"The entry door is the beginning of your journey through a house, " says Southern California architect Craig Stoddard. "It's the first part of the house that anyone going through the house looks at closely. Ideally it should emphasize the character of the house," he adds. For new and old homes alike, the front door is a key focal point.

Unfortunately, because they are exposed to weather and heavy wear, entry doors often show their age prematurely. Most older doors are made from wood, a material that has the warm, natural look and feel that most people prefer but is vulnerable to the elements. Season after season of sun and rain eventually warp, crack and bow wood, as the sun's ultraviolet rays break down wood's natural lignin, and moisture repeatedly shrinks and swells wood fibers. As a result, when given enough time, wood doors give up the ghost. Read the rest of this entry »