To some buying a new front door is a big deal, a task which requires a fair amount of thought and research. To others the thought of purchasing and installing a new door is as far removed from fun as it could possibly be.

It is often said that your front door says a lot about your property and can mean the difference between selling a house and it remaining on the market. The truth is that pretty much every house needs a front door, but the requirements of that front door change.

We have tried to outline below the 5 most important considerations when purchasing your new door.

1. Security

Doors have been used to keep unwelcome visitors out since records began; Egyptian paintings depict scenes of tombs with double wooden doors. Security it seems has been an issue for thousands of years and continues to be today. Now not only are there a multitude of government standards to comply with, but the introduction of digital viewers and keyless door locks makes choosing your ideal door more difficult than ever.

2. Green and eco-friendly issues

Never has society been so focused on reducing carbon omissions and recycling as it is today. Doors have been thrown into the green arena with the introduction of minimum U values in the UK – a measure of how much heat is lost through the door. From an economic point of view picking well insulated back and front doors could save a lot of money over time. Wooden and UPVC doors cannot compete with composite varieties when it comes to preventing heat loss.

3. Colour

When you start thinking about doors, colour is normally the first decision you are faced with. There have been some famous doors with equally famous colours throughout history. A colour it is said has individual characteristics, yellow for example is associated with joy. Feng shui may in turn suggest you pick a colour suitable for what is the “mouth of chi”. In actual fact the choice really boils down to personal preference as you will be the one walking through it for the foreseeable future.

4. Maintenance

The material you decide to use for the door will determine how much time and money you will need to spend maintaining it. Wooden doors for example require regular sanding and treating, whilst a modern composite GRP coated door might just require a wipe with a damp cloth. Wooden doors also have a tendency to warp in humid and wet weather conditions, potentially requiring you to replace it altogether.

5. Hardware

Not many doors these days don’t have a single piece of hardware attached to them. From letter boxes to knockers the door hardware market is awash with offerings for even the strangest of tastes. If you do have a certain look in mind it is always worth looking for a door which allows hardware configuration at the point of purchase; it is often more expensive to retro-fit hardware.

These ideas are brought to you in association with Yale doors. All Yale composite doors adhere to the strictest security regulations. Each Yale door ordered is accredited by Secured by Design, a UK Police initiative for safer homes.