Guide to Architectural Business Doors

Many people today fail to understand how much visual impact the front door has on the design scheme of a building.  Architectural doors are the entryway to your building and the best chance to make a first impression, so when you have the unparalleled opportunity to pick out a new door, take advantage of it to the fullest.  Especially when redesigning the look of your business, the first question to ask is what do you want your architecture to say about you?  What impression do you want people to have upon first coming in?

For ideas, architectural and design magazines are wonderful resources for brainstorming.  Architect Magazine offers an online version, as does Elle Decor.  Feel free to browse through art and photo sites, such as Stock Exchange, which allows you to see their photographs without having to purchase them.   If you really need help, don't hesitate to contact a professional architect.  The American Institute of Architects has been kind enough to include an architect finder on their webpage, so you can be assured of working with a certified architect.

If your business requires a soft, well lit touch, custom French doors may be the answer for you.  Real French doors feature individual panes of glass set into a framing grid for the full length of the door, and are specially designed to let as much light in as possible.  Options can include glass etching and beveling for all of the decorative accents you require.  The misconception that French doors involve a complicated setup with two doors running on a top track has stopped many businesses from using these lovely doors. Of course you are free to take advantage of that design if it would fit in with your business and building, but, in reality, only the full door length framed glass panes are required to classify a door as a French door.  Watch out for cheap French door lookalikes that create the illusion of a French door with one huge pane and an overlaid grid, that option will probably crack and shatter much more easily than a real French door, which should last for years with minimal maintenance.

If you would like the first impression of your business to be more active and impressive, an aluminum or fiberglass custom exterior door may be the answer for you.  Aluminum and fiberglass can literally be molded into a sturdy, durable door of any shape and with any accents you require.  Whether you need a quiet, understated door with a sturdy wood look to emphasize the age and reliability of your business, or a modern jazzy door that will give your incoming customers a feel for your cutting edge position, these materials are easy and economical to craft into the perfect front door to welcome your customers.

No matter what custom front door you want, do be sure to partner with a firm that is familiar with the special requirements of exterior doors.  Exterior doors are the guardians and faces of your business, and you want to be sure that the door you pick will last for years, do the job you need it too, and be relatively maintainance free.  In addition, you don't want to have to get a full education on how to make and install doors while you're at it, you have better things to do, like run your business.  A quality company is well worth the initial price, as the work that a mediocre or slipshod company provides will cause endless problems down the line.

Tips & Tactics
Helpful advice for making the most of this Guide

• When designing a custom door, pick a look appropriate to your business. A wedding planner needs a soft, romantic feel, whereas an engineering firm needs to look upbeat and competent.