When working on the doors in a home, you need to consider the costs, plus the door style and quality. Traditional homes often feature pine-panel doors, which consist of six solid panels of pinewood fitting into a solid pine frame. Other doors have a flatter surface and adapt well to modern styles. Doors come in different weights and thicknesses for a variety of purposes. Exterior doors and interior doors have different properties, and you will need to keep these in mind when shopping.
When buying a new door, consider its price but also the style of your home. The front door on a traditional home could be a 3-lite, which means it's a pine panel door with three windowpanes instead of wooden panels. A sturdier alternative would be a metal door filled with insulation and shaped to look like a raised-panel pine door. This alternative is more durable, and many modern homes install metal doors for warmth, endurance and safety. Unless you purchase a pre-stained unit, be ready to paint any exterior door you buy. While some homeowners hang their own doors, it's best to buy a door that already comes with a frame (pre-hung) to save time and prevent problems later.
Two basic door qualities exist for interior use. If you choose to purchase heavier-weight doors, make sure that they come pre-hung with a frame. Lighter-weight, hollow-core doors can save you a lot of money and will be easier for the average person to install, but they don't cut down on noise very well and they can't endure heavy use. However, many parents prefer to have lightweight doors instead of solid-core wooden doors, because they present a reduced danger to children's fingers. You will also find a wide variety of closet doors, bi-fold doors and pocket doors available. Lastly, remember to double-check all your sizes first before you order the doors you need.