Side by side exterior door dilemma

2 years ago

last modified: 2 years ago

Hope to get some advice tonight as this decision is due first thin in the morning.

I am changing all my exterior doors (front, garage, side mudroom).

Decided to go with fiberglass door for the main entrance in iron ore colour + full sidelight (frosted with clear trim). Door will also have a window - frosted with clear trim (window just above 1/4 of the door size). My dilemma is the garage door. Do I a) do steel and choose same design and same colour , b) do figerglass in the same design and colour, c) ?.

The fiberglass will have some grain show through, the steel will be flat. The grooves in them are different depth, as they are cut differently, even if from far away the design is similar.

Difference in price $600 (fiberglass more) - although the money is not the big motivator here. I am doing a full mainfloor reno.

The photo with the blue doors is my current set up. Notice the height difference between the doors.

The one with the dark door is photoshopped. So just flip that door upside down and imagine a window at the top.

EDIT: all trim, including around the garage will be dark in iron ore. I would prefer to keep the colour of both doors the same.

EDIT:

Second question. Do I put a steel door ON THE MUDROOM/LAUNDRY ROOM (different side of the house)? Or do I keep it consistent and do fiberglass? If I do fiberglass, do I do white on the inside? WAsher/dryer are dark grey, floor is dark, counter top white, backsplash white, walls white, cabinets are speckled gray on white. Or do same as front door and have iron ore colour outsid and inside for bigger impact/visibility of the grain. Or is that too much.

Would appreciate all your thoughts and ideas I may not have considered.

Featured Answer

Anna Boron
Original Author

2 years ago

Thank you for the replies.

I definitely want to keep the doors the same colour - both iron ore and the trim will be that colour too (no white at all). I also need to keep a window of some sort in the garage side door. I don't want to use storm doors. So I need to decide if 1) i am changing the design of that door, sounds like simple is best. and 2) Am I going with steel door then? no wood grain. Will that not look cheap given the proximity of the 2, or is that better, so that the front door pops more. The door guys said the depth of the grooves is different in steel vs fiberglass doors.

Would this design be better or make it worse?

Comments (10)

PRO
HALLETT & Co.
2 years ago
Love the iron ore. What about a plain door for the garage- do you need the glass? It competes with the front door. Pet peeve of mine- can the fiberglass soot be ordered smooth- good wood doors don’t have grain so a fake wood door shouldn’t either.
eveuchan
2 years ago
Maybe paint your side door a color from the brick so it doesn’t take away from your front door. BTW I love the iron ore color for front door and sidelight!
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747.2fra
2 years ago
I would choose a simple door for the garage in the same color as the main door.
Anna Boron thanked 747.2fra
suezbell
2 years ago
Consider using the same color for both doors and for the door trim for both doors but with a dark storm door added to the side door to provide a bit of camouflage for the side door, leaving the front entry door the focal point.

Since the doors are not the same height, rather than have the glass level make that obvious, consider using less glass on the side door.

If the side door exits a kitchen and you add a storm door with glass that can be raised and lowered, having the side door be a Dutch door could be worthwhile.

https://rustica.com/washhouse-exterior-dutch-door/?utm_source=google&utm_medium=ppc&utm_campaign=&campaignid=13724484874&utm_content=&adgroupid=125984518004&utm_keyword=&matchtype=&device=c&placement=&network=u&creative=530938482853&utm_name=trafficado&gclid=EAIaIQobChMI9rORlfmB8gIVmLWzCh3w2ADdEAQYBCABEgI0EfD_BwE

Definitely would not want stand out white trim for the side door.

For the garage, make the trim and door the same color and visually blend with the house -- not stand out because of stark contrast. Avoid having it compete with the front entry door for visual attention. Windows are useful in a garage ... in a door if you don't have them elsewhere.
felizlady
2 years ago
The two photos show what appears to be the top surface material on the stairs and door step slightly overhanging the step edges. That could be a dangerous trip hazard for a stranger coming to your door, if not for everyone who uses that entrance. You are used to that overhang, but others are not used to it and would not expect it or even see it. Trip-and-fall!! If that were my house, I would have those overhang edges ground off first thing. Immediately.
suezbell
2 years ago
On back and side doors, add a storm door with both glass panels that raise/lower and screen and focus on a basic door you like the look of from inside.
suezbell
2 years ago
The inside of any door can be the same as the outside or white or decided by the wall color if you don't want the door to stand out.
PRO
Flo Mangan
2 years ago
I would make the garage door disappear as much as possible. It really distracts from entry curb appeal. I would paint it a color that matches brick. Iron ore for front door and sidelight no white trim. Smooth finish in “satin” finish. Windows in doors should be consistent with home styling. Don’t put mid century door on traditional home. Keep it simple.
RedRyder
2 years ago
I’m curious as to why you need a window on the garage door. Buying a front door with glass and a similar garage door without glass seems like a good choice. Your front door should be more noticeable, and the glass inserts won’t match in height, which is the main problem. The iron ore color on both .