It is difficult for an individual to choose his front door as the criteria are numerous. Colors, materials, thermal and acoustic performance, safety … Zoom on the main points to be taken into consideration!
The front door is a key element of a facade. “This is one of the first things a visitor discovers when they arrive. It must therefore meet aesthetic criteria, but not only! Safety, comfort and insulation must also be there” developed Franck Abram, marketing director of Gimm Joinery.
An aesthetic front door
Aesthetics is undoubtedly one of the first criteria of choice. And there is plenty of choice! A front door can be fully customizable thanks to the variety of materials (aluminum, steel, wood …), colors, large or small opening … everything goes. You can even opt for a two-tone model with a first color for the outside and a second for the inside. “Thus, it harmonizes perfectly with your facade and your interior decoration” explains Franck Abram.
To all these elements are added the myriad of small details that make the difference : handle, pull bar, decorative glazing, leds integrated in the door frames, etc …
In the aesthetic box, the luminosity is another criterion that is not a detail. Proof of this is the many semi-glazed doors, full-height glazed doors or even with fixed glazed sides very present on the market. Of course, depending on the vis-à-vis, more or less opaque glazing can be applied.
Note that glazed does not mean less security! To do this, opt for double or triple laminated glazing with burglar-retardant.
A secure entrance door
A secure entrance door © Gypass
Did you say security ? This is of course the second criterion to be taken into account because it is indeed the primary function of a door: to prevent anyone from entering your home! It is therefore important to choose a burglar-resistant door. “This is mainly due to the design, the quality of the hardware used and the thickness of the panel. Options such as the lock or the number of closing points also play a key role in the security of your front door” indicates Franck Abram.
Anti-release system, 5-point cremone bolt, glass door with burglar-retardant … There is no shortage of techniques to strengthen your front door. “Some models have 4 levels of security – protection rosette, anti-drilling, anti-picking and keys with reproduction card – very effective against intruders. Equally reassuring, the automatic 3-point lock is automatically locked as soon as the door is closed. porte ”details Stephanie Lefebvre, General Manager of Gypass.
A relatively recent technological development has further strengthened the offer in terms of security: home automation. Let us quote for example the connected lock, which allows you to manage the locking and unlocking of your door remotely. Gadget or real added value? Your turn to judge. “Connected to a box, it (the lock editor’s note) can be controlled with a remote control, a code keypad, the fingerprint. And it can be controlled remotely from a smartphone or a tablet. The connected lock indicates in real time whether the door is open or closed, and warns in the event of movement. It is also possible to program time slots to authorize entry at specific times, “specifies Franck Abram.
Good thermal and sound insulation
Note that the front door also plays a role in the insulation of your home. “Doors have evolved a lot in terms of thermal insulation. Their constantly improved designs (thermal break, double seal on the frame and the sash …) allow them to achieve excellent performance” ensures Franck Abram .
To select an effective product, you must focus on the UD coefficient. Between 1 and 4, it is expressed in W / m².K (that is to say watts per square meter kelvin). The lower the value, the more insulating the door. Then it is necessary to check the AEV ranking which measures the level of air, water and wind tightness.
Beyond thermal comfort, we should not neglect acoustic comfort. “Noise is experienced as a major cause of discomfort and can even become a real nuisance detrimental to health: stress, sleep disorders, cardiovascular disease, etc. sound reduction coefficient (dB) makes it possible to measure the capacity of a door to attenuate external noise. “The higher this coefficient, the better the noise is attenuated. A good door will exhibit a sound reduction of at least 40 to 44 dB.
Entrance door: what material?
Warning: depending on the material on which you will set your sights, advantages and disadvantages diverge! “We therefore recommend defining, from the start of the project, the material with which the front door will be designed” warns Franck Abram.
- Robust, elegant, contemporary and efficient, it is also very resistant to corrosion. Aluminum is THE top-of-the-range material. “Adapted to all styles, it offers a large choice of satin or sanded, two-tone finishes, decorative glazing, stylish handles, etc. Very easy to maintain, aluminum has great resistance to burglary and guarantees good insulation, ”explains Franck Abram.
- PVC, is also easy to maintain, resistant, and thermally efficient. If it has many decorative options, it is clear that the rendering is certainly less flamboyant than with aluminum.
- Wood, a natural and renewable material, will bring warmth and authenticity to your facade as to your interior. Note that this material generally requires more maintenance than its counterparts.
- Steel is synonymous with performance. Whether safe or thermal. The steel is resistant to cold, heat, impact and is easy to maintain.
Entrance door: which material to choose? © Lapeyre
Another important point: priority criteria vary depending on whether you live in a detached house, or an apartment. In the latter, for example, “there is a demand in terms of acoustic quality, so as not to be bothered by noises coming from the landing” explains Thierry Delaume, Managing Director of Picard Serrures. The aesthetic concern? It is secondary here. For the simple reason that, in an apartment building, it is the condominium rules that set the tone.
In the case of a single-family house, on the other hand, the door must meet the sole taste of its occupants. In Thierry Delaume’s opinion, there is no doubt that “for single-family homes, aesthetics are the major element. Then, the sound aspect is less important, with some exceptions, as in the case of a house. city that leads to the street “.
The fact remains that, in order to make the right choice in this vast ocean of possibilities, “pre-sales advice is essential” insists Thierry Delaume. He continues: “next the nature of the wall, the support, the thickness of the wall, the choices will vary. If the interface is wrong, the installation will be wrong. It is therefore necessary to provide technical support to the customer “.
To start clearing the land, the customer can already consult the websites of the various manufacturers. Some even have a showroom “where it is possible (apart from a health crisis of course! Editor’s note) to touch the materials and finishes thanks to the kits made available” explains Stephanie Lefebvre. “Then the customer can visualize his front door in a situation on a computer to get an idea of his own house”. So it’s up to you!
People with reduced mobility: don’t worry!
Accessibility for disabled people (or strollers) is taken into account from the design of the doors. For the first point, it is even an obligation! The products must be PMR standard (disabled). As such, the passenger’s width must measure at least 83 cm.
