How to Choose the Right Exterior Door for Your Home

Choosing the right exterior door for your home requires more thought than many homeowners anticipate. Most people begin by focusing on appearance, considering factors such as glass options, colour, size, and overall style. However, far less attention is often given to the materials, construction methods, and technology that determine how a door will perform over time.

Changing the Mindset

For many years, exterior doors were one of the least researched components of a home’s exterior. As a result, very little consideration was given to performance during the design and manufacturing process. In North America, doors were often treated as an afterthought. A typical door would be assembled using components sourced from multiple suppliers. Door slabs might come from an importer receiving container shipments from overseas. Frames, sills, hinges, and other hardware would often be sourced separately. Homeowners were then expected to complete the final customization by selecting their own hardware from local retailers. If decorative glass was required, it was usually purchased from companies specializing exclusively in inserts.

Many of these glass inserts were marketed as triple-pane units despite measuring only 1 inch (25 mm) thick. In reality, a true high-performance triple-pane unit requires significantly more space. An effective triple-pane configuration typically requires a minimum overall thickness of approximately 34 mm (3mm panes with 1/2” in between each pane), allowing adequate spacing between glass panes to achieve meaningful thermal performance. Unfortunately, these requirements were often ignored by the manufacturers. This meant many doors being manufactured in North America were not meeting the needs of their customers and the climate they were living in.

At Access Window and Door Design Centre, our mission is to change the way homeowners think about windows and doors. From the beginning, we have designed our products with performance and climate considerations at the forefront. Located in Southern Manitoba, we experience some of the most extreme weather fluctuations in North America. Temperatures can climb to +35°C (95°F) during the summer and fall to -35°C (-31°F) during the winter. Regardless of the season, your exterior door must continue to perform reliably. That is why we have developed products that combine exceptional durability with lasting beauty, ensuring your home’s entrance remains secure, efficient, and dependable year after year.

Not all Materials Are Created Equal

European manufacturers were the first to adopt PVC extrusion technology as a material for windows and doors around 60 years ago. While highly effective in European climates, these systems were not originally designed to handle the dramatic expansion and contraction caused by extreme temperature fluctuations common in North America. Approximately 30 years later North American companies began to take notice and attempted to adopt the same principles using cheaper materials to offer lower price points for their customers. The first attempt at duplicating the process was not a success, as the plastic fillers that had been used began to separate from the PVC.

The development of unplasticized PVC (uPVC) helped address many of these concerns and led to a stronger, more durable product. Today, uPVC windows remain among the most widely used window systems in the world. However, even the modern uPVC materials expand and contract more than any other window and door frame material. To combat this movement, many manufacturers incorporate steel reinforcement. While steel can provide additional stability, it is often only a short-term solution in regions that experience significant temperature swings. In fact, traditional uPVC profiles have an expansion coefficient nearly three times greater than the material used in Access Window and Door products. Our advanced composite material represents an evolution of traditional fibreglass technology, delivering superior structural stability with minimal expansion and contraction. The result is a stronger, more reliable product that performs consistently through changing seasons.

Adopting New Standards

In 2008, the introduction of the North American Fenestration Standard (NAFS) established stricter performance requirements for windows and doors manufactured throughout North America. Under NAFS, products must undergo rigorous Performance Grade (PG) testing. These evaluations measure key performance criteria, including operating force, air leakage resistance, water penetration resistance, uniform load deflection tests, uniform load structural tests, and forced-entry resistance in addition to required durability tests. These standards help ensure that products installed in today’s homes can withstand real-world environmental conditions while continuing to operate effectively throughout their lifespan.

Thanks to the materials, engineering, and components used in our doors, Access Window and Door Design Centre products consistently achieve exceptional performance results. Compared to traditional standard-sized doors, our XL door systems can achieve ratings up to 80% higher across key performance categories.

Why Your Exterior Door Matters

Your exterior door is one of the most frequently used features of your home, yet it often receives the least consideration during the design process. An exterior door should do far more than provide an entry point. It should serve as a barrier against harsh weather, contribute to your home’s energy efficiency, and provide a critical layer of security for you and your family.

Learn more about our Exterior Door Specifications HERE.

Contact us today and discover how the right exterior door can transform the comfort, performance, and appearance of your home.