A Guide to Your Fairy Tale Front Door

Perhaps when you were a child you dreamed of finding an ancient castle with heavy antique style doors. As your little hands pushed against the heavy door you imagined finding a grand inner world with even more doors behind which you would explore. You can bring that same childhood energy to your home with custom wood doors from your local door manufacturer. When you invest in a custom door making sure you know what you want is huge! Working with experienced door manufacturers will definitely make this exciting project easier.

First you want to choose the right wood for your fairytale door. There are many types of wood to choose from, more than 100,000 species. Think about where you live. Is it a hot dry climate? Or is it cold and rainy? You have two types of wood to choose from Hardwood and Softwood. Oak, Maple, and Mahogany are some well-known Hardwoods. Hardwood is a dense and fire-resistant type that has pores that bring out the wood’s natural grain. Cedar, Pine, and Redwoods are all Softwoods. Softwoods tend to be less expensive. If you are planning a front door, keep in mind the elements and frequent use. Hardwood might be best.

A fairytale door isn’t complete without exquisite decoration. Invest in your local woodcarvers! Woodcarving is an art and should be treated as such. Your door could tell a story or be covered in symbols special to you. This is a great way to personalize your door to let guests know about you even before they knock. Some wood is better than others for carving: Black Walnut, Oak, and Butternut are some examples. Consulting with your door manufacturer could help with choosing the right wood for its utility but also its decorative properties.

Your fantasy door may be amazing to look at but you also want to know that is sustainably sourced. TheAmazon and many other forests are in danger due to human lumbering practices. The demand for doors in the US is expected to increase 4.8% annually reaching $34.3 billion in 2021 according to Freedonia. Luckily, there is sustainably sourced wood available. Try sourcing as locally as possible to reduce the emissions associated with lumber transport. Architecture and Design claim that 16% of fossil fuels consumed each year are converted to concrete, steel, aluminum, and brick building materials. Wood, however, actually lowers its carbon footprint. Wood doors are also energy efficient when properly sealed, meaning your house can be properly insulated in the winter and the temperature can remain steady in the summer.

Now you have some things to keep in mind when you plan your dream door with your door manufacturer. Soon you’ll have a lovely solid door to keep the elements out and excite your inner child.