Energy-Efficient Exterior Doors, Front Doors, & Patio Doors to Consider

Every homeowner needs to consider energy efficiency. After all, if your Triad property has leaky windows or drafty doors, outdated doors, and subpar air conditioning, you’ll not only feel uncomfortable, you’ll also lose money you could save instead.

But you can upgrade your property quickly and (relatively) easily by installing an energy-efficient door. Even replacing just one old door with a new, energy-efficient version could do wonders for your utility bill. Let’s explore some energy-efficient exterior doors you might choose for your next Triad home renovation project.

What are the best energy-efficient front doors?

Your home’s front door is the first impression of your house and – in all likelihood – the most used door of your property. Everyone who enters your home does so through the front door, so it only makes sense to upgrade this door with an energy-efficient model ASAP.

Front doors are available in several material types, and the frame material you pick for your new front door has the biggest effect on its energy efficiency. While aluminum and wood are popular front door material types, fiberglass is the most energy-efficient front door material above all. But why?

Fiberglass front doors

Fiberglass is a popular front door material because it’s durable and it doesn’t conduct heat well. That’s a good thing when it comes to energy efficiency! Since heat doesn’t transfer through fiberglass easily, heat outside your home will have trouble getting in and vice versa.

Furthermore, fiberglass front doors are great choices for many Triad homeowners due to their customization potential. Fiberglass doors look wonderful in lots of different paint colors, and you can opt for smooth, modern, or other styles of fiberglass doors depending on the style or theme of your home and its existing architecture. Add some energy-efficient vinyl windows and you’re set!

Woodgrain fiberglass front doors

What if you’re in love with the look and feel of wood? Wood might be a bad choice for an energy-efficient front door – wood absorbs heat very easily and is a poor insulator – but you can have the best of both worlds with special woodgrain fiberglass doors.

Woodgrain fiberglass perfectly mimics the appearance of wood textures like cedar, mahogany, and oak. At the same time, woodgrain fiberglass insulates your home up to four times as well as “real” wood. Choose a woodgrain fiberglass door from Window World, and you can customize your entry door’s style, glass panels, and accessories.

All in all, fiberglass front doors are the best option if you want to double down on energy efficiency. Install one of these doors, and you might even qualify for the exterior door tax credit.

What is the most efficient insulated entry door?

When all is said and done, the best insulated front door you can choose for your exterior is a fiberglass door with a polyurethane foam core. A polyurethane foam core acts as extra insulation for the fiberglass layers. Make sure your front door’s windows (if it has any) are made with energy-efficient, layered glass, and you’ll be set!

You can find these kinds of insulated doors from many top retailers, such as Therma-Tru. Therma-Tru’s front doors are perfect for homeowners seeking a balance between energy efficiency and aesthetic style.

What are types of energy-efficient patio doors?

What about patio doors? Like with front doors, there are two popular types of energy-efficient doors for your patio.

Sliding glass patio doors

Just because classic glass patio doors have expansive glass surfaces doesn’t mean they can’t be energy-efficient. In fact, energy-efficient sliding glass doors have two major attributes:

• Weatherstripping around the borders, which prevents air from leaking out around the edges
• Double or triple-pane glass panels

Multi-pane glass panels for sliding patio doors are energy-efficient since they hold an insulating gas in between their individual layers. That gas prevents heated or cooled air from passing through the glass, keeping your home temperature-controlled throughout the day.

Even better, many modern multi-pane sliding patio doors are boosted with low-emissivity coatings, preventing sunshine from warming up your home too much. If you want to replace an old patio door with an energy-efficient patio door, be sure to choose one that has all the above elements. Alside’s Promenade Sliding Patio Door is a stellar example.

Hinged patio doors

Sliding patio doors aren’t for everyone or every Triad home. Many homeowners prefer hinged-style doors, which open in or out for unobstructed access and beautiful views to the backyard. Since hinged doors open wider than most sliding patio doors, they also make it easier to move furniture or trays laden with snacks in and out of the home.

Fortunately, hinged patio doors can also be energy-efficient, provided they’re made with the right materials. French, classic, and contemporary hinged doors just need energy-efficient glass panels and weatherstripping seals to keep your home cool or warm depending on the season.

That’s not all. The right hinged and energy-efficient patio doors let you further customize your home or express your aesthetic style. You can pick the paint or stain color of the woodgrain fiberglass frames, the design and tint of the glass panels, and even the types of handles fitted to the doors. Never think you must pick between energy efficiency or aesthetic elegance – you can always have both!

Learn more about installing an energy-efficient front or patio door

Overall, any of the above exterior door replacements might be just what your home needs to improve its efficiency and look better than ever.

Fortunately, the experts at Window World of the Triad are ready and waiting for your call – visit our showroom today, request a no-cost quote or contact us by phone at 336-364-5014 to see how we can help you choose and install the ideal energy-efficient door for your property.