Your front door could be costing you money. If you've had the same one for a while, you could be losing energy. Eyewitness News spoke with experts at Angie's List about what to look for before you make a change.
It's the first impression for most visitors to your house and it may also be the last line of defense in wasting your energy dollars. But switching out your door for energy savings is just one consideration. Installing the door properly is the next.
"It may seem relatively simple to install a door but if done incorrectly it can cost you more money in your energy bills than the old door did," said Angie Hicks, Angie's List founder.
It may sound like a small change but, experts say it's not. "A door, unlike some other replacements, gets a complete frame and everything. Everything on a door comes out. So no longer is that homeowner dealing with an older threshold that may or may not be efficient," said Mark Spencer, from Legacy Window and Door.
The architectural style of your house is the first consideration in picking a new door. You want to make sure it matches. Then you can take a look at materials.
Which type of material? Doors come in many different types of materials. Each has their advantages/disadvantages:
- Wood: Many people like the authentic look of a wooden door for historic homes or country ranches. These doors can be also custom made. The trade-off comes in high maintenance. Wood doors should be repainted at least every two years to keep them from warping or splitting. If properly sealed, the material is extremely resistant to heat and cold from the outside. A single door can cost upwards of $500 or more.
- Fiberglass: Fiberglass doors come in many styles even looking like real wood, with minimum upkeep. Although it feels light, fiberglass is actually very durable against intrusion and its foam core provides excellent insulation.
- Aluminum: Homeowners will spend at least $600 on a good aluminum door, but they should also realize that many aluminum door manufacturers offer warranties of up to twenty years on their doors. Aluminum doors have an enamel finish that does not rust or need repainting, and they consist of an inner core covered by an aluminum skin.
- Steel: Best bet for security, as they are stronger than any other front door option. Steel doors always contain cores made of wood or steel within a steel frame and skin. These doors usually need to be repainted frequently, but they are the least expensive of all the common front door options. Homeowners can get a basic steel front door for less than $200. Disadvantages to steel are mostly aesthetic; steel comes in fewer style options and can't replicate the look of wood.
No matter what material you choose, replacing a door can cost hundreds of dollars. If you don't have that kind of money, you can try a less expensive route.
"Consider replacing the weather stripping. This is a pretty basic, even a do-it-yourself kind of project that can save you money every month on your heating and cooling bill," said Hicks.
More from Angie's List
Angie's List, the nation's leading provider of consumer reviews, asked highly rated door installers about door materials.
Factors to consider when replacing an exterior door:
- Architecture: Decide what kind of look you want. If you live in an older home, it may not be architecturally sensitive to replace an entry door with a contemporary model.
- Durability: Because wooden doors are susceptible to rot and insects, fiberglass and steel are the materials of choice when longevity is an issue.
- Weather elements: Some exterior door materials do not stand up well to direct sunlight and extreme temperatures. Is your door properly shielded from the elements via a porch roof or overhang?
- Safety: Doors in 24- or 25-gauge galvanized steel are considered to be the safest, especially for security. Steel doors are often fire-rated at 20, 45, 60 and 90 minutes.
- Energy efficiency: The door you choose can affect the energy efficiency of your home. If this is important to you, check whether the model you're considering is a certified Energy Star door.
- On a budget? If you can't budget a complete door installation, consider replacing the doors weatherstripping to improve the energy efficiency. The addition of a storm door is also an inexpensive investment if our existing door is still in good condition.
Angie's List Tips: Hiring a door installer:
- Check out the company: Do your research before hiring. How long has the company been in business? Get names of previous customers and find out if they were pleased with the work and the timeline of the project. If you have a historic home, work with someone who has experience to replace a door to match your home's aesthetics.
- Hire a reputable installer: Installation is key for an exterior door. It's critical that the door is hung and framed properly. If not installed properly, you'll see air leakage which will lead to higher heating and cooling bills.
- How much is that? Prices vary from $200 to several thousand dollars depending on size, material, style and glass options.
- Ask about the warranty: Before you sign anything, ask and understand the details surrounding the installation and service warranty. If your door starts to warp within a certain amount of time who is responsible?
