Upgrading to new oak doors is an easy and effective way to elevate your home. Wood has a natural beauty that suits any aesthetic, and new doors are a wise home investment when you want to add value to your property, and keep it looking modern and trendy.
Of course, it isn’t easy to put a figure on the increase in property value that you can expect. So to maximise the return on your investment, it’s worth knowing more about internal and external oak doors.
Why are external oak doors a great home investment?
External oak doors are timeless and elegant. If you’re looking for the best home improvements to invest in, a new front door should be top of your list. Replacing your old front door gives your home an instant facelift, adding that all-important kerb appeal. But what makes an oak front door such a solid home investment? Apart from the aesthetic appeal, external oak doors provide a raft of benefits for homeowners, including:
Security
Naturally dense and tough, solid oak doors enhance your home’s security. Combined with a multi-point locking system, they’ll keep burglars out while retaining their natural beauty and kerb appeal. Many prospective buyers will appreciate a property that’s already secure.
Durability
Oak is a durable hardwood, and your external doors will stand the test of time. An oak front door is also naturally weather-resistant and won’t warp or decay like other materials. And with the correct maintenance, your external doors can last sixty years or more, making them a solid home investment.
Sustainability
If making greener choices is crucial, wood is one of the most sustainable materials available. Ensure you buy FSC-certified doors from sustainable forests and recycle old wooden doors at your local waste recycling centre.
Insulation
Oak has a low estimated K value of around 1.6k. This value refers to a material’s ability to conduct heat — the lower the value, the more outstanding the insulating properties. Therefore, an external oak door is an excellent choice if you want to shut the door and keep the cold outside.
Sound resistance
External oak doors also create a great sound barrier. So whether you live on a noisy urban street or in the countryside, you can eliminate noise quickly and effectively.
Style
Your external oak doors can be tailored to the style of any home. You can choose the glazing, door furniture and panelling to suit your tastes — whether that’s cosy and traditional or sleek and contemporary.
What types of internal oak doors make the best home investment?
Internal oak doors are another intelligent way to invest in your home. After all, external oak doors create a fabulous first impression, so why not bring all the benefits of beautiful wood doors to the rest of your home?
However, to maximise the increase in home value, you need to choose your internal oak doors with care.
First, set a realistic budget if you want to invest in stunning internal oak doors without breaking the bank. Solid wood doors aren’t necessarily a cheap home improvement but they are among the most cost-effective. Calculate your overall spend at between one and three per cent of your projected asking cost, including your new doors, and save money by fitting them yourself.
But how do you choose the best doors to increase your home value? These simple tips will help you get the best out of your home investment:
Keep the look cohesive
Your doors don’t need to be an exact match, but they should all share the same look and feel. That could mean using panelled or flush doors for your bedroom or bathroom where privacy is a consideration and similar doors with glazed panels to flood your living areas with natural light.
Creating a cohesive look for your decor is one of the best home investments you can make when it’s time to put your home on the market. And replacing your doors at the same time will create the consistency you’re looking for.
Consider the age of your property
When you’re looking to add property value, you need to forget your personal taste and play to your home’s strengths. So consider choosing internal doors that match the period of your property.
Internal oak doors that fit the age of your property will enhance the value of your home. For example, the correct 30s style oak doors will add retro style and glamour to your interiors. Panelled oak doors are a beautiful addition to a Victorian home, while modern flush doors can be finished in white to match your walls and create the contemporary aesthetic you crave.
Play with light and space
It’s also worth trying a few bespoke tricks of the trade to add to the value of your house. One option is to buy taller doors and elevate the height of the door frames. Drawing the eye upwards gives the impression of higher ceilings and enhances the sense of overall space.
Another clever strategy is using glazed doors to increase the light flow in poorly lit rooms. Glazed doors can also be a fantastic feature when you want to open up the space and make your home feel more welcoming. In addition, glazed doors are a clever way to link areas together for a better flow through your home.
Be versatile
Exterior bi-fold doors have become a must-have for the best in open-plan indoor-outdoor living. But stylish interior bi-fold doors are also a space-saving and functional way to divide rooms or create features your buyer craves.
Obviously, bi-folds make a huge impact when used to divide a large kitchen diner. But they’re also a versatile solution to create privacy with a wow factor in a small apartment. In addition, bi-folds can turn a drab cupboard into a stylish walk-in wardrobe or en-suite or create sought-after features like a fabulous pantry or utility room in your kitchen.
Increase your property’s value with oak doors from A Wood Idea
Never underestimate the power of external and internal oak doors to significantly increase home value. And cost-effective doors are some of the best home improvements you can make when investing in your property.
Shop external and internal oak doors online or get in touch with the team at A Wood Idea today.
