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