Choosing A Replacement or New front Door for Your Home

Choosing A Replacement or New front Door for Your Home

Entry doors should be tough enough to withstand wind, rain, and the scorching sun, and attractive enough to make a good first impression. Unfortunately, this is a tall order for many older front doors. Most older entry doors are made of wood or wood veneer, both of which warp, crack, and delaminate after years of exposure to the elements. Metal doors don’t last forever, either – the surface on some older steel doors can peel.

According to Therma-Tru, a stunning new entry door can increase the perceived value of your home by an average of 4.2%, or around $18,750! Whether your front door is old and warped, or you want to trade a solid door for one with glass panels that offer more light, you will find plenty of options available for your front door needs.

Here are a few tips for choosing a replacement door:

First, detect any damage.

Sometimes choosing a replacement door means simply exchanging one door (called a slab or blank) for another. But in other cases you’ll have to rip out and replace the old door framing, which includes the door jambs and threshold — especially if these wood members have begun to rot.

Even if the old door frame is fine, the wall studs it’s nailed to can bow and settle out of square. This makes it difficult to open and close the door.

Consider pre-hung doors.

cca9300_d_arborwatch-1-l.jpgMost new doors are ordered pre-hung, which means the door hangs on hinges within a new frame (these systems also include some form of weather-stripping). Pre-hung doors are an ideal choice if the old frame is bad or if you’re removing the frame because you want to enlarge the opening.

If you’re replacing your old door with a pre-hung unit, you only have to determine if you need a left- or right-hand door. Stand in the doorway and face outside. If the lockset is on your right, you have a right-hand door.

Why material matters.

Choosing the right material for your next entry door is an important consideration. Most doors combine several materials; for example, many fiberglass and steel doors have wood frames. But it’s the surface material that most affects appearance, durability, security, and price.

Wood doors are a beautiful option, but they can be costly to maintain. You may want to consider a fiberglass door that matches the look of wood. Therma-Tru fiberglass doors provide the authentic look of wood with the low-maintenance benefits of fiberglass. They come in a variety of surface textures, grains and colors, as well as high-definition panel embossments. Fiberglass doors mimic the look of wood with wood-grain texturing and can be stained to match oak, cherry, walnut, and a variety of other woods. In addition, fiberglass doors are:

  • Energy efficient
  • Weather Resistant 
  • Easy to maintain
  • A durable alternative to wood or steel

Look at it. Touch it. Knock on it. A fiberglass door looks and feels just like real wood. But it won’t warp or rot like a wood door – or dent or rust like a steel door. Check out Therma-Tru’s material comparison to see for yourself! With very little maintenance, a fiberglass door can bring your home years of durability, curb appeal and energy efficiency. Find out why it’s the right choice for your home.

Not sure which color best matches your home? Check out Therma-Tru’s easy color picking guide!

Other ideas for boosting your curb appeal.

Keep in mind that updating your door opens up other possibilities for boosting your curb appeal as well. Here are some more ideas from Therma-Tru:

“If your remodeled entryway added sidelites or a double door, meaning that your overall configuration changed in the process, you might want to rearrange flower pots or furniture on your porch. You might also consider updating your outdoor lighting fixtures or mailbox to reflect the style of your decorative glass.

Whether you replace just the door, or update other elements of your home at the same time, your home will be beautifully refreshed. And if you do decide to sell your home later, the National Association of Realtors has listed improving curb appeal as one of the top five most valuable upgrades you can make. So however you look at it, you’re going to love your new curb appeal!”

Whether you buy the door by itself or the entire door-and-frame system, the experts at GNH will be more than happy to help you throughout this whole process. Choosing a replacement door is a great investment. We know that picking the right front door will pay off in smoother operation, less maintenance, and added energy savings. Plus, you’ll have an elegant entry that makes a great first impression for years to come!

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Topics: Doors

Not sure where to begin?

Our team is ready to get you started with your home renovation. Looking for new energy-efficient windows and doors? Want a kitchen or bath that fits your lifestyle? Or anything else you can imagine, we can help! We start by helping you choose style options and materials from quality brands. Then we’ll take measurements, order the products and provide guidance through the installation.

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