The Complete Guide to Entry Doors for Toronto & GTA Homeowners

Choosing the Right Material: A Toronto Homeowner’s Breakdown

Entry doors do not all work in the Ontario climate. Insulation, maintenance, aesthetic, and longevity are impacted by the material you use. This is an absolute comparison between the top three choices by Toronto and GTA homeowners.

Fiberglass Entry Doors — The Best All-Rounder for Ontario Winters

Fiberglass entry doors have gained popularity among housing people within Toronto, Markham and Etobicoke – and rightfully so. High-quality fiberglass doors offer a combination of a wood grain appearance and engineered composite quality and can perform beyond any wood or steel door in extreme weather conditions.

Some of the advantages of fiberglass doors as entry doors in Toronto homes:

• Great insulation – fiberglass doors usually have an R-value of 5 to 8, which will dramatically decrease heat loss during winter
• Waterproof and frost-resistant – they will not bend, break or decay under weather, snow, or moisture
• Inconveniently maintenance-free – no need to paint every few years as with wood
• Offered in wood-grain finishes that are actually wood, so you have the appearance of wood but none of the maintenance
• Qualifies with Canada Greener Homes Grant with Energy Star certification

Fiberglass entry doors are the obvious choice of GTA homeowners who value beauty, performance, and a long-term value of their home.

Wood Entry Doors — Timeless Character, High Maintenance

No one can compare the comfort and the elegance of a solid wood entry door. Wood front entry doors are a form of architecture that can be found in heritage neighbourhoods in Toronto, such as Rosedale, Cabbagetown, The Annex. Oak, mahogany and fir doors can be designed to suit Victorian, Edwardian and Craftsman architecture in a beautiful way.

With the Toronto climate, however, wood entry doors have actual trade-offs:

• Seasonal changes in humidity cause the expansion and contraction of wood that can lead to sticking, gaps or cracking with time
• They also need to be refinement or repainted after every 3-5 years to preserve their seal and appearance
• High quality wood doors are more expensive than fiberglass in the short run

Although there are maintenance needs, properly maintained wood front entry doors contribute irrefutable character and value to older Toronto homes. Wood entry doors may be an excellent option if you are seeking authenticity and own a heritage property as long as you are willing to maintain it seasonally and have it inspected once a year.

Glass Entry Doors — Modern Style and Maximum Light

Glass entry doors have become increasingly popular in more recent GTA neighbourhoods, including Vaughan, Richmond Hill, and Mississauga. With full-lite and three-quarter glass entry doors, your foyer is filled with natural light and provides a stunning, contemporary first impression.

Glass entry doors are now manufactured with double or triple-pane tempered and insulated glass units (IGUs) which are much more thermal efficient than the older single-pane models. To the astonishment of many Toronto homeowners, a well built glass entry door can be as energy efficient as a solid panel door.

Entry doors made of glass fronts are especially effective when:

• Your house is passive solar-gaining to the south or east in winter
• Your door is blocked in by a covered porch or deep overhang, so you have less exposure to weather
• You desire to bring light to a north-facing foyer which would have been dark otherwise
• The architecture of your home is modern, transitional, or modern farmhouse

Privacy Frosted or decorative or textured glass panels can provide privacy, allowing light to enter the building, but without being overly noticeable – a common option in close-proximity Toronto neighbourhoods.

Exterior Entry Door Features Toronto Homeowners Should Prioritise

Irrespective of material, the optimum exterior entry doors in the GTA market have a number of critical features in common. When looking at alternatives, or getting a quote, inquire about the following:

• Weatherstripping – Multi-point compression seals that keep a draft and moisture out of the door frame
• Insulated threshold – the bottom of the door represents a typical cold-air passageway, an adequately insulated threshold removes floor drafts
• Multi-point locking systems – multi-point locking systems are superior to a normal deadbolt which provides security at only one point, multi-point locks provide the frame with three or more points which improves security and sealing dramatically
• Steel-reinforced frames – a door is as strong as its frame; a steel reinforced frame will withstand kick-in attempts and structural distortion.
• Energy Star certification – doors with this label are in compliance with the Natural Resources Canada thermal performance requirements of the Ontario climate zone
• Sidelights and transoms – These are glass windows on either side or above your door, which are decorative and add a sense of light to your door, though insulated glass is required since this glass area is a thermal weakness.

Front Entry Door Styles for GTA Homes: What Works in Your Neighbourhood

Toronto has a very diverse housing stock and the right front door type greatly varies according to the architecture of your home and the street environment.

Classic panel doors are used in traditional and heritage houses in Leaside, Forest Hill, and old Thornhill where there are two-, four-, or six-panel designs in deep greens, rich blues, or vivid reds that match the brick veneers. Wood and fiberglass with wood-grain finish are both good here.

Modern and contemporary houses in newer Vaughan subdivisions or custom constructions in Oakville are more sleek and minimalist in style – flat-panel fiberglass or full-lite glass entry door in either black, charcoal or natural grey can be viewed as a complement to stone and stucco exteriors.

Large homes are very strong statements of double entry doors, which have been catching up in Markham and Richmond Hill. Decorative glass inserts in the front door that opens on both sides make the front entry look grand and welcoming, which is an addition to the curb appeal.

Entry Door Installation in Toronto and the GTA: What to Expect

An average professional entry door installation in Toronto would take four to six hours to install one door, and would also involve removal of your old door, frame inspection and reinforcement where necessary, installation of the new unit, weather stripping and finishing the trim work.

When hiring a Toronto door installation company, look for:

• A separate installation warranty and a manufacturer-backed product warranty
• Familiarity with the building permit regulations in Toronto – a building permit is usually not needed when it comes to replacing entry door, however, structural alterations to the opening require a permit
• Energy efficiency consultation – an installer with a good reputation will assist you in choosing a door that is eligible under the government incentives program
• Same-day employment and no vacancies, operating on the same day and having complete weatherproofing assurance before departure

Milano Windows and Doors specializes in providing entry door services to individuals in the Greater Toronto region – Vaughan, Mississauga, Markham, North York, Etobicoke, Thornhill, Richmond Hill, and Ajax – with services such as installation of entry doors supported by a transferable lifetime warranty.