By REBECCA SLOAN

By REBECCA SLOAN
VINDICATOR CORRESPONDENT
hey say first impressions are lasting impressions, so if you want to wow guests the moment their heels hit the welcome mat, consider upgrading your home's front door.
"Your home's front door makes the most important statement about your home," said John Less of Pella Window and Door Company in Canfield. "It can make or break your home's curb appeal."
If your home's front door is sorely lacking in presence and prominence, maybe it's time to go shopping for a new one -- but don't be too hasty in your purchase.
Careful consideration
David Heck, of Progressive Overhead Doors in North Lima, said the process of choosing a new front door should involve careful selection and calculation.
"One of the most common mistakes people make when they go shopping for a new front door is to buy one that won't fit properly into their home's doorway. This sounds silly, but it's actually a very easy mistake to make. People go into a home improvement center, buy a standard-sized door and take it home. Then they try to install it and although they measured the doorway before they bought the door, they can't get the new door to fit correctly," Heck said.
That's because getting a door to fit properly is an exact science, Heck said.
"There are a lot of things to consider. You have to make sure the door is the same width as the doorjamb. You have to consider what kind of material is around the door -- plaster, drywall, brick, whatever -- you might even have to alter the structural opening to get the door to fit properly," he said.
Not in stock
Heck said these factors are why many companies that specialize in entry doors don't stock doors in their showrooms.
"We don't stock entry doors at Progressive because the odds of us having the kind of door you want in the exact size you need are about as good as the odds of hitting the lottery," Heck said. "It's best if the customer comes in and picks out the door they like based on a picture or a floor model. Once they've decided what they want, a professional will go to their home to measure the doorway, and then we will order the door."
Heck said the process of choosing a door, having the doorway measured and ordering the door usually takes about a week. Installation is completed in one day.
Less said the cost of having a door hung professionally varies depending on the type of door and the structure of the house.
Professional installation
Like Heck, Less said his company also recommends professional installation.
"Having a professional do the work is best, but we provide detailed directions for those who insist on doing it themselves," Less said.
Having a door that fits perfectly will not only look first-class, it will also keep energy bills low, and energy efficiency should be a top priority when choosing a new door.
Heck said customers should consider R-value, which is a measurement of how energy efficient a door is.
"A good R-value is R-14. The R-value is based on how well the door is insulated," Heck explained.
Most doors come with magnetic weather-stripping on three sides, a crucial element in keeping out drafts.
However, Less said an adjustable threshold on the bottom of the door is just as important as magnetic weather-stripping.
"Adjustable thresholds at the bottom of the door will guard against drafts by allowing for uneven space at the bottom of the door frame as the house settles," Less said.
"Every house will settle over a period of 20 years or so, so we always recommend getting an adjustable threshold whether your house is brand-new or 100 years old."
Unlike magnetic weather-stripping, an adjustable threshold is not a standard item on most doors, so if you want it, you'll have to pay extra for it.
Three types
Less and Heck said there are basically three different types of doors on the market: Fiberglass, steel and wood.
Solid wood doors are most expensive, but Heck said most people opt for fiberglass or steel since these are more durable.
"If you really want the look of wood, fiberglass and steel doors can be stained or painted to look just like a wooden door," Heck said.
Homeowners can order a fiberglass or steel door with a faux wood finish, or they can attempt to create the finish themselves by applying a wood grain stain or paint to their fiberglass or steel door.
Heck said the results are often superior on a fiberglass door.
"Steel is very smooth and flat, but fiberglass has more of a grain, so it is more convincing if you want your door to look like it is solid wood," Heck said.
If you do plan to create a faux wooden finish, Heck said to practice first.
"Practice on the basement door or on the back door first. You are bound to make a mistake or two the first time, and you don't want that mistake to be on your front door," Heck said.
Less discourages do-it-yourselfers from applying a wood grain stain or paint to a steel door.
"It's more difficult to get good results on a steel door than it is on a fiberglass door, so in that case, we recommend having a professional do it," Less said.
Price range
Entry doors range in cost from about $300 to $3,500, depending on what they are made of, with $550 to $1,400 being an average price range.
Both Less and Heck said front doors that feature decorative glass are hot items.
"People want something with glass. Leaded glass, glass sidelights, beveled glass -- that's what's in demand," Heck said.
If you shell out big bucks for a brand-new front door, Heck recommends buying a storm door to protect it from the weather.
"If you are going to spend a lot for a new front door, we recommend spending a few hundred more to protect your investment. A storm door that is just one solid sheet of glass will show off your front door while still protecting it," Heck said.