Nothing lasts forever, certainly not the portal that serves to shut your home away from the rest of the world. However, unless you carefully monitor the different parts of your house for even the smallest signs of wear, you may not be aware that your old entry door is no longer providing you the same amount of protection as it used to.
Security is certainly an issue with older doors; as newer building technologies have been incorporated into the construction of newer doors, their ability to keep undesirables out has been enhanced. The newest fiberglass doors and patented composite doors carried by some of the top-performing companies in the industry are likely to surpass your old door in terms of sheer material strength and the ability to resist forced entry.
Durability is similarly enhanced on newer doors. The latest fiberglass and composite doors not only outlast older door models, regardless of the material used, they also require much less in the way of maintenance. Modern fiberglass and composite doors are able to mimic the look and feel of wooden doors, without the constant need to re-stain and refinish the doors to maintain their ability to resist the elements. All that, and at a fraction of the cost, too.
For more upscale home projects, nothing can beat the elegance of real wood, of course. While wood doors may require a bit more care and maintenance, the value that handcrafted solid wood entry doors can bring to more discerning customers cannot be beat, especially for those looking to build a grand entrance for their home. Go for a custom-fit handcrafted wood door from a reliable company that has a reputation to uphold, and you’ll have a great lifetime investment.
Energy efficiency and ability to provide insulation are also features in which newer, modern doors surpass older doors. Most, if not all, modern fiberglass and composite doors come with built-in polyurethane foam insulation and weather stripping designed to increase the door’s ability to create a barrier between you and the weather. Top-tier companies also offer thermally modified custom-crafted wood doors, with an eye to better energy efficiency and savings. By lowering your home’s heating and cooling costs, the door not only pays for itself, but helps reduce your overall expenditures as well.
Obviously, then, if your door is in the process of failing, these are the areas where failure is most likely to occur. A drafty door, for example, is indicative that the door’s ability to keep out the elements is deteriorating. It may be due to failure or cracks in the seals around the door, or it may be due to cracks in the door itself. Squeaky hinges may indicate that the hinges are worn, making it easier to force your door open, and if the door scrapes along the floor then it may mean that, additionally, the door itself has warped and can no longer provide the same degree of protection it did before.
Stay tuned for Part III, coming soon, which will follow up with a discussion of how to choose the best door replacement company to install your new grand entry door!
