Exterior Doors Are Key When It Comes To Keeping The Cold Out
Blizzard-like conditions are not out of the ordinary for New England winters, so having quality doors to keep those temperatures where they belong is imperative.
It goes without saying that one of the biggest contributors to indoor drafts is a door leading to the outdoors with a faulty seal. Doors are typically the largest portal to the outside world and must be maintained routinely to ensure proper performance.
How many exterior doors does your home have?
Chances are, it’s more than one!
In this article, we are going to break down a few tricks and tips to ensure each of your home’s doors are keeping cold air out, warm air in, and money back in your bank account.
Stop Drafty Doors For Good!
At one point or another, almost all of us have felt a cool breeze seeping from beneath a door that creeps along the floor that always finds itself to our feet in an unwanted fashion.
This can be the bane of one’s existence and just plain annoying for others.
Drafty doors are not only a nuisance, but they can also quickly raise monthly heating costs. Cold air comes in. Costly, warm air goes out.
If you have already replaced your doors and still are having problems with drafts, here are a few tips:
- Weather stripping: Weather stripping are long strips of silicone rubber that can be cut to fit around each edge of the door. As the door is shut, the weather stripping fills all of the empty space for an airtight seal. Weather stripping can be found at most hardware stores and is by far the quickest and cheapest solution.
- Door seals: Along with weather stripping, door seals that slide on around the bottom of the door are another affordable solution to drafty doors.
- Simple upkeep: Frequently checking the caulking around the door frame is imperative. Peeling away and replacing the caulking can be done quite quickly, especially when you trust the experts to do it!
- Stay on top of snow removal: Removing the snow around the base of your door will greatly prolong the lifespan of wooden doors and frames. As this ice freezes, it can cause ice dams and rot.
Choosing The Right Exterior Door For Your Home
It would be silly to think that one style of door would best suit every single house or even every door on a single house, for that matter!
Here at Solid State Construction, we take that idea very seriously and have developed quite the repertoire of popular doors that clients all over Massachusetts have come to adore.
For entry doors (doors that lead directly outside), we give homeowners the choice of which material they would prefer for the construction of the door itself. You can choose from either fiberglass, wood, or steel doors in your preferred style.
As for patio doors, homeowners can choose from a wide selection of sliding or
French doors that are crafted from high-quality fiberglass, wood, or vinyl.
Once you have chosen the best door for your home, leave it up to Solid State Construction to take over the rest. Our highly trained staff install each door with great attention to detail to make sure it’s done right the first time, and that draft problems are now a distant memory.
Which Door Material Is Right For Me?
Each material used for the construction of entry doors has its own advantages and disadvantages based on your needs. At the end of the day, a door should keep you safe and warm. Here are some other key points to keep in mind about each door type:
- Steel: Steel doors are by far the most secure style of door and are great at conserving energy along with draft prevention. Steel doors may be one of the most costly, but they last a lifetime.
- Wood: Wood will never go out of style. It’s classy, affordable, and easy to maintain. However, wooden doors are more susceptible to water and snow damage.
- Vinyl: Vinyl doors are by far the most budget-friendly option but are known for having simple designs and styles. As far as keeping cold air out, an experienced team such as ourselves will have no problem making that happen.
- Fiberglass: Fiberglass doors are also extremely cost-effective and are available in a vast range of custom color and stain options to mimic wood or any other desired pattern. This opens up a whole world of possibilities when it comes to adding a bit of character to your entry or patio door.
Fiberglass doors can last an extremely long time, especially with proper maintenance, thanks to their weather-resistant qualities. If longevity and value are two of your main priorities when choosing your new doors, fiberglass doors are the perfect choice for you.
It’s A Team Effort
At the end of the day, it’s up to both the door installer and the homeowner to ensure a home’s door stays airtight during the colder months of the year. We can handle the initial installation and all future renovations, but it will be up to the homeowner to do their part!
While fiberglass doors are by far our most popular option for New England residents, we can make any door dream come true.
Hopefully, we gave you a bit of insight on how doors are key to keeping the cold out, along with a few tricks and tips to prevent cold air drafts this winter.
Still, have questions about our door options? You can reach us via phone at (508) 581-3798. We are happy to answer them!