Your front door dictates visitors’ first impressions of your home. If your front door looks worn and is hard to open, it can make your home feel unwelcoming. On the other hand, if your door is brightly colored and well-made, guests get the impression they are walking into a safe and well-cared-for space.
Because we get so used to our homes and their unique idiosyncrasies, it’s not always clear when you should replace something like your front door. In this post, we’re highlighting the main signs it’s time to start considering a door upgrade. We’ll also explore all the door options so you can think about which option is best for your home.
6 Major Signs It’s Time for a New Door
1. Difficulty Opening and Closing the Door
An exterior door’s most important job is blocking out the elements and uninvited visitors. When your door isn’t opening and closing like it should, it can’t do either of those jobs well. These issues often occur because of swollen or damaged thresholds.
2. Damage to the Door Frame
Over time, hinges and fasteners can become loose from the weight of the door pulling. When this happens, they start to wear on the integrity of the door frame. The door frame’s structure is important to maintain because it’s the main support system for the door. A damaged doorframe can lead to a poor seal and could require a lot of slamming or adjusting to properly shut.
3. Home Settling
Another reason doors become harder to close is because your home has settled. Home settling is a common occurrence and happens when the soil beneath the foundation shifts or compacts. This shift around your home can cause door jambs, wall plates, and floors to become misaligned. When this happens, a professional should come out and assess the issue.
4. Prior Poor Insulation
A common misconception is that anyone can easily purchase and install a door, but it takes more skill than you might realize. If a door is poorly installed, you might notice it isn’t fitting snugly within the frame, which is a sign of a crooked panel. You may also notice it makes creaking sounds, is difficult to open, or even has large exposed spaces around the seal, which can cause air to creep into your home.
5. Old and Worn
Normal wear and tear is bound to happen on any door over time. A good front door should last 10 to 30 years depending on the materials and installation. You can usually spot the signs a door is due for an upgrade when you notice cracking, peeling, or warping issues. You may also decide you want to take advantage of new energy-efficient options or just refresh the dated look of your door.
6. Broken Tracks
If you have a sliding door on the back entrance of your home and it’s difficult to operate, you may have a broken track. This is often true if your door is sticking or the sliding door is constantly popping off its track. It’s especially cumbersome to try and correct daily.
Different Types of Doors to Consider
Homeowners have many door options to choose from. Below we’ve included the benefits of each option to help you decide which choice is best for your home.
Steel Doors: Steel doors are a popular option for many of our clients. Many people like that steel doors are five times more energy-efficient than pure wood doors. They are also very easy to maintain and guaranteed to never warp.
Steel doors are also well-liked for their strength—they offer additional protection and make it harder for intruders to break in.
Fiberglass Doors: If you’re looking for a more sophisticated look, a fiberglass door is a stylish option. Fiberglass doors utilize a resin base that’s reinforced with glass fibers, making them extra strong. Unlike wood frames, fiberglass doors won’t warp and will look nice for years to come.
Sliding Patio Doors: If you’re looking to replace your sliding doors, you’ll want to check out The Essentials by Sunrise. These doors have EverCore™ composite frames, which maintain the strength of wood but are resistant to moisture. Other competitors’ wood frames are susceptible to rot, mold, and decay. Essentials doors also offer a three-point locking system for security and Quad4+ Plus weather stripping. This helps eliminate air leaks from entering your home and can reduce costly heating and cooling expenses.
French Doors: French doors give your home an elegant style and allow natural light into your space. They also have a wide-range opening that is great for maximizing airflow on a warm day or for easily moving big pieces of furniture in and out of your home. Our French doors are secured with high-quality locks and can increase your home value.
Benefits of Replacing Your Door and Why You Should Talk to Us
There are many great reasons to replace your front door. New exterior doors can ensure your home security is up to date. Good doors also keep trespassers, outdoor debris, and even unwanted noises out of your home. If your current door is made of thin and weak material, it won’t be able to block outside elements.
Additionally, you can increase your home’s energy efficiency with a new secure custom door. A secure door will help maintain your home’s internal environment. It will also prevent your HVAC system from working harder to keep your indoor space at your desired temperature and help you save on power bills.
Investing in a new front door can reduce your maintenance costs over time. If you choose a quality door made of robust materials like steel, then you won’t have to worry about warping issues or frequent repairs. You also won’t have to worry about painting it as often.
If you’ve decided you’re ready to talk to a professional about replacing your front door, we would love to chat with you. We’re a seasoned team of professionals who’ve been in the business for 30+ years. Home Town treats every client project like we would a project in our own homes, and we stand by the quality of our work for life. If something goes wrong, we want to know and help make it right!
Home Town offers a wide range of financing options to help our clients afford the projects their home needs. With our financing assistance, many of our clients can start or complete projects, even if they don’t have all the money upfront. Home Town Restyling works with GreenSky® to make your project more affordable.
Our current financing options include:
- 60 months, no interest
- 18 months, no payments, and no interest
- 2.99% for 120 months
- 6.99% for 84 months
Get pre-approved from the comfort of your home with no paperwork required. To find out more or to get started, click here.
We’d love to get you on the books for a new front door. Reach out to us today to get your free quote and discuss your options.
