look. We don’t recommend a steel door. While it sounds sturdy and impregnable, it’s a thin steel shell over styrofoam that easily dents when you push it open or closed with your foot. They’re less secure than most people think, and require a surprising amount of maintenance to prevent rust and maintain a nice appearance. Fiberglass is sturdier, and it will last longer. It’s also more energy efficient.

We also recommend an aluminum-clad wood door frequently. The look of a stained wood inside the home is lovely, and can enhance the warmth and hominess of the interior. The thin cladding of aluminum on the exterior protects the wood from rain, insects and other environmental hazards with a colored exterior.

Brands of front entry doors that we commonly sell are listed on this page. We also provide custom doors.