Exterior Doors and Windows Remodeling Ideas

Styles to Buy

In addition to increasing natural light, new doors and windows can dramatically alter a room's proportions and design attitude. Here are some strategies:

Consider steel doors.
Steel doors typically cost about twice as much as custom wood doors, but their slim frames mean they admit more light, making them a good long-term investment. Some companies offer semi-custom 8-foot-tall fiberglass doors with full-view glass—a less costly alternative to steel.

Use architectural salvage.
Extra-tall wood doors from past eras such as the late 1800s can make even an 8- or 9-foot ceiling appear higher. But the doors' heavy framing may limit glass size and thus admit less sunlight than custom or stock full-view doors.

Buy stock.
Be clever with off-the-rack wood or fiberglass windows and doors. For maximum light, look for doors with slim framing and no divided lights. If your ceilings allow it, top doors and windows with stock transoms for a taller look. If vertical proportions are your goal, avoid ganging doors and windows together; separate French doors so each can be seen as a single vertical unit. To create even stronger vertical proportions, shop home centers and the Internet for 5-foot-wide French doors versus the standard 6-foot-wide doors.