The enduring hold Craftsman style has on American tastes might surprise Gustav Stickley, widely credited as popularizing the architectural style in the early 1900’s. Today you see its simple yet elegant influence nearly everywhere. This year, for example, the Home of the Year in one of the residential housing industry’s oldest, most prestigious award programs – PCBC’s Gold Nugget Awards – was won by a design offering a Craftsman elevation.
The style’s signature look of stone or stucco exterior accents, long horizontal lines, low-pitched gable roof that frequently extends well beyond the exterior wall and sweeping front porches make them easily recognizable and beloved.
The design speaks to a spare, simple beauty, a powerful attraction for home buyers seeking a more natural and minimalist look.
For example, consider the important stage-setting difference a Craftsman entry door can offer:
- The artisanal look of handcrafted detailing in warm natural tones.
- A large glass pane typically showcases the upper third of the door with a single pane or multi-pane configuration, usually in one or two rows of three panes each.
- A decorative panel called dentil shelf often appears as a traditional accent just below the glass pane. A dentil is a block-like molding presented in a repeating pattern.
- A good example of how to add Craftsman entry door beauty to the home is the Craftsman Door Series from Plastpro, a leading U.S.-based manufacturer of residential entry doors. A few reasons why:
1. 5x Stronger than Wood or Steel. The strength to weight ratio of fiberglass to wood or steel can exceed 5x. It’s interesting to note the contrast between fiberglass and titanium is similar. As a measure of specific strength (expressed as kN m/kg), fiberglass rates as lofty 1,307 vs. titanium’s 260.
2. Look-Alike Wood Twin. According to This Old House, “… fiberglass entry doors have gotten so good at mimicking the look, feel and ‘thunk’ of wood that you could swing one open and close it without realizing you weren’t handling wood.”
3. Near-Zero Maintenance. Why risk callbacks with wood or steel splintering, dents, warping, rotting or rush? The Craftsman Door Series takes that worry and expense off the table.
4. Double, Extended Lock Block. Plastpro’s standard full door length lock block supports any-sized multipoint lock system and adds even more structural rigidity for improved door sealing, mitigating air and acoustic infiltration.
5. Customization Features. Add distinctive and classic styling touches with profile choices, such as ovolo and shaker. Dentil shelves and simulated divided lites are options that help complete Craftsman refinement.
The home builder is expected to offer maximum value for the dollar, whether it’s aesthetics, durability, security or longevity. When the question is a Craftsman style choice, consider the extra value of the Craftsman Door Series.
Learn more about how the right entry door system can add extra value to your next project.
