Doors · Entry
Entry doors built for coastal exposure
The front door takes the most weather and the most use of any opening in the house. We install fiberglass, steel, and wood entry systems with the sill and flashing work that keeps water out of the framing.
Three slab materials, honestly compared
Fiberglass
The best all-around choice for coastal exposure: will not rust, will not rot, and modern wood-grain skins stain up convincingly. Insulated cores roughly quadruple the R-value of a wood slab.
Steel
Strong and economical, with the best security feel of the three. The honest caveat near the water: scratches must be touched up promptly or salt air will find the bare metal.
Wood
Nothing else looks like it, which matters on the older houses we work on in the historic districts. Expect a real finish schedule: a wood door on a south-facing shoreline entry wants attention every few years.
Hardware that survives the coast
Standard brass-plated hardware pits and spots within a couple of seasons of salt air. We spec stainless steel or PVD-finished locksets and marine-grade hinges as the default, not the upgrade. Multi-point locks are worth it on taller doors and anything facing open water; they pull the slab tight against the weatherstrip along its full height.
The installation detail that matters most
- A sill pan under every new door — the single best insurance against rotted subfloor at the entry
- Jambs flashed and taped into the wall’s water barrier, in the right order
- Shimmed at the hinge and strike points so the door closes with two fingers and latches without a shoulder
- Adjustable composite thresholds set to the weatherstrip, checked seasonally on request
Sidelites, transoms, and double-door configurations all follow the same rules — more glass just means more flashing to get right. See the doors overview for storm and patio doors.
Pick a door at the house, not in a catalog
We bring samples and measure the opening properly, including the sill condition. Then you get one written price for the whole job.
Or reach us directly: (203) 555-0184 · hello@harborlineexteriors.com