๐ Door Buyer's Guide
Everything You Need to Know
About Buying New Doors
Entry doors, patio doors, sliding doors โ each has different considerations for security, energy efficiency, and style. This guide covers it all for Southern Ontario homeowners.
Time to Replace?
Signs Your Door Needs Replacing
The average exterior door lasts 20โ30 years depending on material and exposure. Here's what tells you it's time.
Drafts around the edges
You can feel cold air through gaps when the door is closed. Weatherstripping failure โ often fixable, but may indicate deeper frame issues.
Water infiltration
Water seeps in at corners, threshold, or along the frame during rain. Once the frame or sill rots, replacement is the only real fix.
Security concerns
Old mortise locks, single-point locking, hollow-core doors, or rusted deadbolts. Modern multi-point locking is significantly more secure.
High energy bills
Entry doors are among the biggest spots for air infiltration and heat loss. An old door can account for 20โ25% of your home's air leakage.
Sticking or difficult to open
Frame movement (foundation settling, moisture) causes doors to bind. Adjusting hinges buys time โ significant sticking means replacement.
Visible damage or rot
Peeling paint, cracked panels, soft wood at the bottom corners. Once rot starts, it spreads rapidly throughout the frame.
Door Styles
Which Door Type is Right for You?
From classic entry doors to multi-panel sliders, each type is engineered for a different purpose.
Entry Door (Single)
The standard front door. High security, excellent insulation, decorative options. Most common residential choice.
Double Entry Door
Two symmetric door panels. Grand entrance look. One side is typically fixed, the other operable.
Patio / Sliding Door
Large glass panel slides on a track. Maximum light and backyard access. One pane fixed, one slides.
French (Swing) Doors
Full-glass panels that swing open like traditional doors. Elegant look. Both panels typically operable.
Multi-Slide / Lift & Slide
Multiple panels that stack or pocket for wide indoor-outdoor openings. Premium large-format solution.
Storm / Screen Door
Secondary door installed in front of the entry. Adds an insulation air pocket. Provides ventilation in summer.
Door Materials
Entry Door Material Comparison
The material determines how well your door insulates, how secure it is, how long it lasts, and how much maintenance it needs. Choose wisely.
๐
Fiberglass
The highest-performance door material available
โญ Azorvia's #1 Recommendation
Fiberglass Doors
The premium choice for Ontario homes. Fiberglass doesn't warp, rot, or rust โ and its polyurethane foam core provides up to 5ร better insulation than wood.
Energy EfficiencyExcellent
Durability50+ years
MaintenanceMinimal
SecurityVery Good
CostPremium
โ
Won't warp ยท Won't rot ยท Won't rust ยท Can be painted or stained ยท Wood grain textures available
๐
Steel
Best security, great value for money
Steel Doors
The security king. Steel doors with polyurethane foam cores are extremely difficult to kick in and provide excellent insulation. Most popular choice for new builds.
Energy EfficiencyVery Good
Durability30โ40 years
MaintenanceSome
SecurityExcellent
CostModerate
โ ๏ธ Can dent ยท May rust if scratched and untreated ยท Difficult to stain (paint only)
๐ฒ
Wood
Classic aesthetic, high maintenance in Ontario
Wood Doors
Beautiful natural material. But Ontario's harsh winter/summer cycling causes wood to expand, contract, warp, and rot over time. High maintenance requirement.
Energy EfficiencyModerate
Durability15โ25 yrs
MaintenanceVery High
SecurityGood
CostHigh
โ ๏ธ Not recommended for harsh-exposure Ontario applications. Consider fiberglass with wood-grain texture instead.
๐๏ธ
Aluminum
Our specialty โ ideal for large format & patio doors
โ
Azorvia's Patio Door Choice
Aluminum Doors (Thermal Break)
The best choice for large patio and sliding doors. Aluminum with a thermal break barrier prevents cold transfer. Won't warp, rot, or corrode. Slim frames maximize glass area.
Energy EfficiencyVery Good*
Durability50+ years
MaintenanceMinimal
Max Panel SizeVery Large
CostModerate-High
*Thermal break required in Ontario. Aluminum without a thermal break should not be used in Canadian climates.
Door Security
What Makes a Door Secure?
A door is only as secure as its weakest component. Here's what matters and what to look for.
Multi-Point Locking
Unlike a standard single-point deadbolt, multi-point locks secure the door at 3โ5 points along the frame. Makes kick-in attacks nearly impossible. Always choose this.
Frame & Hinge Reinforcement
Most forced entries happen when the door frame splits, not the lock itself. Steel-reinforced door jambs and door frames with 3" screws into studs prevent this.
Heavy-Duty Hinges
Ball-bearing hinges on the interior side. Non-removable hinge pins. On outswing doors, security hinge bolts prevent removing the door off its hinges.
Glass Panels (Door Lites)
Decorative glass near the handle area is a vulnerability. If chosen, use laminated or tempered safety glass with internal leading. Position glasswork away from the handle.
Smart Locks
Modern keyless entry systems offer convenience and security logs. Look for Grade 1 ANSI-certified smart locks with anti-pick, anti-drill, and anti-bump features.
Door Viewer / Camera
A wide-angle door viewer or video doorbell lets you see who's outside without opening the door. An under-appreciated but important security layer.
Energy Efficiency
Door Energy Ratings for Ontario
Doors have Energy Star ratings just like windows. Here's what to look for when shopping in Ontario.
๐ก Greener Homes Rebate: Newly installed doors that meet Energy Star Most Efficient criteria may qualify for up to $250 per door through the Canada Greener Homes Loan program. Ask us to confirm eligibility during your quote.
Sealing Your Door
Weatherstripping Types Explained
The weatherstripping is what stands between your warm home and Ontario winters. Quality matters โ and different types work better for different applications.
Compression Seal
A foam or rubber bulb that compresses when the door closes. Creates an airtight seal. Commonly used on door stops and the hinge side.
Best for: Entry doors
Magnetic Seal
Works like a refrigerator door seal. Magnets embedded in the weatherstrip ensure a consistent, airtight contact all the way around the frame.
Best for: Sliding patio doors
Door Sweep / Auto Sweep
Runs along the bottom of the door. Automatic versions retract when the door opens and drop when closed โ maintaining the seal without dragging on floors.
Best for: All exterior doors
Pile / Brush Seal
Flexible pile fibres that sweep against the frame. Used on sliding doors and windows where a compression seal would create too much friction.
Best for: Sliding doors
Threshold Seal
The seal between the door bottom and the floor threshold. Stops water infiltration and drafts at the most vulnerable point. Should be adjustable.
Best for: Any exterior door
Multi-Seal Systems
Premium doors use a combination โ compression for the sides and top, auto-sweep at the bottom, magnetic at critical corners. Used on all Azorvia doors.
Best for: Ontario winters
Southern Ontario Specific
What Azorvia Recommends for Ontario
Our Ontario Door Specification
The configuration we recommend for maximum comfort, energy savings, and long-term value in Southern Ontario homes.
Entry Door Material
Fiberglass with foam core
Won't warp or rot in freeze-thaw cycles. 5ร better insulation than hollow wood. 30โ50yr lifespan.
Patio / Sliding Material
Aluminum (Thermal Break)
Handles large spans without bowing. Thermal break prevents condensation. Durable for 50+ years.
Glass (For Door Lites & Patio)
Triple pane Low-E + Argon
Meets Energy Star Most Efficient. Qualifies for Greener Homes. Virtually no condensation on cold nights.
Locking System
Multi-point lock (3โ5 points)
Resists kick-in entry. Insurance premium reduction eligible. Pairs with smart lock for convenience.
U-Factor (Entry Door)
โค 1.2 W/mยฒK
Exceeds minimum Energy Star. Eliminates cold-frame condensation in even the coldest Ontario nights.
Weatherstripping
Compression + Auto-Sweep
Multi-point sealing all around. Auto-sweep maintains seal without wearing against the floor.
Questions & Answers
Frequently Asked Questions
How long does a fiberglass door last? โผ
Quality fiberglass entry doors typically last 30โ50+ years with minimal maintenance. The surface may need refinishing every 5โ10 years if it's exposed to direct sun. The foam core and fiberglass structure itself doesn't degrade.
Can I upgrade just the door slab without replacing the frame? โผ
Yes โ if the existing frame (jamb, sill, and threshold) is in good condition and square. A slab replacement is less expensive than a full pre-hung unit. However, if the frame has rot, is out of square, or has air infiltration issues, replacing the entire pre-hung unit gives much better results.
Is my patio door glass safe? โผ
All modern patio doors are required to use tempered safety glass (Ontario Building Code). Tempered glass breaks into small, blunt pieces instead of sharp shards if impacted. Laminated glass (two layers bonded together) is an upgrade option that holds together when broken โ offering even better security and sound reduction.
What is a thermal break and why does my door need one? โผ
Metal conducts heat and cold very well. In an aluminum door or window without a thermal break, the cold from outside is conducted directly through the metal frame to the inside โ causing condensation, frost, and significant heat loss. A thermal break is a non-conducting material (usually nylon or polyamide) inserted into the aluminum frame that interrupts this heat transfer. Essential for any Canadian climate application.
How do I maintain my exterior door? โผ
Fiberglass: Clean with mild soap and water. Apply fiberglass gel cleaner annually. Refinish with UV-protective coating every 5โ10 years.
Steel: Inspect annually for chips or scratches (touch up to prevent rust). Clean and apply car wax annually to protect the finish.
All doors: Lubricate hinges and locking mechanism annually with silicone spray. Check weatherstripping each fall before winter. Replace door sweep when it no longer seals.
Steel: Inspect annually for chips or scratches (touch up to prevent rust). Clean and apply car wax annually to protect the finish.
All doors: Lubricate hinges and locking mechanism annually with silicone spray. Check weatherstripping each fall before winter. Replace door sweep when it no longer seals.
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