If you’re planning some home improvement work this season, you should focus on components that take the brunt of foot traffic and weather damage all year round. Take your exterior entry and patio doors, for instance. In addition to connecting your home’s interior with the outdoors, they contribute greatly to your home’s look and feel. That’s why you need to make sure they not only look good but also work properly. Expert repair and regular maintenance can help with this, but what if your entry or patio door is already beyond that? Your exterior doors, after all, take a beating from constant traffic, extreme weather conditions and fluctuating temperatures. These conditions lead to extensive wear and tear that can negatively affect the door’s performance. This may be the perfect time to invest in a door replacement. Getting newer, better doors can help deal with any potential problem, whether it’s damage to the material or inoperable hardware. In fact, you’ll find that door replacement is always a worthwhile investment. In this ebook, we’ll discuss entry and patio door replacement, plus the many advantages you can get out of your new doors.
Part 1 - How to Tell If You Need New Doors As with many of your home’s exterior components, your entry and patio doors are constantly exposed to the elements. Over time, the damage they sustain could develop into serious problems that may affect both their life cycle and performance. Are your doors already beyond repair? Then you should consider investing in a better and longer-lasting solution--door replacement. You’ll know your home needs this upgrade if your existing doors are already showing these telltale signs: • Obvious signs of damage. These may include scratches, dents, cracks, gaps or holes. The door framing material may be worn, peeling or warped, as well. Exterior doors that have seen better days are unlikely to add points to your curb appeal. In fact, extensive wear and tear on your doors could indicate that the unit has already weakened, which may affect your home’s safety and security. • Difficulties in operation. If opening or closing your entry door is becoming a daily workout, then it might be a good idea to get a new one. Sometimes, an inoperable entry or patio door is caused by old and failing hardware--in which case, you need to get them replaced. The underlying problem, however, may be more serious. Your doors may have adjustment or balancing issues. Fluctuating temperatures should also be taken into account because it can cause your units to expand and contract, allowing them to stick or jam.
• Recurring drafts. Like your windows, doors keep an airtight seal when they’re closed to keep drafts out and keep costly energy in. Old and failing doors, on the other hand, will have cracks or gaps on their frames where air can leak in, compromising the thermal stability in your home. At the same time, heating energy may leak out, leading to significant costs. New weatherstripping is one solution, but not when your doors have already sustained considerable wear and tear.
• Moisture between the glass panes. Take a closer look at the glass panes in your door. If they have moisture between the panes, it means the seal between the glass has already failed. This makes it easy for water and moisture to seep into the material, forming mold, mildew or rot. You probably already know just how damaging mold and rot can be. Aside from compromising the door’s structural integrity, they also have accompanying health risks. When your entry or patio door displays these warning signs, then door replacement is the way to go. Just make sure to cover all the bases involved with this project. ooooo
Stay tuned for the second installment of our ebook, where we’ll take a closer look at the advantages of exterior door replacement and the essentials you should consider.
Part 2 - Reasons to Get New Doors & What to Look For While exterior door replacement may take some time and money, the advantages it can provide more than make up for the initial costs. In fact, Remodeling Magazine’s 2018 Cost vs Value Report reveals that an entry door replacement can easily recoup up to 91.3% of what you spend. Check out some of the reasons a new entry or patio door is a worthy investment: 1. Enhances your home’s curb appeal. While your roofing and siding take up a large part of your home, it’s the entry and patio doors that are the focal point. They trump your other exterior components in terms of significance. But your doors aren’t going to make a great first impression when they’re already old and failing. This is where professional door replacement comes in. With a newer, better door, you can help your home make a bigger impression from the curb. What should you look for? Customization is half the fun in door replacement. Choose a good design. Entry doors come in different sizes and finishes, plus varying sidelites. These make matching your new unit with your home’s style and exterior palette much easier. You won’t lack for options when it comes to choosing a color for your entry door--you can be as bold as you like. For those looking for something more classic, there are replacement units available in a range of woodgrain finishes, such as cherry, oak and mahogany.
For patio doors, you can choose either hinged French and sliding glass--two of the most popular styles available today. Hinged French patio doors offer a timeless look that makes them an instant focal point in any home. Sliding glass patio doors, on the other hand, bring a sleek and contemporary vibe given their thin frames and expansive glass. To further add to the look of your new doors, choose the right hardware finish and grille pattern. 2. Improves comfort and energy efficiency. Advances in technology have allowed for entry and patio doors that can help keep your home comfortable in any season while keeping energy costs to a minimum.
What should you look for? To ensure your new doors can provide superior energy performance, check them for the ENERGY STAR label. ENERGY STAR is a voluntary program by the U.S Environmental Protection Agency, which helps consumers choose more energyefficient options for home improvement. An entry or patio door with the ENERGY STAR label means they have met, or even exceeded the stringent energy performance ratings set by the program. This, of course, will depend on the material and glass included with your new exterior doors. Make sure the material is durable and has exceptional insulating values. The glass should come with advanced coating technology that effectively bounces heat back to its source. This way, your home can remain cool and comfortable in summer and cozy and warm during colder months.
3. Increases weather protection and home security. Get entry and patio doors that can help keep you and your family safe and secure all year round. Don’t overlook weather protection--your new doors should be able to withstand anything the climate throws at them.
What should you look for? Make sure you choose a durable material for your doors. Some of the more popular options include fiberglass and steel. Doors made of these materials are structurally sound, allowing them to head off any external threats, including wind, hail or water damage. A good, multi-point locking system is also a handy and crucial factor when choosing new exterior doors. Once you’ve taken these into account, you’ll see just how exterior door replacement can enhance the quality of life in your home. ooooo
What makes a reliable door installer important? We’ll discuss this in the third and final installment of our ebook.
Part 3 - Characteristics to Look For in a Door Installer Door replacement may look simple, but the work takes precision borne from experience. Given how this project is a huge investment, you’ll want to make sure it’s done right. That’s why it’s always an excellent idea to hire a professional for the job. With a trained and experienced door installer, you can fully enjoy your door’s performance. After all, even the best quality entry or patio doors available can fail when the installation isn’t done properly. Working with a pro is important, but this doesn’t mean you should choose the first door installer you come across. Here’s some handy tips on choosing the right one for your door replacement project: 1. Get local referrals. This seems like an outdated way of doing things, but asking for referrals is a great way to find yourself a reliable door installer. A referral from someone who’s experienced working with your contractor should help you better gauge the quality of work you can expect. Never hesitate to ask family and friends for potential names. 2. Do your homework. The hiring process doesn’t end with a referral, however. Once you’ve gotten a list of names, you’ll have to narrow them down further. This means looking them up online. Almost everything can be found on Google these days, so a door replacement company without an online presence may not be your best bet. Besides having an updated business website, they should indicate an existing business location, working phone and email.
3. Check their credentials. Your new, high-quality replacement door is only as good as its installer. For this reason, you need to make sure your prospective contractor has the following qualities:
• Licensed. Having the necessary business or state licensing makes them eligible to perform this kind of work in your area. A licensed contractor also helps ensure your door installation complies with safety standards. • Insured. Check your door installer for proof of insurance, including workers’ compensation and liability coverage. This protects both you and your investment in case anything goes awry during the project. • Experienced. You’ll want to work with a door contractor who already has a tried-and-true installation process. This allows for timelier, smoother and more efficient work. Because they have the necessary skills and experience, they can eliminate the potential for costly mistakes and even property damage. • Certified. Work with a contractor who represents the top door manufacturers. You’ll have access to higher quality replacement doors and the extensive warranties included with them. They’ll also ensure their installation adheres to the manufacturer’s’ quality specifications. Getting an exterior door replacement needn’t be taxing, you’ll be fine as long you know what to look for and what to do. Once you have all the essentials in place, you can ensure a smoother process and get the healthy return on investment you expect.
Renewal by Andersen - Milwaukee 1510 Paramount Drive, Waukesha, WI 53186 (262) 522-1001 www.rbamilwaukee.com