Coastal living comes with an aesthetic all its own. As you set out to enjoy your life on the water, you will likely want to incorporate elements reminiscent of the ocean’s unique beauty in your interior design choices to effortlessly capture laid-back beachfront living.
However, before you select a coastal front door for your beachfront property, there are a few factors you will want to keep in mind, especially when it comes to climate. Extreme heat, high humidity, and salty air can all be brutal on exterior coastal front doors. Luckily with proper guidance and maintenance, you can preserve both your door and your aesthetic for years to come. Clark Hall is here to help you select the best coastal front door for your beach property.
Functional Aspects
Coastal doors require special care to preserve their charm and beauty. Weather conditions near the ocean are often more extreme than those further inland, so it’s important to consider factors like durability and weather resistance when choosing a coastal front door.
Durability and Weather Resistance
When looking for the right coastal front door, you will want to make sure it’s made from materials designed to withstand the elements. Coastal doors must battle hurricane-force winds, saltwater breezes, and intense sunlight and heat, which can all warp doors and cause significant damage.
As you look to select a coastal front door, you will want to avoid wood. Moisture from the ocean and extreme temperatures can quickly wear wooden doors down, requiring regular replacement. Doors made of fiberglass or custom iron doors with coastal finishes make better choices for coastal front doors.
Security Features
One major downside of coastal living is being on the frontline of natural disasters and strong storms. Fortunately, Clark Hall provides impact doors that can withstand hurricane force winds and flying debris. All impact doors are equipped with durable, shatterproof glass and strong frames such as steel or iron to ensure your front door survives even the harshest of coastal conditions.
Insulation and Energy Efficiency
Properly insulated coastal doors are an absolute must-have, as they can save you money and keep you cool in those hot summer months. Well-insulated doors prevent drafts in the winter and help seal in the air during the summer so that you and your guests stay nice and comfortable. Proper insulation also reduces the strain on your HVAC system, which may work overtime depending on your location.
A few energy efficient features to look out for in coastal front doors are insulated cores and weatherstripping. Clark Hall custom iron front doors are made with tempered, double-insulated glass, which helps improve energy efficiency.
Design Considerations
When you live somewhere as beautiful as the coast, you want to make sure your home matches your setting. Clark Hall Windows and Doors is here to help you choose the right material, color, and design style for your coastal front door, adding to both the beauty and property value of your beachside home.
Material Selection
Choosing durable materials capable of withstanding extreme hurricane force winds is key when selecting a coastal front door. Like we said earlier, you’ll likely want to steer clear of wooden doors, as they tend to suffer in the face of sharp winds and the salt in the air.
Our custom iron doors at Clark Hall are built to last decades. Our iron doors come with a 10 year product warranty and require little maintenance. Plus, they’re certified to meet strict hurricane wind ratings and Florida building codes. Explore our extensive collection of custom iron doors with modern, traditional, and wrought iron styles for your coastal home.
Color Choices
Most coastal homes use pastel color palettes, crisp whites, and bright patterns to capture the essence and beauty of the sea. Navy blue and soft stripes also tend to crop up in coastal towns and along ocean fronts, making them popular choices for beach homes.
If you’re looking to stick with traditional coastal colors, Clark Hall offers exclusive colors such as Peal, Sand, Linen, and Navy. Looking for a signature finish? We have a variety of offerings from our darkest finish Burnt Copper to our lighter gray-toned finish Slate. Select from the variety Clark Hall has to offer.
Style and Aesthetics
One of the most rewarding parts of owning a coastal home is the ability to make it your own. Whether you’re looking to create a coastal farmhouse or envisioning a more modern look to your beachside property, Clark Hall is here to help you bring your vision to life.
Like all aspects of interior design, there are plenty of front door styles to choose from. It’s also important to keep track of front door trends to make sure that all aspects of your vision align. If you’re looking for a more traditional look, you might elect a bold color to add a bit of flair to the front of your coastal home. Or maybe you’ve elected for a more European-style, making the Mediterranean-style door a perfect design choice.
Here are a few style options for inspiration:
Modern
Pivot doors and open concepts lend themselves well to a modern style.
Sleek and Clean
White doors provide an airiness to your coastal home.
Traditional
Traditional doors can still be made unique by choosing different metals and glasses.
Ornate
An ornate door can elevate the entire aesthetic of your coastal home.
Decorative Elements
Curb appeal sets the tone for a coastal home. Now that we’ve discussed design considerations and durability, let’s get into the details. Decorative elements can really make your coastal home stand out.
Door Hardware
Just like with the material for your door, you’ll want to select durable options when it comes to your door’s hardware. The best choice to protect against marine corrosion is stainless steel. However, when making your selection, be mindful of the grade of stainless steel you choose. Grade 316 stainless steel is a good option for outdoor use. Clark Hall designers can of course help you make the best decision for climate and location.
When selecting door handles, knockers, and knobs, you will want to look for hardware made of solid brass, bronze, or pewter. Since they don’t have a plated finish, they’re less likely to corrode in the face of destructive particles.
Glass Insets
Clark Hall offers several glass options excellent for coastal front doors. In this section, we’ll go over the high-quality glass selections we offer, which can be fully customized with impact rated glass. All of our Clark Hall doors come standard with clear, double insulated, tempered glass.
We offer a variety of decorative glass styles to choose from, including Flemish, Rain, Citrus, and Reeded Vertical. These styles can be designed to meet specific building codes and requirements, including HVHZ (High-Velocity Hurricane Zones).
Clear glass will have the most visibility and light out of our selection. With stained impact glass, you will still get to enjoy natural light while maintaining your privacy. Similar to stained impact glass, frosted impact glass offers protection against hurricane force winds and flying debris while maximizing privacy.
Lighting
While it may not be a primary part of the door itself, lighting is important to consider when it comes to the look and feel of your coastal front door. You will want to consider non-corrosive lighting options to preserve the light’s integrity and reduce maintenance over time.
For coastal homes, Clark Hall Windows and Doors suggests sconces that resemble nautical lanterns or even overhead lights to place more focus on your custom-designed coastal front door.
Maintenance and Care
Maintaining a coastal door is not the easiest feat, but if you ask homeowners of beachfront properties, they’ll say the cost is well worth it. Doors constantly exposed to sea salt and high levels of mixture are more prone to leaks and warping than homes that are not near the water. Therefore, it’s important to regularly examine your door’s weatherstripping.
Coastal doors tend to be replaced more frequently given their exposure to the elements. That is why choosing the right coastal door is so key in helping you save on money–and if you know what kind of door you want, it’s easier to make a decision when it comes time to replace it.
What Coastal Front Door is Right For Your Home?
When choosing the right coastal front door for your home, it’s important to consider factors like materials, durability, and security. It’s also important to remember that regardless of strong design and durability, coastal doors face harsh conditions such as storm threats, intense heat and humidity, and salt air. That means they will require more maintenance and upkeep than standard doors.
At Clark Hall, we can help design the perfect coastal front door for your beachfront property. Schedule a consultation and we will help bring your vision to life.