Side Entry Doors: Enhancing the Convenience and Accessibility of Your Home’s Alternative Access Point

Is your side entry door where everyone slips into the house after walking the dog, coming home from sports or the beach, or grocery shopping with an arm full of bags?

In a lot of Aussie homes, the side entry door quietly does the heavy lifting every day.

This extra access point into your home, usually along the side or back, might open into the laundry, kitchen, hallway, or garage. It separates the busy, practical comings and goings from the main entry and gives you a more direct way in and out.

Why have a quality side entry door? What designs and materials are available? And what do you need to know about installation and maintenance? We have the answers you need before you start shopping!

Benefits of Side Entry Doors

• Increased Accessibility: Gives you an easy, everyday way in and out of the house, usually from the garage, driveway, or side path.
• Enhanced Security: Adds another secure entry point with high-quality and durable materials, locks, and hardware, so you control who comes and goes.
• Space Optimisation: Keeps clutter, shoes, school bags, and wet gear away from the main entry and living areas.
• Aesthetic Complement: Can be matched to your front door and windows so your side access looks finished, not forgotten.
• Energy Efficiency: The right seals and glazing can help reduce drafts and heat loss, keeping your home more comfortable year-round and potentially lowering energy costs.

Popular Styles and Materials for Side Entry Doors

Timber Side Entry Doors

Timber side entry doors give your home a warm, natural look that never goes out of style. You can choose grain patterns and stains or paint colours to match your front door or tie in with your cladding, fence, or outdoor area, so the side of your home feels just as considered as the front.

Timber is strong, durable, and easy to refresh over time. You can sand and repaint or re-stain it if your taste changes or the door starts to weather.

Glass Panel Doors

Side entry doors with glass panels brighten up spots that usually feel dark, like your laundry, hallway, or side entry off the garage.

Panels can be clear for maximum light, frosted for privacy, or decorative if you want something a bit more stylish, so you don’t feel like you’re walking into a dull utility space every time you come home. For example, a French-style side door with multiple smaller panes looks classic and adds character to your side entry.

For laundry and garage side entry doors, you can choose toughened or safety glass for added strength, and opt for smaller or higher panes if you want light without anyone seeing in.

Aluminium Doors

Aluminium side entry doors I, from classic brick veneers to modern rendered or cladded designs. They can be powder-coated in different colours so they blend in or stand out, depending on the look you’re going for.

Aluminium can handle weather, knocks, and daily use well. They don’t warp, and they’re easy to wipe down if they get dirty.

Fibreglass Doors

Fibreglass doors can be made to mimic the texture and grain of timber or have a smooth, modern finish, so it’s easy to match the style of your front door or the rest of your exterior.

Fibreglass is tough, resistant to dents, and doesn’t warp, swell, or crack as easily as some other materials. It handles weather changes well, which is handy in the Aussie climate, and is generally low-maintenance.

Sliding Doors

Sliding side entry doors are excellent for tight spaces or busy access points. Because the door slides along a track rather than swinging in or out, you don’t have to worry about it clashing with cupboards, washing machines, or parked cars. It keeps the walkway clear and makes it easier to move in and out with arms full of shopping, laundry baskets, or sports gear.

They have a clean, modern look and often feature large glass panels, which help bring more natural light into the side of your home. They work especially well for side entry points that open onto patios or gardens, creating an easy flow between indoors and outdoors.

Customisation Options for Side Entry Doors

Size and Configuration

Side entry doors don’t always follow standard sizes, particularly down the side of older homes or in converted garages and laundries. You can choose from standard sizing if it fits, or a custom-sized door to suit a narrow, wider, or taller opening.

There’s also the option of single, double, or sidelight configurations if you want extra light or a bit more impact.

Colour and Finishes

Colour makes a big difference to how your side entry looks from the outside. The main goal is to pick a finish that feels like it belongs with the rest of your exterior.

You might choose a natural timber stain to tie in with decking or fences, matte black for a modern look, or classic white to blend in with trims and window frames.

Glass Features

Glass is a simple way to bring more light into those side spaces.

Decorative glass inserts can add interest, frosted or textured panels give you privacy, and safety or toughened glass is ideal for busy areas. You can mix and match styles to get the right balance of light, privacy, and security.

Hardware and Accessories

Handles, hinges, and locks do more than just add practicality and safety to side entry doors; they also add to the overall look.

You can choose from simple, modern levers through to more traditional styles like rounded knobs or pull handles, in finishes like black, chrome, or brushed nickel.

Smart locks are also an option if you like the idea of keyless entry or managing access from your phone.

Pet Door Integration

You can have a pet flap integrated into the side entry door, so your pet has easy access in and out without leaving the main door open. Your home stays more secure and comfortable, with fewer drafts and less heat loss, and you don’t need to constantly get up to open the door for them.

Choosing the Right Side Entry Door for Your Needs

• Home Style Compatibility: Match the door to the overall look of your home. Choose clean lines and simple glass in contemporary designs, classic panel or French-style doors for traditional homes, and textured timber or rustic finishes for more country or coastal styles.
• Sizing: Measure the opening carefully and check whether a standard-size door will work or if a custom size is needed. Think about how the door will open, how much space is around it, and whether sidelights or a wider frame would make access easier.
• Climate and Durability: Pick materials that suit local weather. In areas with strong sun and rain, look for durable finishes, quality seals, and materials like fibreglass, metal, or well-treated timber that can handle temperature changes and moisture.
• Security Features: Look for solid construction, reinforced frames, and quality deadbolts or multi-point locking systems. Safety or toughened glass, such as Safe Glass™ from Doors Plus, is a good idea for any glazed sections, especially on doors facing side paths or laneways. It’s 500% stronger than regular glass, and if broken with extreme force, crumbles into small, harmless granules rather than long, dangerous slivers or shards.
• Budget-Friendly Options: Consider pre-hung doors or simpler designs if you want to keep costs down. Painted fibreglass or steel doors, or basic glass-panel options, can still look smart and feel sturdy without blowing your budget.

Installation and Maintenance Tips for Side Entry Doors

1. Book Professional Installation. Get a qualified installer to measure and fit your side entry door. A proper fit helps the door open and close smoothly, lock correctly, and seal tightly against the frame.

2. Make Weatherproofing a Priority. Ask for quality seals and weatherstrips around the door to cut down on drafts and water getting in. For timber, use suitable exterior paints or stains, and for metal or fibreglass, choose finishes designed to handle outdoor conditions.
3. Clean With the Right Products. Wipe timber doors with a soft cloth and mild soapy water, then dry them well. For fibreglass and metal, use non-abrasive cleaners to avoid scratching the surface. Clean glass panels with a standard glass cleaner so they stay clear and bright.
4. Check for Wear and Tear Regularly. Take a quick look at your doors every few months for cracks in the paint or stain, swelling, fading, or signs of rust. Test the handle, hinges, and locks to make sure nothing feels loose or stiff.
5. Fix Small Issues Early. Touch up paint or stain as soon as it starts to wear, and tighten or replace any loose hardware. Small repairs now will help your side entry door last longer.

FAQs

What Are Side Entry Doors Used for?

Side entry doors act as an extra access point to a home, usually along the side or back. They’re often used for everyday entry from the garage or driveway, bringing in groceries, or letting pets in and out. They also keep muddy shoes, work gear, and school bags away from the main entry and living areas.

What Is the Best Material for Side Entry Doors?

There’s no single “best” material for side entry doors, because it depends on priorities. Fibreglass and steel are ideal for low maintenance and durability, timber is great for a warm, classic look, but needs more care, and glass-panel designs in timber, aluminium, or fibreglass frames are popular when extra light is desired.

How Much Does It Cost To Install a Side Entry Door?

Installing a side entry door typically ranges from around $800 to $2,500 or more, depending on the door type, materials, hardware, and how much structural work is needed. Basic installations with a standard door sit at the lower end, while custom sizes, glazed designs, or extra framing and finishing push the cost higher.

Can I Install a Side Entry Door With a Pet Door?

Many side entry doors can be ordered with a pet flap already integrated, or a suitable pet door can be fitted into certain materials, as long as the size, position, and security features are planned properly.

Do Side Entry Doors Require Special Maintenance?

Side entry doors don’t usually need special maintenance, but they do need regular care like any external door. Cleaning the surface, checking seals and hardware, and repainting or re-staining timber when it starts to wear will keep the door looking good and working properly for longer.

Upgrade Your Home with Stylish and Functional Side Entry Doors from Doors Plus

Side entry doors might be off to the side, but they can still add everyday convenience, extra security, and a more polished look to your home.

At Doors Plus, you can choose

• Single or double side entry doors
• Timber, composite, or fibreglass
• Clear, translucent, or decorative Insulsafe™ glass
• Fixed or hinged side panels
• Painting or staining options
• Fully finished or custom-made doors
• Traditional or contemporary styles
• Pet door integration

Our experts will help you choose and customise stylish, high-quality side entry doors with “No Fuss!”

Contact Doors Plus or visit your nearest showroom today.