Are Custom Doors Worth It?
Doors are a ubiquitous part of our everyday lives, especially in our homes. But because they’re everywhere around us, we rarely ever think about them. Doors serve as the main way to keep our properties secure, and also serve to welcome us into various spaces. They have important roles to play within our homes, it’s therefore important to get the right ones.
Ready-made vs Custom Doors
When you walk into your local home depot, you’ll notice that wide arrays of ready-made doors are available. You’re probably thinking, why do I even need a custom door? This is especially true if you happen to find ones in a style you like. While stock options are likely to meet the needs of the average homeowner, there are still plenty of reasons why you may want something custom-made.
Unique Styles Make a Statement
While you may be satisfied with the local shop’s offerings, you can unlock a whole new level of customization when you opt for a custom door. You can pick and select every little detail of the design such as the color, materials, and patterns. You can customize your door to have a transom, sidelights, or even both.
Because you’ll have a door that’s one-of-a-kind, it also functions like art. This is especially true for a custom entry door. With it, you can create a lasting first impression when friends and family visit your home.
Freedom in Size and Shape
Stock doors in your big box stores come in standard sizes, which limit your options. This, of course, is not a problem when you have a bespoke door. In relation to the previous point, having limitless size and shape options open up your style options. You can have a large and grandiose entry door. You can also have a perfectly fitting arched door. If you have really high ceilings in your home, standard sized doors may look out of proportion, but this isn’t a problem with custom sized doors.
Aside from the looks, being able to have a door made to exact measurements also has a functional purpose. Having wider doors makes it easier to have a wheelchair accessible home. You can also have shorter or narrower doors to maximize otherwise awkward spaces like a storage room under the stairs.
Always a Perfect Fit
Because just about any size is possible with a custom door, you can achieve a perfect fit. A standard door will almost always have some gaps even on what is supposed to be a standard door way. This is to account for error margins during manufacturing. For spaces like studios that need soundproofing, you will want a closely fitting door.
Another situation where you would benefit from a custom fit door is during renovations. When you’re replacing an existing door, whether because of wear or updating the look, you might not want to replace the existing trims and door jamb. A door that’s made to measure eliminates the need for any cuts or modifications you might need to do on a stock option just to get it to fit.
Quality and Longevity
As with most bespoke items, custom doors are often made of higher quality materials by specialized artisans. For wood doors, this means using species such as walnut, hickory, white oak, and the like. Plenty of elements that go into custom pieces are detailed handcrafted work, which may not be possible for mass-produced doors.
The high quality materials combined with expert craftsmanship also means that your custom doors are more likely to stand the test of time. These can last decades longer than budget stock options and reduce the need for expensive repairs and replacements.
Energy Efficiency
Lastly, combining the last two points of perfect fit and high quality materials can give you a custom door that improves energy efficiency. The perfect fit reduces drafts while higher quality materials can provide better insulation. This can reduce the costs associated with heating and cooling.
Should I Invest in Custom Doors?
For us, the answer is a resounding “yes”. Of course, this depends fully on your needs and budget. You can also choose to mix and match between ready-made and custom. Some choose to have stock interior doors and splurge more on a statement entry door. It’s up to you, the homeowner, to decide whether the added cost is worth it for one-of-a-kind doors.
When you decide that custom doors are right for you, then make sure you get experts who can achieve the result you envision. Contact us for a quotation or to schedule a consultation. Wood and Co. can help bring your dream interiors to reality.