Should I Replace My Front Door?

The front door is one of the most important parts of your home, but one we think about the least. It has a major impact on any homeowner’s day-to-day life, including their comfort, their energy bill, and their security. And if not replaced in time, an old or malfunctioning door can quickly drag down the rest of your home.

Here are a few signs that it’s the right time to replace or upgrade your door.

Is Your Door Energy Efficient?

If you’ve overhauled your windows, siding, or other features of your house for energy efficiency, all it takes is one sub-par door to undo all your hard work. Recent years have seen huge advancements in the energy efficiency of doors, and tax rebates are often available for those looking to upgrade.

First, check if all your doors have an energy star sticker, and if so, how old it is. If you can’t find a sticker, it means that your door is going to be costing you money this entire winter. Next, check if your door has weather stripping; these are crucial for reducing air leaks.

Does it stick in the winter or the summer? That’s a sure sign that your door is not properly sealed and is leaking air, driving up your energy costs. You can also test this by holding a lit match to the cracks in the door—does the flame flicker or pull towards them?

You also want to make sure your door has a thermal break, which prevents heat from leaking through the material. If you’ve ever seen frost accumulate on the surface of your door, it means that the door isn’t adequately insulated.

Is Your Door Safe and Secure?

The most obvious concern around your door is the safety and security of your home. Burglars’ preferred method of entry is breaking in a door. Criminals have been shown to target homes with older, wooden doors, looking for materials that can be broken in with minimal noise.

Evaluate all the doors in your home, especially those with low visibility like the rear or basement entrances. If any of them are made of old wood or thin metal, it means that your home is vulnerable. If you’ve seen an uptick in break-ins in your area or are generally concerned about the safety of your home, a steel or fiberglass door is difficult to break down and is extremely tamper-proof.

What Does Your Door Do for Curb Appeal?

If you’re looking to improve your curb appeal your door might seem like an unintuitive place to start. But the front door stands out as a visual focal point of your exterior and sets the tone for anyone entering your home. If you want to improve the character of a home, a good door can be a cost-effective way to do so without expensive remodels. You can also accentuate changes with additions like sidelights, covers, expansions to the front entry or porch, or even just a decorative knocker.

Has Your Door Been Damaged?

Are you seeing a lot of small dents on your door? Does your door seem to have a little more damage every time you use it? Is the paint peeling off, even after you repaint it? These could be signs that the structural integrity of your door has been compromised. Things like weather damage and wear and tear can wear out even the toughest front door over time.

You should also keep an eye on the window panes; if you see mold or moisture accumulating, it could mean that the double pane glass is weakened or failing.

How Your Door Affects Your Comfort

You interact with your door every day, and that adds up to your overall quality of life as a homeowner. Is your door difficult to open or close? Is it hard to get strollers, groceries, or packages in? That’s the kind of issue that we often suffer through when a simple replacement could make them a thing of the past. A door replacement can also be great for noise reduction. If you’re hearing a lot of cars, wildlife, or neighbors, a replacement can restore the peace and tranquility of your home.

Don’t endure another day of these inconveniences. If you’re seeing any of these issues, or if you’d just like to discuss your options for securing your home, contact us.