Exterior doors, with their dual function of barrier and opening, should be airtight and watertight, well insulated and made of highly resistant materials to delay wear and reduce energy consumption and GHG production.

Our recommendations :

1. Exterior doors often include decorative windows, but these reduce the energy rating of the door. In this case it is especially important to choose a door that is well-insulated, with polyurethane foam, for example, to avoid condensation and frost on the glass.
2. Make sure the selected door is equipped with good weatherstripping to avoid air infiltration.
3. Exterior doors are often composed of several different types of materials. The exterior layer determines the type of door. Choosing a resistant material is the best way to increase the lifespan of the door. Here are a few options:
   • Steel doors are rigid, durable, easy to maintain, airtight and they provide excellent thermal insulation. They can feature decorative windows, but this reduces the energy rating of the door.
   • Fibreglass doors are moulded around a central core of polyurethane. They are resistant to cold and damage and also require little maintenance. They can also be finished to look like wooden doors.
   • Modern wooden doors also offer good airtightness and are generally made of panels of veneered wood sandwiched with insulating foam. Solid wood doors offer the insulation value of wood, but they are not the sturdiest doors. They can be easily damaged and require more maintenance than other types of doors.
   • Aluminum is often used to make the frames of patio doors, since it is light, sturdy and requires little upkeep.
   • PVC is light, rust-resistant, easy to clean and requires little upkeep. It is often used to make patio door frames, but the production and disposal of PVC can release toxic pollutants into the environment.

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