How To: Choose the Perfect Entry Door

Finding the perfect entry door can be a difficult task. There are just so many options to choose from: styles, materials, colors, security, energy efficiency, etc. Where do you even start?

Here are 3 factors that you should keep in mind when you’re searching for your new front door:

Design

Design is typically the first thing that most homeowners think about when replacing an entry door, and for good reasons — the entry door can make a strong statement about your home and can easily boost curb appeal.

When you’re thinking about the style of your new door, it’s smart to match your home architecturally. There are so many styles of doors to choose from, from classic or traditional to contemporary; at Aspen Home Improvements we offer over 80 different styles in our line of Lasting Elegance doors.

After you’ve chosen a style, it’s time to think about color.  Stand out with a brightly colored door or keep it classic with black or wooden doors. Check out this guide on choosing the perfect front door color.

Security

As much as you want your door to look great, security is a big issue that you shouldn’t forget about. Your entry door helps keep your family safe in your home. Here are some things you should think about: How is the door reinforced? Is the lock that you’re using strong enough?

Safety is one of our top concerns at Aspen, that’s why all of our doors are equipped with a 19 lock bolt along with a 14 gauge steel reinforcement channel.

Energy Efficiency

One of the concerns that have come to the top of mind in recent years is the energy efficiency of entry doors. Old, drafty, un-insulated doors can cause heating and cooling costs to rise. You want to look for doors with efficient weather stripping and an insulated core to keep the heat out in the summer and in during the winter months.

We know hold cold it can get around Pennsylvania and Maryland in the winter, which is why our fiberglass and steel doors are Energy Star approved!

If you’re looking for glass doors, keep an eye on the U-Factor - glass with a U-Factor of .30 or lower is what you should be looking for (same goes for windows).

Do you need help figure out which doors are best for your home? We’d love to help. Talk to a home improvement specialist to find the best entry door for your home. 

How To Start Shopping for Any Home Improvement Project

Does just the thought of remodeling your home leave you feeling overwhelmed?

Whether you’re redecorating one room or giving your home’s exterior a total overhaul, it can be stressful. We see it all the time here at Aspen Home Improvements. Most people don’t even know where to begin, and that’s why we’re here to help guide you through the process of starting your home improvement project.

Be Inspired

Gathering inspiration from websites like Pinterest or Houzz can be a big help when you’re trying to decide exactly what you want to do with your home.

Did you know that on Houzz you can search the work of local companies like ours? You can see before and after images from previous projects, as well as customer reviews that we have worked with in the past.

When you discover images representing what you’d like to do with your own home, make sure to save them – they can come in handy when meeting with a professional.

Get Up Close and Personal

Stop by showrooms in your area and get an up-close look at the items you’re thinking about using in your renovation.

This is the fastest way to actually meet with home improvement specialists and see the products in person, rather than online. Our showroom has a diverse display of all the products we offer, and someone is always available to answer your questions and help you find what is right for your home!

Set Your Budget

Now that you’ve decided what you’d like to do with your home and have taken a look at some of the products your likely be using (hopefully you’ve taken a look at the showroom price-tags), you can set your budget.

Determine how much you can spend and then prioritize your spending to make sure you can afford to finish the most important/necessary aspects.

If you’re taking on a larger project, you can also consider home improvement financing.

Get Professional Help

There are some projects that you can do yourself, but we recommend talking to one of our home improvement specialists to see if you should tackle the project yourself or get professional help.

Our team has seen a lot of DIY mistakes in the past that we have had to correct. DIY projects can sometimes cause more damage to your home, resulting in an even more expensive home renovation.

If you’re thinking about any exterior renovations (windows, doors, roofing, and/or siding) Aspen Home Improvements’ specialists are here to assist you!

Send us a message or give us a call at 717-569-3700, we’d love to talk and help you turn your home into your dream home.

Keep the Heat In and the Cold Out: How to Find & Fix Drafts

Before the cool weather finally decides to stick around for good in Central Pennsylvania, it’s a smart idea to make sure your windows and doors are ready! Did you know that if you add up the heat-loss from all the cracks and holes in the average home, it would add up to the equivalent of leaving 1 window open every day of the year. That’s a lot of wasted energy! Let’s fix this.

How to Find a Draft

When you’re trying to identify a draft, wait for a windy day and try these methods:

• Wet your fingers and move them along the cracks of your windows and doors. If you feel a cool breeze on your fingers, you’ve found the culprit.
•  Light a candle and move it along the window or door frame. If the flame flickers, that means that air is moving past.
• Close all your windows and turn off any appliances that may create a disturbance in the air. Light some incense and watch the movement of the smoke. If the smoke is either sucked out the frame or blown into the house, that’s where the draft is coming from.

Fixing a Draft

Now that you’ve identified your problem areas, it’s time to fix it. Here are 3 methods of solving a draft problem:

Draft Stopper: If the draft is coming in from the base of your window or door, one solution is to purchase a draft stopper. Draft stoppers can be purchased online or from local hardware stores. If you’re feeling crafty, try making your own draft stopper.

Image Source: Little House in the City

Weather Stripping: As an alternative option to the draft stopper, weather stripping can be installed. There are many online tutorials for installing weather stripping, or you can leave it to a professional, like Aspen Home Improvements.

Caulking: For drafts coming through the side of a window or door, caulking is a great option. When fixing indoor areas try clear caulking for the best look. Once the caulk has dried, use one of the 3 testing options again to make sure the problem has been fixed.

Replacing: If none of these options seem like the right solution to your problem, you may need a new window or door installed.

• If you have wooden widows, they’re likely to deteriorate over time if they’re not maintained properly with sealing and painting. Aspen has a wide variety of high performance windows to choose from to help you save even more energy.
• Does your home have sliding doors? The life span of these types of doors is typically 10-15 years, if your past this point, replacing them might be necessary. Choose from Aspen’s selection of doors that can be quickly installed in your home.

Looking for more ways to prepare your home for winter? See our last blog.

The Latest Door Trends

Doors are the entryway into your house, so shouldn’t they be the perfect reflection of your style?

We have served many homeowners who were unsatisfied with the way their home looked and felt because they were unhappy with their current entrydoors. Once we replaced their old doors with our top-quality, long-lasting doors, they fell in love with their homes all over again.

Deciding on what style, color, or design you want your new door to be will be the hardest part of the remodeling process. We hope to make your decision easier! We have brought you the latest door trends to consider for your door replacement.

Casual-chic front doors. Some homeowners believe the more elaborate the door, the better. That isn’t always true, especially if you have a more casual style. We have seen entry doors with intricate patterns cut into the material and doors with nailheads perfectly placed to create a stand-out pattern. But what about something simple and chic, like this aquamarine door adorned with a brass doorknocker? Sometimes less is more!

Vintage front doors. With rustic style making a comeback this year, homeowners love the look of repurposed doors! Some venture to seek out barn doors to include within their homes but, for entry doors, some have even used doors from old offices.

Solid wood front doors. Some trends go back to the classics. Homeowners are seeking out solid wood doors again because of their elegant, beautiful aesthetic appeal. The advantages of a solid wood door? They can withstand a lot of wear and tear. The disadvantages? They are quite a bit more expensive, and often require more maintenance.

Large glass panel front doors. Let the sunshine in with a large glass panel front door! With spring here and summer right around the corner, we are all for an increase in natural light. Not only do these doors make your home appear bigger, but, in the warmer months, they may be able to save you money on energy bills.

Are there any other front door trends that you have seen? Let us know!

If you are in the market for a door replacement, read over this list and contact our team of home improvement specialists! We will schedule a time to come out to your home and discuss your options!

You can even check out our home financing options! We put home improvement back into your budget.

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.