Your front door is the first thing people see when they drive up to your home. You need a material that lasts varying weather conditions while also looking aesthetically pleasing for your home. With so many options to choose from for your front door, it can be difficult to know what material is right for you.
Wood is a common material used to construct most front doors today. In this article, you’ll learn the different types of wood you should consider using for your front door, the different kinds of wood you should not use, and some alternative options to wood for your door.
- Cedar
Cedar is great if you are looking for wood for a barn door. This is because cedar has a scent that is bad for insects. It also is resistant to moisture and very durable, so you won’t have to worry about the door decaying.
Cedar is a form of hardwood that doesn’t tend to shrink; this ensures your door keeps your home safe and insulated.
- Red Oak
Red oak is another wood front door type that gives a stunning wood grain and brings a classic, almost traditional, rustic feel to your door. Red oak is great because of its lightweight quality and beautiful medium-brown and red hue.
- Mahogany
Mahogany is an extremely popular type of wood for front doors. This is because it is both strong and has an appealing look. One main disadvantage is that since demand is high because of mahogany’s great appeal, it is also expensive.
- Alder
Alder is another popular front door type of wood that gives a rustic feel that has a great natural look. Alder is a type of hardwood that has softer wood types. This makes it not the best-suited wood for extremely harsh weather conditions.
- Pine
Pine is a type of wood that is a popular choice because it is budget-friendly and durable. You can treat the pine to make it not rot and to resist pests.
- Birch
Birch is a popular wood that has a neutral brown, golden hue. It’s important to keep in mind that birch is a hardwood that puts it at risk of rotting. Consider using birch for interior door projects where there is less humidity to reduce the potential for rotting.
- Hickory
Hickory wood is good because it has naturally a high strength with deep red and brown hues that give it a durable and gorgeous color.
- Woods To Avoid
When choosing wood for your front door, you need wood that is durable and will withstand harsh climate conditions. That’s why you should avoid weaker, thin wood types like balsa and poplar because they are not strong enough to serve as a protective, safe front door.
- Wood Alternative
Although the above wood types are great choices for your front door, you can also consider non-wood alternatives for your front door, such as steel, fiberglass, vinyl, and aluminum.