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Exterior Doors vs. Interior Doors: What’s the Difference?

white interior door

If you are looking for door replacements, there are several different considerations to take into account. They include everything from your budget to materials and up to the sizing of the door.

Before you can consider these factors, you first need to determine what type of door you will be purchasing—an interior or exterior door. If you don’t know the difference between the two, you might purchase an interior door for exterior use just because you like the look of it. This is a recipe for disaster. Exterior doors and interior doors have different functions that are important to know.

Differences in Function

There are some key differences between interior and exterior doors when it comes to residential construction. Exterior doors are constructed to boost insulation and provide security. They usually include a threshold, weather stripping, deadbolts, and a lockset.

Exterior doors are also designed to provide a barrier against both home intruders and adverse weather conditions. These features make exterior doors great for insulation and security. On the other hand, interior doors create privacy and divide rooms, so they don’t need as many specific features. That’s why an interior door would never be sufficient when used as a front or back door for your home.

Differences in Materials

There are other differences when it comes to interior and exterior doors that are worth noting as well, such as materials. Interior doors are often made of composite or plywood. Conversely, exterior doors tend to be made from materials such as vinyl, fiberglass, wood, and metal.

In addition to this, entry doors are more likely to have window panes, which are ideal for looking outside or viewing visitors. Interior doors do not typically have these sorts of window panes; however, it is possible that this can be done for design purposes. This type of design can be used to make a room look bigger or to join a kitchen and living area. Other features, like peepholes, can be used for exterior doors to allow you to see who is at your front door, but they are unnecessary for interior doors.

Differences in Cost

Because they’re designed to be heavy-duty and secure, exterior doors come at a much higher price than interior doors. But that doesn’t mean you should use an interior door externally—your heating bill would soon make up the difference in the cost. Similarly, it doesn’t mean that exterior doors are better overall. Interior doors work better for indoor spaces because of their lightweight functionality. For the best results, using the correct doors is important for functionality and energy efficiency.

As you can see, there are many reasons why it’s important to use interior and exterior doors for the locations they were intended for. We hope that by understanding the differences between interior and exterior doors, you now know why it is important to consider the door’s location and function when you are looking for new doors for your home or business.

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