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How to Choose the Right Basement Door

Wednesday May 1st, 2024
As homeowners, every decision you make for your home is important and should be well thought out—even when purchasing a new basement door. Buying a new door seems simple enough, but there are a few significant things to consider: 

Basement Door Considerations

  1. Area
  2. Materials
  3. Design
  4. Security
  5. Weatherproofing
  6. Energy Efficiency
  7. Accessibility 
By considering each of these factors before purchasing a new basement door, you ensure that the door you buy is exactly what you need for your space. Otherwise, you may need to replace it sooner than you like because it doesn’t meet your home’s needs—both functionally and aesthetically. 

How to Choose the Right Basement Door: 7 Factors to Consider 

Choosing the right basement door is important for both the function and appearance of your home. Here are seven key factors to consider to ensure you make the best decision.

1. Area 

One of the first things to do before buying a new door is to look at the area and ask yourself what the main function of the door will be. 

Interior vs Exterior Doors
For starters, will it be an exterior basement door or an interior door? This is important to differentiate because exterior doors are more durable and energy-efficient in order to withstand the elements. 

If you were to use an interior door as an exterior door, you may need to replace your door sooner than you’d like because the door isn’t designed to withstand harsh weather patterns. Even if it does hold up, it may be less energy efficient and cost you more in the long run with higher energy bills. 

Measurements
Next, you’ll want to measure the door opening and determine the door size you’ll need for the area. If you are replacing an old door, carefully compare the dimensions to avoid potential gaps or sizing issues with the new door.

Before installing an interior barn door, check the space above the door and on both sides of the opening. If the overhead space is limited, you may need to use low clearance barn door hardware.

Door Function
While evaluating the area, consider how you want the door to function. For a hinged door, decide whether it should swing outward or inward and whether it should swing to the left or to the right.

By thinking about all these little details, you’ll be more prepared when you go to purchase a door and the type of hardware you’ll need. These are all questions you’ll need to answer when ordering a custom door through Rustica, so knowing these things beforehand will save you time. 

2. Materials 

After you’ve thoroughly inspected the doorway, it’s time to start considering the door itself. One of the first things to ask yourself is, “What material do you want the door to be made from?”

In general, you can choose between wood or steel. Each has its own functional and aesthetic benefits. 

Wood Doors
Wood doors offer a more traditional design, and are ideal for more rustic, mid century modern, cottage, or farmhouse style basements. Solid wood doors are highly durable, and make exceptional exterior doors. Overall, wood has a more comforting and cozy aesthetic than steel. 

Steel Doors
Steel doors are highly durable and strong, making them tough to damage or dent. They excel in environments with debris, as steel is more resistant to impacts and does not absorb moisture like wood, ensuring greater durability. With proper care and maintenance, they can last for many years. Given these qualities, steel is an excellent choice for exterior storm doors.

Aesthetically, steel can vary in style. Metal doors are typically considered to be a more modern, minimalist, and industrial design. However, steel fits in perfectly with metal French doors, which are a classic design. 

Glass Doors
You’ll also want to consider whether you want a glass window on your basement door. If so, you’ll want to think about the glass type. For exterior doors, you’ll need to use low E or double-paned glass to increase the door’s energy efficiency. Consider obscured glass to increase privacy without sacrificing natural light.

3. Design

Before choosing a new basement door, consider the overall design goals of the basement. What is the interior design style of your basement?

Are you creating a home bar with rustic or Western-inspired furnishings? Perhaps you need a modern basement entry door for an entertainment room for family movie night. On the other hand, maybe you need a new interior door for a home office or guest bathroom. 

There are a number of possibilities for your basement design, and you want your basement door to reflect the overall style of the space. Whether you have a finished basement or you’re undergoing a home improvement project, the new basement doors you choose should blend seamlessly with the overall design. 

The best way to ensure your new basement doors match the space is to custom design them. With Rustica, you can choose a door design you love and add all the finishing touches to make it your own. Choose between wood species or metal type, door texture and paint color, custom hardware, and more. 

4. Security 

Security is important for any exterior door with direct basement access. Burglars often check patio doors and basement doors for easy access instead of the front door. Therefore, it's important to have strong locks on your exterior basement door to make sure it’s secure.

Exterior basement doors should be fitted with a two-locking system, and one of the locks should be a deadbolt. This security feature will make it much harder for thieves to break the lock. You should also consider outdoor lighting for basement entry doors, as well-lit areas dissuade potential burglars. 

Door security is also important for interior basement doors that lead to bedrooms, bathrooms or safes. Guests will feel much more comfortable if you add a lock to the guest bedroom and bathroom doors. 

When designing a custom basement door with Rustica, you’ll have the option to add hardware to your order. At this point, you can choose the locking system that works best. 

5. Weatherproofing 

If your walkout basement needs a new exterior door, it's important to weatherproof it. Basements, especially those with outside doors, are vulnerable to flooding, so sealing these doors against water is key.

Start by choosing a high-quality exterior door that includes weatherstripping. To block water from entering under the door, add a door sweep, under-door seal, or door threshold. 

Both wood and stainless steel make strong choices for exterior doors—just make sure they are built to endure the elements and are properly sealed for winter.

6. Energy Efficiency 

Weatherproofing your exterior basement door isn’t just to prevent water from seeping in—it can also reduce drafts. When you properly seal the gaps around your basement entry door, you keep your air conditioning and heated air inside, preventing energy loss. This keeps your home’s internal temperatures stable so that your heating or AC unit doesn’t have to turn on as frequently. 

Solid wood and stainless steel exterior doors are also highly energy efficient, as both materials are natural insulators. They create a solid thermal barrier for your basement. Proper installation is key to maximizing these benefits; ensure that the door is correctly aligned and sealed to prevent any air leaks

If you're considering windows for your exterior basement door, like those on basement patio doors, it's important to pick an energy-efficient glass. Just like weatherstripping, energy-efficient basement windows can prevent cold or hot air from seeping out of the basement, lowering your energy bills.

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