Solid Wood Core Doors Buying Guide
Researching and choosing which door is best for your exterior entryway can be a daunting task. Our expert staff is available by phone to assist you with specifications, advice, measuring tips, and any other info you need during your shopping process. All our doors are reliable, durable, easy to maintain, and can stand up to harsh weather conditions. With our wooden doors priced at an average of $120-$300 lower than our competitors, ETO can offer the most exquisite wood doors at an affordable price because of the high volume of entries we produce.

 

Why Choose a Wood Door for your Home?

  1. Wood is one of the most popular choices when it comes to choosing a door material for your home. In the past, wood was the only acceptable material for entry doors. Some of the reasons why homeowners still prefer wood above other materials are because of these benefits:
  2. Wood doors are strong and durable. This is because they don’t rust, unlike metal doors. And if they should receive a ding or dent, they can be refinished and repaired, unlike a fiberglass or metal door.
  3. Designs and styles are wide-ranging, with versatility, which sets apart from fiberglass and steel. The selection is vast. Above all, wooden doors can also be custom-built, unique designs, styles, and size options are almost endless. At ETO Doors, our Wood doors are manufactured by us and are made from an array of wood species such as mahogany, walnut, pine, and douglas fir.
  4. They are less prone to condensation and quite easy to maintain.
  5. Doors made of wood are easy to install and adjust.
  6. Solid Core vs. Hollow Core. Solid wood when sound insulation, temperature insulation, and durability are priorities, both for interior or exterior doors.

Solid Wood vs. Fiberglass
Wooden doors and fiberglass doors offer many advantages, not just as a front door but any other type of interior or exterior doors, including French doors, and more. When trying to decide between a solid wood and fiberglass door, consider these comparisons:

  1. Fiberglass does not rust or quickly deteriorate. It requires less maintenance as it is resistant to rotting and moisture.
  2. It can be painted.
  3. Though fiberglass doors can have the appearance of wood grains, natural wood without a doubt conveys a high-end quality, add to the warm feel of your home, and can be carved intricately. The fiberglass wood-grain simulation can never quite seem exactly like real wood.
  4. Maintenance is a toss-up. Fiberglass will resist some dings, but should it get dented, and it cannot be sanded and repaired like mahogany or other species.
  5. Fiberglass doors will cost more and offer a higher level of energy efficiency.
  6. Solid wood core doors are stronger and more difficult for burglars to break-in.
  7. In a nutshell, both doors have their advantages and disadvantages, but when choosing an entry for your home, you must pick one that suits your present needs, personality, and budget.

How to Properly Maintain your Wood Door

A door made of wood tends to lose its appeal and even decay if not properly maintained in the long run. And this may lead to the metal hinges, doorknobs getting loose, chipping near the edges, expansion of the door panel due to weather conditions, and so on. It is vital to embark on regular maintenance of your wood or painted door to keep them in pristine condition. Below are several tips to help you maintain your wood door.

  1. Gently open and close your door several times to identify uneven movement. Take note of the door edges brushing against the frame. This will help you identify the presence of scuff or scratch marks on your door surface.
  2. Regularly tighten screws on the hinges, door, and frame. Also, remember to adjust screws around the doorknob area.
  3. If you happen to discover scuff and scratch marks, you can clear them by sanding the affected area with 240-grit sandpaper. Please remember not to overly-sand the area as it may lead to outer finish removal
  4. For painted or stained doors, it is advisable to a repaint or re-stain after the sanding process. If possible, embark on the repainting process every three years, depending on the door usage. Above all, for the repainting procedure, opt for high gloss or mid-gloss since these types of sheens are easy to clean.
  5. Using a mild dish soap mixed with hot water, use a non-abrasive brush, and gently scrub the surface of the wood door. Remember to rinse away all the soapy residue with warm water.
  6. To prevent weathering, you can rub candle along the top and latch side area of your door.

Wood Species

  1. MahoganyFirm and rich in color, mahogany will add elegance to your home. It’s one of the most trusted wood materials for exterior doors. Mahogany is the best-selling solid wood door for a reason. In addition to its durability, it’s resistant to both insects, moisture, decay, thereby increasing the life span. It’s also an affordable hardwood. Our Mahogany doors are our pride and joy, some of the highest quality mahogany doors in the industry, at shockingly competitive prices.
  2. Knotty Alderis a popular and highly versatile species, with a soft appearance and low price. Characterized by large, small, and star-shaped knots, mineral and wood streaks, and wormholes, the imperfections are the appeal. Because of their relative softness, alder is slightly also less resistant to harsh or humid climate condition, and more easily dented. For rustic, cottage, shaker styles, nothing complements as seamlessly as alder. We carry a wide range of quality Knotty Alder wood doors, with most going for an average price of $300-$2000 depending on your chosen designs and customizations.
  3. Douglas Firis a timeless tree material that is in many architectural styles, from traditional to contemporary. Its rosy hue highlights its stunning straight and consistent grain pattern. It tends to redden when exposed to light, and refinishing will return it to the original shade. Our fir doors boast firmness, texture, and rot resistance, an excellent choice for exterior doors. Douglas fir doors look great painted, stained, or with a stained finish.
  4. Walnut-features a rich dark brown or a black with undertones of purple. It has a straight grain with random curls or waves. A dense and sturdy wood species, walnut is popular among craftsman entry doors. Walnut is very durable, especially in terms of its resistance to rot and other deterioration. A walnut door makes a worthy addition to your home.

Solid Core Primed
Solid core primed material is recommended for any door that will be painted and is widely used in both residential and commercial buildings. Our paint grade finish means it has been primed twice in high-quality white primer and is ready for your paint. It can provide a professional look while delivering durability and security. Solid core primed are more substantial, sturdier, and offer sound and temperature insulation. With a wide variety of designs to choose from, they are all heavy and robust, featuring a durable core for extra strength and stability.

Wooden Doors Styles

  1. Modern-A beautiful and distinctive part of what we offer, our Modern styles will transform the entrance to your home. Straight, sleek lines are a frequently found component in modern, mid-century modern, and contemporary styles. Often characterized by blocked or square raised panels or wide panes of translucent glass, the contemporary style is fresh, trendy, and edgy.
  2. Rustic-the rustic style will be a wooden door without a doubt. Cottage, country, shaker, farmhouse, these are all rustic styles that are popular today. This design style allows for more customization options with more texture, character, and decoration. Often the materials used will be distressed mahogany or knotty alder woods. Typically crafted with panes in a variety of sizes and styles, the rustic look can be American or European influenced, and gives you the option to share your world or shield it depending on the door you choose.
  3. Archeddoors create a look of elegance and style that just can’t be obtained with standard doors. These well-crafted arch, round, and radius top entry wood doors add an old flair to your home’s entryway that can be seen from the curb.
  4. Dutch-A door divided horizontally in such a fashion that the bottom half remains shut while the top half opens. The initial purpose of this door was to keep animals out of farmhouses or keep children safely inside while allowing light and air to filter through the open top. At ETO Doors, all our Dutch wood doors are made from mahogany woods and can be prehung to the door swing you need.
  5. Iron Grill-Wooden doors embedded with decorative iron grilles are a beautiful choice for your new front door. It’s an elegant solution to wanting a glass opening to allow bold, beautiful light into your home, with the added décor and security of iron.
  6. Hand Carved-Carved doors offer a timeless look to your home that nothing else can achieve. At ETO Doors, our doors are carved by hand from top-quality Mahogany wood. We know that the level of expertise that the carver has can either make or break a design. That’s why we endeavor to bring you the best quality in hand-carved designs you can find anywhere. All our hand-carved wood doors are made by us here in the USA, and you can request for a custom design to suit your preference.