Replacing an exterior door starts with a simple question: which entrance are you updating? A front door has different demands from a wide patio opening, and a storm door serves a different purpose again. Once you know the door type, you can compare materials, opening styles and the features that will matter in daily use.
Below, we explain the three main types of exterior doors—entry, patio and storm doors—with practical guidance for choosing a door that suits your home and Canadian weather.
The Three Main Types of Exterior Doors
| Type | Where it goes | What sets it apart |
|---|---|---|
| Entry door | Front, side or back entrance | A primary exterior barrier for access, privacy and security |
| Patio door | Deck, garden, balcony or backyard | A typically larger opening with substantial glass and a sliding or hinged action |
| Storm door | In front of a compatible entry door | A secondary door that may add ventilation or weather protection |
A front door and a patio door are both exterior doors, but they are not interchangeable. Likewise, a storm door is installed in addition to an entry door; it does not take its place.
1. Entry Doors: Front, Side and Back Entrances
The front entry is usually the most visible door on the house, so appearance matters alongside insulation and security. Side and back entries may be less decorative, but they often get just as much use. Wherever an entry door is installed, consider the complete unit: slab, frame, threshold, glass, seals and hardware.
Start by looking at front door styles and configurations. A single door is a practical choice for many openings. Double doors can create a grander entrance and wider access when both leaves open. A single door with sidelites brings extra daylight without adding a second operating leaf; a transom can add glass above the door.
Before choosing a configuration: Measure the opening professionally. Door sizes vary, and the slab width is not the same as the total frame size or the clear space you can walk through. Check the swing direction and make sure a nearby wall, stair, light switch or furniture will not interfere.
Fiberglass Entry Doors
Fiberglass is a popular choice when you want an insulated, low-maintenance entry with a broad range of finishes. Its surface does not rust, and it can be made with smooth or textured panels. Elegant Entry Doors offers fiberglass entry doors in traditional, contemporary, modern and Craftsman styles, including options with decorative glass and sidelites.
A fiberglass door can suit a busy main entrance or an exposed side entry, but compare the exact frame, finish and glass package rather than assuming every fiberglass unit performs alike. If the colour or texture is an important part of your choice, view a physical sample in daylight beside your home’s brick or siding.
Steel Entry Doors
Steel is a sturdy choice for an entrance where durability and security are priorities. Residential steel doors commonly have an insulated core and come in many panel designs, colours and glass configurations. The lock, reinforced frame and quality of installation all affect security; the material alone cannot guarantee it.
Check the coating and ask how to care for scratches or chips, especially at an entrance exposed to rain or road salt. When comparing steel and fiberglass quotes, make sure they include comparable glass, hardware, frame and installation work.
How Much Glass Should an Entry Door Have?
A solid panel gives more privacy. A small upper insert can brighten a foyer while limiting the view inside. A larger glass panel makes the entrance feel more open, but its privacy depends on the glazing and the position of the door. Frosted or textured glass obscures detail, though it may still show silhouettes when interior lights are on at night.
For a side or back door, consider sightlines from a shared walkway as well as your view toward the yard. Ask whether the glass is an insulated unit and whether the exact door system has a Canadian energy performance label.
2. Patio Doors: Sliding and Hinged Styles
Patio doors connect indoor rooms to a deck, garden or balcony. They usually contain more glass than an entry door, so the view and daylight are major benefits. Their opening mechanism is the first practical decision: will a panel slide along a track, or swing on hinges?
Sliding Glass Patio Doors
Sliding doors are useful when you do not have room for a door to swing into the living area or onto the deck. One panel typically slides past another, although configurations vary. They work well beside dining furniture and in smaller rooms because the operating panel stays within the plane of the wall.
Compare the clear opening width, not just the overall door width. Also check how smoothly the rollers move, how the track drains, how the door locks and whether a screen is included. Elegant Entry Doors lists sliding patio doors among its patio options; available frame and glazing specifications depend on the selected model.
Sliding French-Style Patio Doors
“Sliding French” describes a sliding patio door designed with more traditional proportions, often using wider rails or grille details to suggest the appearance of hinged French doors. It offers a similar space-saving opening action to other sliding doors. The name does not define one standard mechanism or guarantee a larger clear opening: that depends on the number and arrangement of panels.
If this look appeals to you, confirm the exact configuration and whether the supplier offers it. Elegant Entry Doors currently presents sliding and garden doors as its main patio categories, so do not assume every French-style sliding configuration is available.
Hinged Garden and French-Style Doors
Garden doors swing on hinges and provide a more traditional transition to an outdoor space. Some designs use one active leaf and one fixed leaf; others allow both to open. “French doors” commonly describes paired hinged doors with substantial glass, but product names differ between manufacturers. Ask which leaves operate and how they lock and seal where they meet.
Allow room for the swing. An inward-opening door needs space inside the room; an outward-opening door needs clear space on the deck or landing. In snowy areas, an outward swing may be inconvenient if snow builds up against it. Garden doors are part of Elegant Entry Doors’ patio selection.
| Patio style | Good fit when… | Check before buying |
|---|---|---|
| Sliding glass | Floor or deck space is tight | Track, rollers, screen and usable opening |
| Sliding French-style | You prefer traditional detailing with a sliding action | Actual product availability and panel configuration |
| Hinged garden or French-style | There is enough space for the swing | Swing direction, active leaf, sill and centre seal |
3. Storm Doors: A Secondary Layer
A storm door is fitted outside an entry door. Depending on the design, it can add a screen for ventilation, shield the entry from some weather and let daylight in when the main door is open. It may have its own latch, but it should never be treated as a substitute for the primary door’s lock or insulation.
Before adding one, check whether the entry door manufacturer permits it. On a sunny entrance, heat can build up between the two doors and affect certain finishes. The frame also needs suitable mounting space, and the two handles must not clash. A storm door is included here to explain the exterior-door category; confirm product availability separately if you want one installed.
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How to Choose the Right Exterior Door
As our editorial team reviewed the available door types, the most useful way to narrow the choice was to start with how the opening works, then compare the details of the complete unit.
- ✓Measure the space. Record the existing opening and have a professional confirm the required unit dimensions, swing clearance and usable passage width.
- ✓Decide how the door should open. Sliding doors save swing space; hinged doors need a clear path indoors or outdoors.
- ✓Balance daylight and privacy. Compare solid panels, door glass, sidelites and patio glazing in both daylight and after dark.
- ✓Check the whole system’s energy performance. Ask for the exact model’s label or U-factor, including frame and glass. A lower U-factor indicates less heat transfer. Proper installation and sealing matter too.
- ✓Read the complete quote. Confirm the frame, threshold, glass, weatherstripping, locks, trim, installation and applicable warranties.
Natural Resources Canada advises buyers to verify ENERGY STAR certification for the specific product and notes that poor installation can lead to drafts, condensation or leaks.