Wood is commonly used for both exterior and interior doors. People that want a traditional-looking home often choose wood doors for both the interior and exterior of their home. There is a wide selection of wood doors to choose from, in both interior and exterior styles.
Exterior wood doors offer a warm and solid appearance. In the past, exterior wood doors had some features that made them less than desirable. When subjected to changes in the weather condition, wooden doors could swell or contract, making closing or locking the door difficult. They also could permanently warp, forever changing the shape of the door.
Newer construction methods make wood doors much less susceptible to damage from the elements, and they can make an impressive entry door. It is necessary to prime and then paint or stain the door to offer additional protection from the weather, but otherwise, wood entry doors can be remarkably maintenance free.
Not all exterior wood doors are the same. You can easily personalize the look of your entry door by adding a window, glass insets, sidelights or a transom. If you are adding a large piece of glass, such as a window, to your exterior door, you may consider investing in insulated glass.
Without insulated glass, you will lose heat in the winter and cool air in the summer. Additionally, the cold winter air will seep into your home in the winter and the hot summer sun will heat up your home. This is common if you use traditional decorative glass in your window. Of course, if you are only adding a small suncrest or other sliver of glass, the decorative choices make sense. They are available etched, stained or beveled, and can add a great deal of beauty to the outside of your home, without costing much money.
Wood interior doors may be either hollow core or solid core doors. Hollow core wood doors are less expensive than solid doors. Wood doors with a solid core, however, make up for their higher price tag by dampening sounds on either side of the door. If your budget does not allow for solid core doors in all of your rooms, adding them to your bedroom and bathroom are a good compromise.
Interior doors do not need paint or stain to protect them from the elements, but applying paint or stain that matches the rest of your home’s trim is a great way to coordinate the look of your home and an easy way to dress up the area.