DOOR’S OPERATION SHOULD BE OPEN AND SHUT
Go beyond looks and check for better locking systems or better sealing
They say first impressions are everything, and the first thing people see, face to face, when they visit your home is your front door. It’s a big contributor to curb appeal, so often people might give it a bit of an upgrade, maybe an extra coat of paint, when they’re selling their home.
But there’s a lot more to doors than just looks.
I work with the best window and door professional in the business, and he tells me that too often homeowners change their front door for the wrong reasons, and it usually comes down to cosmetics — whether it’s a change in style, design or colour.
For example, they might want a door that’s bigger and/ or wider, going from a 34- inch panel to a 36- inch or 40- inch one, because it might look more modern. Or they’ll want a front door made from solid wood; add some nice bevelled glass and some fancy new hardware. But very few homeowners ever ask about a door’s performance, such as better locking systems or better sealing.
And I don’t blame homeowners for such inquiries either. It was only recently that the building code changed slightly to start requiring performance ratings on doors, so it’s going to take time for that education to filter down to homeowners and buyers.
But when it comes to performance, there are some basic things your front door must do.
The obvious one is to keep your house secure by keeping intruders out, so it has to be strong and durable, and it must have a solid frame — you shouldn’t be able to kick it in.
It should also open and close properly. If it’s jamming or sticking, or not locking securely, you need to contact a professional.
But it’s also really important that your front door stops water from coming in, and air from leaking out.
If you’ve noticed the weatherstripping at the bottom of your front door has shrunk, or you’re getting water coming in, it’s time to replace your door.
Another red flag is air leakage. If you can hear and/ or feel drafts, again, it’s time for an upgrade.
As far as materials go, the top three are wood, fibreglass and steel.
Wood doors are top of the line and they look great — but like all wood, it must be properly maintained. It’s also the most expensive. And think about it, we live in Canada, so we deal with a lot of temperature changes — one day it’s - 10 C, the next it’s 12 C. Wood shrinks and swells, and if old wooden doors aren’t cladded and are exposed to the elements, the frame will rot away.
Storm doors can add that extra bit of protection for your door and your home. Not many people like them but I’m a fan. Overhangs also provide some protection from the elements.
Fibreglass doors usually look like they’re made from wood; they’re less expensive than going with a solid wood door, but for price your best option is a steel insulated door with a wood frame. They’re strong, durable and don’t require a lot of maintenance.
If you want to add glass, it should be safety glass and it should be tempered. But glass is glass — it’s not as strong as something like wood or steel, and anytime you add glass to a door you’re losing some insulation value. So it’s best to weigh your options.
The next thing we look at is the locking system. You can have the best framing around your door, but if the locking system isn’t good, the deadbolt can snap.
I like a multi- lock system that secures the door at three points — at the deadbolt, and above and below it. The benefits of multi-lock systems are that it makes your door three times more resistant to break- ins and 45 per cent more airtight — big pluses on performance.
A front door should look good, but more importantly, it should do its job.
Good reasons to change your front door include to stop water infiltration and air leakage; to upgrade to low- maintenance material that makes sense for the environment; and/ or to upgrade the lock system.
Anything beyond that is a bonus, and if you are willing to invest thousands of dollars in a front door, please make sure you get what you pay for.