Step Into Spring with A New Entry Door

When most homeowners shop for doors, style and color seem to be the primary focus. However, one of the most important decisions you will have to make is what material you want for your new entry door.

Today, the three most popular materials for doors include wood, steel, and fiberglass. Like anything, each material has its own strengths and weaknesses.

So how do you choose?

Here are a list of advantages and disadvantages of each option.

Wood

Advantages

Wood doors are praised primarily for their beauty. A door made from oak, cherry, walnut, or mahogany give your home a very high-end look. The look of the grain also hides any scratches from wear and tear your door might accumulate over the years – and scratches are easily repairable.

Disadvantages

The materials and work that go into creating a custom door for your home make wood doors very expensive. Some even run ten times more than the cost of a steel door. Whenever you expose wood to the elements, you run the risk of damage. Wood absorbs moisture very quickly and, therefore, requires regular maintenance.

Steel

Advantages

If security is your top priority, then steel doors are the best option for you! Steel doors are the most common entry door because they are very secure. They are also cost-efficient! Not only will they help you save money on energy bills, Realtor actually identified that steel doors returned the most money upon resale.

Disadvantages

Steel doors can be easily dented and scratched. Scratches can very easily lead to rust, so it's important to check for early damage.

Fiberglass

Advantages

This material is very new to home improvement. Most people are starting to look closer at fiberglass options because they are very low maintenance while also being strong. You can even purchase fiberglass that gives the look of a wood door without paying for it.

Disadvantages

If you decide to purchase a cheap fiberglass material, you risk cracking, rot, and other damage. Stay away from the cheap brands and go with top-quality products!

Once you have determined the new material you would like for your new door, contact us! We will give you a FREE estimate for how much a new door replacement will cost.

Upgrade your front door

It’s well known in the home improvement and real estate industries that a front door upgrade is one of the best investments you can make for your home improvement.

In fact, replacing your front door with a new, steel entry door can give you a 96.6 percent return on your investment – the top return on investment for any home improvement project in 2014, according to Remodeling magazine’s annual Cost vs. Value Report.

But you aren’t limited in your choices. Here are a few options when considering an entry door upgrade - 

Steel. Steel doors are incredibly durable and very economical. Another benefit of steel doors is they are able to be insulated, further helping you save in the long run.

Fiberglass. Fiberglass doors have become incredibly popular when choosing an entry door upgrade. These doors typically offer the same aesthetic of a wood door, but they are also more durable than their wood counterparts. Fiberglass doors can also be great insulators for your home and help you save on energy bills.

Wood. Wood doors are highly customizable and very aesthetically pleasing. To extend the life of wood doors, it’s best to have some type of cover to protect it from weather (rain, direct sunlight, etc.).

How would a new front door look on your home? Check out a fewof our previous installs to see how a new entry door can transform the look of your home!

Like what you see? Request a free estimate to get started on a new front door for your home!

Upgrading Your Entry Door

If you are looking to upgrade your entry door, here’s what you need to know about the various entry door material options, selecting the right door for your home, as well as choosing the best installer.

Entry Door Material: What are the Pros and Cons?

WOOD DOORS

PROS:
Unique design options in any species of wood. Doors can be customized to fit any opening.

CONS:
Wood does not hold up well to weather conditions like rain, direct sunlight, and hot and cold temperatures. The doors are usually not insulated.

FIBERGLASS DOORS

PROS:
Fiberglass Entry Doors are popular alternatives to wood doors that typically don't hold up to the damaging effects of weather. The insulated foam core provides better insulation to that of a wood door, which can lower heating and cooling costs.

• Available in wood grains like cherry, mahogany, oak, and fir or a smooth surface for a painted wood look.
• Won't warp, crack, rot or split like wood.  Resists severe weather, including humidity, rain and snow.
• Energy Star Qualified
• Can be painted or stained to match the exterior color scheme of the home.

CONS:
If the door is grained fiberglass and stained improperly, it can look like plastic, so it's best to purchase the door pre-finished from a dealer that offers a manufacturer finishing option.

STEEL DOORS

PROS:
Steel entry doors are an aesthetically pleasing economical option featuring high definition panel embossments and a smooth surface in a painted finish. It’s insulated and Energy Star qualified.

CONS:
Steel can rust or dent. The thermal conductivity is higher on a steel door than on fiberglass or wood, so the surface feels cold or hot to the touch in extreme temperatures.

Before you Choose

According to Remodeling magazine's 2011-2012 Cost Vs. Value entry door replacement ranks among the Top 5 home improvement projects nationwide, generating the highest return on investment at resale. So you want to make sure the door you choose is going to deliver the biggest bang for your buck.

Selecting a Professional Door Installer

Now that you've done your homework, it's time to find a professional dealer to your new custom entry door. Make sure you double check...

1.      Find out how long the company has been installing entry doors.

2.      Go online to research the brand of entry doors the dealer carries.

3.      Ask to see before and after images of previous installations as well as a list of customer references. Call them.

4.      Make sure the installer is bonded and insured and works for a reputable, local company.

5.      Check Angie's List to find out what other customers are saying and if there are any problems the company has had in the past.

 

For any other questions that you may have about upgrading your entry door, please contact Aspen Home Improvements by clicking below:

Patio Doors for Your Home

The best patio doors can easily transform your space, opening your home to the outdoors on sunny days and providing fabulous winter view on colder ones.

At Aspen Home Improvements, we offer a variety of patio doors in a large selection of styles that are aesthetically pleasing and add great curb appeal to your home. From traditional French doors to sliding patio doors, we provide them all, along with a choice of hardware and accessories.

Welcome the outdoors inside with our French Patio Doors Allow a warm summer breeze to float in or keep your doors closed and enjoy their classic silhouette!

Sliding Patio Doors are perfect because they glide rather than swing out, so that you can place furniture as close to the door as you need and still provide a fantastic view of the outdoors.



Our patio doors feature a simple, elegant design that gives you security, comfort and energy efficiency. Our 4mm glass unit with our Heatseal Spacer provides your home with superb energy efficiency, a low U-Value of .27 and a drastic reduction in condensation.

With our wide variety of wood laminates, fixtures, and patio door styles, you have the ability to customize your patio door. To learn more about our patio doors, contact us by clicking below:

Choosing the Perfect Entry Door for Your Home

Within each of the three categories of fiberglass, steel and wood, there are some variances that will affect how the entry door performs and how long it will stay looking great.

Make sure to look at the durability of the material and the quality of the weatherstripping system to be positive that the door will hold up and keep air and water out. Depending on how much weather the entry door will be exposed to, leads to what material you may choose for your door.

Steel. Made of an inner frame of wood or steel with a 24-gauge steel skin, the insides of steel doors are composed of a high-density foam insulation. Premium doors have a vinyl coating for improved resistance against harsh weather conditions.

If exposed to direct sunlight, some steel doors can retain so much heat they will be uncomfortable to touch. Steel doors are less energy efficient than wood or fiberglass; allowing heat/cold to be conducted through to the inside surface unless a thermal break is apparent.

Wood. A popular choice for aesthetic reasons, with a wide selection available, they can take about any stain or paint color. Some stock wood doors are composed of a veneer skin over an engineered wood core, which helps them resist shrinking, and warping that is a common occurrence with solid wood doors.

Fiberglass and composite. Tough and virtually maintenance-free, these doors can mimic the look and feel of a solid wood door. Typically made of molded skins of fiberglass on a framework of wooden stiles and rails, these doors contain high density foam insulation.

Fiberglass or composite doors typically carry the longest warranties of any of the three materials, and when combined with steel, such as our SafeGuard Doors, they are known to stand up to some of the toughest weather conditions.

For more information about our entry doors, please contact us at 717-569-3700 or email us at aspenwindows@gmail.com