A Buyer's Guide to Exterior Doors

So, you’ve decided to buy an exterior door.

Or, are you wondering if you need to replace the exterior front door of your home?

Well, in this article, we’ll answer all these questions.

Learn when the time is right for a replacement door, exterior door prices, and how to buy them online.

You’ll also discover the difference between a slab door and a pre-hung door, along with the resistance of each material (wood, fiberglass, and steel).

So, start reading below and learn everything you need to know about exterior doors!

When Should You Replace Your Exterior Door?

Most of the time, you’ll just walk through your exterior door on the way to work or school without even thinking about it.

Until you start having problems.

If your exterior door gets jammed, is getting infested with termites, or simply is not keeping the cold wind outside, then it’s time for a replacement.

Or, maybe you have a wooden exterior door that’s warped and doesn’t fit its frame correctly.

It’s a problem that’s usually overlooked but will spike up your energy bill.

After all, warped doors don’t insulate your home correctly — and they are easy for burglars to break into.

Another reason, which doesn’t have anything to do with wear and tear, is due to aesthetics. Let’s say you just moved into a new home and the exterior door is hideous.

Or, you just renovated your house and the exterior front door doesn’t fit in with the decor anymore.

All the reasons listed above are valid enough for a brand new replacement door. So, why not start searching online for exterior doors?

How Much Are Exterior Doors?

Pricing can go up depending on the materials used, size of the door, number of panels, and if there are extra features such as windows (sidelites or transoms).

If you’re looking for the best exterior door prices while on a budget, you can get a low-end door for around $50 per square foot. These doors usually don’t come with a finish or high-grade materials but are your best bet when money’s tight.

A standard door with the quality you’d expect (average) will cost $100 - 200 per square foot. This is the ideal range if you’re looking for an exterior door that does the job and will stand the test of time.

And finally, if you want to splurge on a high-end, fancy exterior door you might spend over $200 per square foot.

Keep in mind though that you can buy a high quality exterior entry door with a $1000 budget. 

Replacing a door for the front or back of your house doesn’t have to break the bank, especially if you shop online and avoid paying extra on installation fees.

We recommend that when buying a door, you should think of it as an investment.

After all, it’s what keeps your home safe from burglars and the main entry point for visitors to your abode.

Ever heard that first impressions matter? Well, a beautiful front exterior door will strike the perfect impression on anybody that comes round to pay you a visit.

Also, if you want to save money, a high quality, Energy Star certified door will save you money on utility bills.

Well-insulated exterior doors keep the heat inside during cold days, so you make an investment now to save money later on pesky utility bills — trust us, it’s definitely worth it!

How Long Do Exterior Doors Last?

According to the National Association of Home Builders, an exterior door should last up to 30 years.

And if you pay attention to the warranty requirements of your door, you can expect it to last even longer than 30 years. However, all doors will show signs of wear and tear. This is unavoidable to an extent, but you can make a door look quite new with some regular care and maintenance.

Fiberglass and steel are considered tougher than wood, but that doesn’t mean a wooden door isn’t a good choice.

Wood exterior doors can last for decades, especially if you maintain them regularly with finishes and varnishes to avoid warping and pests. But, to make sure they stand the test of time, they must be protected from the elements with an overhang and you must apply a finish right after installing them.

Keep in mind that 30 years is a reference.

Doors can last for generations if well taken care of. You should clean your doors every once in a while to avoid rotting and apply varnishes to keep them in mint condition.

In fact, you should be ready to varnish your door whenever necessary, and the times between varnish jobs can vary. 

A good way to know that it may be time to take some steps is if the seal on the bottom of the door starts to wear down. This can expose the door to damage from the sun and moisture. Doing this will help you make sure your exterior door lives on for generations to come!

Door Slab vs. Prehung Door: Which Should You Pick?

First off, you should know the difference between each type of exterior door:

What is a Door Slab?

A door slab is a door itself and nothing more — yep, that’s right. You get a brand new door without hinges and a frame.

You should pick a door slab whenever you already have a frame, an opening in your house that is ready to be outfitted with a door.

If your property is just being refurbished, a door slab could be the right choice.

Door slabs are also a great choice whenever your door frame and hinges are in great condition, but the door itself requires a replacement.

If your door got dented in an accident or warped by a heavy storm, then just get a new door slab and keep the frame to save money.

What is a Pre-hung Door?

Pre-hung doors already come with a door frame.

When shipped to your home, the pre-hung door comes with the door frame knocked down, but ready for assembly.

For homes under construction, it’s the perfect option.

After all, you simply have to measure the opening and then you order the complete door and frame package, without worrying about buying them separately.

And if you care about aesthetics, you’re guaranteed to have a frame that is in sync with the exterior door itself with a pre-hung door.

Ever seen a house with a door that’s a different color and material from the frame?

It looks out of place and as a house owner, you probably want to avoid that.

So, in a nutshell:

• Door slab: just the door itself without any hinges or a frame

• Pre-hung door: a door that comes with a frame, which must be assembled before installing into an opening at your house

How Can You Save Money Purchasing Exterior Doors Online?

Buying exterior doors online is a great way to save money whenever building, renovating, or maintaining your home.

After all, when you buy online, you can compare pricing on doors with a quick search, unlike in brick and mortar stores. Also, you find more options than a local retail store.

When buying online, you can be certain of getting a good price, while in a brick and mortar pricing can be higher depending on the location and stock of the store.

Also, you can avoid any fees or even undesired “sales packages” that many door companies try to sell you, such as extended guarantees or a fee to install the door to your home — we’ll talk more about this in the section below.

However, when you buy online you need to do your research.

Shopping for doors online saves you money, but it takes more effort: you need to calculate the opening at your home to make sure it will fit and read carefully the door’s description to guarantee it’s what you really want.

Also, when the door arrives at your home you have to inspect it. Although rare, damage can happen during delivery, but if you notify us upon receiving your door we can replace it.

At US Door & More, you have 24/7 support by chat and by phone from Monday through Saturday.

Buy now exterior doors for your home.

Hidden Fees and Misinformation

Many online door companies sell doors to clients without being crystal-clear if the door is “complete” or not.

In other words, you might get just a door and still need to buy later the frame, hinges, and jambs. Some companies also add insurance and shipping costs only when you “add to cart”, so you might be misled on the displayed price of the door.

You need to pay attention when buying doors online if your purchase comes with everything you need, to not be disappointed upon delivery when parts are missing. Then, you’ll end up spending more buying hinges and jambs at local retail.

But rest assured that at US Door & More, we make 100% clear what you get with your door.

Why Choose US Door & More

If you’re looking for doors online, we at US Door & More have over 10 years of experience selling doors on the internet to homes across the country.

And we’ve earned dozens of Houzz awards for customer service and design along the way. 

That’s because our founders have been in the door industry since the 1970s and took that experience to the digital world.

We’re a family of woodworkers and we adapted with the times to continue building high quality doors.

Our facility in Tampa, FL creates custom-size exterior doors you can’t find anywhere else. So, if you need a custom exterior door size, just get in touch!

And once you decide to purchase your door with us, we’ll offer you 24/7 chat support, so you can talk with us whenever needed. And if you prefer to make a call, we’re available from Monday through Saturday.

Every door comes with a lifetime warranty and is insured during shipping for a safe arrival at your doorstep.

So, if you need to buy an exterior door, click on the link below to start shopping:

Shop Exterior Doors

How to Shop For Doors Online

If you’re going to shop for exterior doors online, then there is a process you should consider so that you come to the best decision possible. Below we’re going to lay out some basics so that you find a solution that works for your home.

1. Learn the Terminology

It can be quite confusing to buy anything when you’re not familiar with the jargon and vernacular of that industry. Doors are no different, so you’re going to see terms used that may not be familiar to you as you search. US Door & More has a Terminology Page that can help get you started. 

1. Understand the Costs Involved

There are a lot of things to keep in mind with regards to the cost of a door. The supply chain itself, which runs from manufacturer to distributor to retailer to customer, all involve markups along the way. Aside from the reality of the industry, you should also become familiar with the materials available, the design you want and of course the dimensions you’ll need.

1. Set Your Right Expectations for Finish and Quality

Every door website that’s built properly is going to make every door, color, stain and wood type look very appealing. That can lead to disappointment when the finished product arrives. Instead of trusting photos and perhaps graphics, order a finish sample from a provider so you can see it for yourself, and ask for a virtual tour so you can see what the door actually looks like installed.

1. Get Your Dimensions Ready

Obviously, shopping for doors online means that you’re going to be taking your own measurements, and getting this right is critical so that you can save yourself a lot of time and hassle. You can use this guide to get started, but you’ll need to know your door’s frame size and your jamb dimension to complete an order.

1. Know Your Door Handing

While this is relatively straightforward, you need to understand which way your door opens before you order one, as it could make a lot of difference with regards to its functionality. 

1. Review Those Reviews

Online reviews can be an important part of shopping for doors online. However, you need to be wary of what you read, as it’s not always totally accurate or dependable. If you know that a review site has a poor reputation, avoid it and move to those that are more closely managed like what you’ll find on Google. 

1. What Material Do You Need?

There are countless choices when it comes to types of wood and other materials that are going to be part of your door. There are also high-quality portals like Pinterest out there that will help you get a real-world view of what you’re thinking about so that you can have a better feel for things like exposure, architecture examples and the like before you make a final decision. Make use of those resources. Just to get you started down this road, one example of what you may find is that if you have a very modern home, a door that’s smooth and with minimal texture makes a lot of sense. Get a feel for this type of thinking.

1. Understand How to Compare Pricing

When you’re shopping for doors online, you’re going to see a price posted under the door more often than not. Keep in mind that this price is only the beginning of actually pricing a door. If you want to know exactly what a door is going to cost, you need to go through the process of choosing your options and calculating the shipping costs before you fully understand what the pricing is for a door as compared between two providers. 

1. Don’t Forget Cargo Insurance

You’re spending quite a bit when you shop for doors online, so you need to protect that investment. Don’t trust your shipping provider to simply cover any damage that occurs, but instead purchase cargo insurance so that if something does happen, you can simply make yourself whole instead of having to fight an unnecessary battle. 

1. Beware Big Box Stores

There are several reasons that big box stores can - at least on the surface level - offer less expensive doors and other products. They purchase their inventory in bulk, and that savings is passed on to the consumer. However, these stores do not have nearly as many options as expert door providers and generally speaking, you have few if any options if something goes wrong beyond 30 days after your purchase. Not to mention, those who work for these corporations understand retail in general, but they lack knowledge in most specific areas.

Finally, you need to make sure that you understand the delivery requirements, such as whether or not you need to be home when the door is delivered or other relevant details. Overall, though, shopping for doors online can be a rewarding experience if done right. Hopefully the guide above will help you come to the right decision.