Your main front or side entrance. This is where security, durability, curb appeal, and a tight seal all matter. Entry doors take the most traffic, the worst weather, and they're what people see first when they pull up to your house.

Materials vary. Steel offers strength and low maintenance. Fiberglass handles temperature swings without warping and can mimic wood grain. Wood gives you classic beauty but needs regular upkeep—painting, staining, checking for rot. Each material has trade-offs in cost, appearance, and how much attention it needs over time.

The frame and threshold matter as much as the door itself. If the threshold seal wears out or the weatherstripping compresses unevenly, air leaks in. Multi-point locks don't just improve security—they create even pressure around the frame when the door closes, which helps the weatherstripping do its job.

Large glass panels that slide horizontally on rollers. These doors connect your living space to a deck, patio, or backyard. The appeal is obvious—lots of glass, clear views, and easy access when you're carrying things in and out.

The way sliding patio doors work creates specific weak points. Panels glide on rollers inside a track. If the rollers wear out or the track gets dirty, the door drags and the weatherstripping doesn't compress evenly. That's where air leaks and drafts start. The panel that moves needs weatherstripping along all four edges, and it only seals properly when it closes completely and locks into place.

Glass performance matters more here than on entry doors because you're looking at a much larger area. Solar heat gain affects cooling costs in summer. Low‑e glass coatings and gas fills between panes help manage that heat without blocking your view.

A protective layer installed in front of your entry door. Storm doors typically have interchangeable glass and screen panels so you can swap between them by season. Glass in winter adds an extra insulation layer and protects your entry; screens in spring/fall let you ventilate without bugs.

If your entry gets several hours of direct sun each day, a full‑glass storm can trap heat between the two doors. Low‑e glass on the storm reflects some of that heat away, reducing the risk—always check manufacturer guidance for high‑sun exposures.