Most people would like their doors to serve them for as long as possible. However, the life expectancy of an external door depends on various factors such as the material that the door is made of, how well it was fitted, and how well it is maintained.
Doors, especially the front door are supposed to provide utility, security and beauty for any home. Every home owner hopes that their front door will be able to serve them for as long as possible. However, how long a front door lasts depends on a number of factors. One of the main factors that determines the mortality of a door is the material that it is made of.
Different materials have different strengths and weaknesses and these affect their duration. Some of the materials used in making front doors include fiberglass, wood, and steel. It is said that the average life span of any of these doors could be somewhere from thirty years. However, each type of door has its own maintenance requirements and some respond to the toll of the years better than others.
Steel doors are very good, especially if security is the main issue as opposed to beauty. However, they do not respond well to extreme weather conditions, and harsh sunlight, too much rain and salty air can actually cause them to wear out quickly. Frequency of use could also cause the steel to dent. Fiberglass on the other hand is quite useful as an exterior door and it is also beautiful. Another advantage is that it is a very good insulator meaning that it reduces energy costs while keeping the temperature of the house at the right degree.
Wood is considered the best as it is very long lasting. Wooden doors can last a lifetime if they are painted regularly. This is regardless of whether they are interior doors, or front and back doors which are used more often. However, wooden doors are more expensive, though the price is worth its value. There are however different types of wood and each type has its own level of durability. White oak is very durable and moisture resistant while mahogany is quite expensive but of high quality as well. Maple is durable though it shrinks as the years go by and cherry is good too, though it darkens with continued exposure to sunlight. Teak is hard and weather resistant while Walnut is considered very colorful and beautiful and it also lasts for a while if properly maintained.
Apart from the material, the way the doors are fitted could affect their durability. One should have a new front door fitted in a frame that has been measured well. This is because doors fitted in a frame that is out of square will wear out quickly and it can be quite expensive to repair them in future. Maintenance also matters because well maintained doors will always last longer than those that are neglected.
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