Your exterior door is your first welcome to visitors.

"The entry door is the first thing people see when they come to your house. It's a communication of your warm welcome and your style. It's a very personal thing," says Mike Snider, CEO of Madawaska Doors. Specializing in high end, custom wood doors, Madawaska Doors caters to homeowners looking to create a high impact statement. The company also carries a standard collection of doors, which Snider says customers can buy or use for inspiration when designing their own front door. As well, they do restorations, in which a new door is designed to be identical in style to a worn door on a century home, recapturing the former glory of a heritage house's façade.

"Our products are hand built in the traditional, Victorian craftsmanship style, and we make solid, (furniture-grade) wood doors. We don't use finger-jointed cores, veneers or dowels. We use handmade mortise and tenon construction, which is also keeping with Victorian practices," says Snider, whose company boasts a five-time consecutive win with the Consumers' Choice Awards for best wooden door in North America.

Although wood doors can be expensive and require ideal conditions and regular maintenance for longevity, they possess an unequalled "wow" factor and can last a lifetime if cared for properly. If you're not enthused by the idea of maintenance, however, consider the long-term commitment such a door will require before you make your purchase.

For best results, wooden doors should not face south and must be checked yearly for signs of weathering, such as breaks or worn patches in the finish. For coastal conditions, Snider says his top three wood recommendations are British Columbia cedar, a clear pine or Douglas fir, as they all have proven track records for withstanding weather exposure. BC cedar, says Snider, not only holds up well to abuse it is gorgeous in the way it rolls in its colours. As softwood though, you may wish to pass on this variety if you will have a high traffic front door. Clear pine is a great choice if you are planning to paint your door, and hardwood Douglas fir is good for a large, active family, as it can withstand abuse more than the other two varieties. Madawaska has access to any species of wood but does not supply anything on the endangered species list. For those concerned about the environment, these doors are green right down to their use of formaldehyde-free, non-toxic glues and non-chemically treated wood. Nothing is dumped into a landfill that can be used or recycled.

Every bit as custom with their glass as with their wood, Madawaska Doors offers a full, Victorian-based, stained glass department in addition to standard simple designs and custom glass. Argon gas, an insulator which sits in between the glass, is used to thermally insulate the glass portion of their doors, augmenting their energy efficiency. Available varieties include an extensive array of colours, textures and camings that run in style from traditional to zinc, brass or anodized-a process in which aluminum is electroplated for strength. If the cost and maintenance of solid wood rule it out, there are many more choices for Canadian weather conditions that can also create a strong impression visually at a fraction of the cost of hardwood. The scope of choice can be overwhelming so start with some simple considerations to narrow it down.

First, drive around your favourite neighbourhoods to stimulate your imagination and determine your preferences. Secondly, decide whether you want a double or single door. If you are hoping to make a big bang with the Jones', sidelights and a transom might be the way to go, although bear in mind this choice will both increase your cost considerably and glass typically provides less privacy and energy efficiency than a solid door.

Cutting into your front door to widen it might bring up other unforeseen expenses, cautions Outside Sales Associate, Vince Morash of Kent, at Bayers Lake in Halifax.

"If there's electrical that has to be moved, we'd have to call an electrician. If you have to move the heater near the door, then you have to get a plumber involved. Everything we do which requires professionals makes the price goes up."

Steel and Aluminum
Steel is the most economical choice for those on a budget and is as energy efficient as fibreglass, says Morash, noting the price for a steel door runs in the two hundred dollar range.

Insulation wise, steel and fibreglass doors are very similar in that they are both foam core filled (polyurethane). Fibreglass has an added bonus, says Morash, with its durability and range of options. One fibreglass option has the look and feel of a wood door, complete with a textured grain when stained, but with more flexibility and durability than wood.

Steel doors are also durable, but if subjected to a large enough impact, such as a hard kick, the door would likely dent, whereas fibreglass would bounce back. Morash believes most fibreglass is as energy efficient as steel even if the door hasn't been Energy Star rated. Both steel and fibreglass doors also come in an aluminum wrap, which allows for a wide range of colour options.

Glass

The sheer scope of choices can make choosing glass a daunting task. Low-E (low emissivity) coatings and argon gas will help improve energy efficiency if this something you are looking for. A low-E coating, which is applied to the face of the glass, will let in the heat in winter and act as a heat repellent in the summer, says Morash. Designer glasses currently do not have good energy ratings but are highly decorative and can add considerable interest to an otherwise mousy or nondescript house. Popular decorative glasses in the region range in design styles from deer to lighthouses, mountaintop scenes and stained and bevelled varieties. Morash says that a significant market change is about to occur, making most of the current steel and slated doors with glass Energy Star rated. The only doors that won't be rated will be the inexpensive, steel utility doors, he says.

Transoms and Sidelights

Very fashionable in newer homes in Nova Scotia are transoms and sidelights which, when chosen with care to match the architectural style of the house, can look stunning. A great advantage visually, they are also a significant source of natural light, helping to brighten the home. Available with a venting feature, they can take on the function of a window with a screen to allow air into the house without unwanted pests.

If privacy is a concern but you still want glass, Morash recommends a bevelled design as the best choice, as it obscures vision into the home. Frosted glass also functions in a similar way.

Patio Doors

Most people are familiar with the standard, clear glass sliding patio door, as an economical choice that runs in the six to seven hundred dollar range, says Morash. These also come in low-E and argon gas, with grills and other decorative patterns also available, nice accent features that can be duplicated in your garage and front doors for continuity. Garden and double doors are also very popular, allowing greater access in and out of the house. Some have a removable astragal post, providing greater visibility and function, such as when moving large furniture in and out of the house. Morash says most buyers are typically more interested in the energy efficiency of the door than the ability to enlarge the opening.

Garden doors, says Morash, have one side permanently fixed, and the other one will open. Tilt and turn doors also provide a similar function, fitting into a smaller patio opening for those who don't want the expense of having to cut into the house to accommodate the larger modern standard sizing. The tilt and turn variety also has a handle which allows the user to open it up as a door or tilt it back at the top for venting. Morash warns that widening the opening of a doorway can add at least 35 per cent to the overall cost of the install.

Garage Doors

Garage doors should be coordinated to the siding, front and other doors on the face of the house. Although they come in a variety of colours, selections are more limited than front doors, which can be colour-matched to your shirt, says Morash. In the Maritimes, the standard steel colonial-style with a square pattern is most popular. Door thicknesses range from 1 3/8 inch to 2 inches and come in coated steel or aluminum exteriors. Most garage doors are now insulated and come with an R factor of 6.6 to 18. Higher ratings are appropriate for those with a room above the garage or for someone who uses the space as a studio for woodworking or doing repairs year round.

Panel models are available in raised, grooved, flush or decorator varieties, which are typically used in higher-end homes. The carriage house design is very popular with new construction, says Morash.