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Winter Tips for the Doors and Windows of Your Toronto Home

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Snow days conjure up images of cozy blankets, mugs of hot chocolates and a pretty white landscape to look out into. You’re definitely imagining curling up against a window reading a book. But imagine having to do that while shivering cold because a draft is letting frigid cold wind blow directly in your face. To protect you from such disappointments, it’s important to make sure that your doors and windows are in top shape to face the coming chill. Here are a few ways that the cold wind and heavy snow can affect your doors and windows as well as a few tips from Toronto Doors and Windows on preparing for the winter months that can not only keep your home comfortable but also help you save on a good bit of money.

Problems Your Doors and Windows May Face in the Toronto Winter

The cold Toronto winters will assault your home in all manner of different ways. For your doors and windows however, these are the things that the homeowner should take their time to look out for.

How Temperatures affects your Windows and Doors

Rapid temperature changes and moisture levels can deal a significant amount of damage to a lot of materials in your home. For materials like wood, which are usually what comprises the frames of Toronto homes, During the humid months, moisture can accumulate within the wood and cause it to expand. This is was normally causes sticky doors during the summer. In the cold winter days, however, the cold, dry air carries little moisture and can actually cause the wood to shrink and compress. Repeat this process for a number of years and it leads to the frame your windows and doors to warp. When this happens, it can invite a whole host of other problems.

The first, most significant problem this leads are drafts. Leaving gaps exposed to the elements invites the frigid cold air, the cold air coming in not only makes your home overall colder, but will also ratchet up heating bills because your thermostat will need to work overtime to keep your heaters on longer and maintain a comfortable living temperature. Installing weatherstripping around the edges of your doors and windows is a cost-effective must for homes in Toronto so that you can combat this however, weatherstripping is also affected by the cold in significant ways.

Dealing With Moisture During the Winter

Between the frame of the home and the window installed, there’s just a little bit of space that can let warm air from the inside of your home to the outside. In the winter, this moisture will freeze in place. This makes it harder for you to open your windows and doors because your door is frozen tight to the frame. Forcing your window open like this will lead to the vinyl weatherstripping sealing your door frame to crack, requiring replacement. But keeping it shut will invite ice to form even further. This problem can also be make warped frames worse, as ice expands, pushing the window and frame further apart bit by bit.

The freezing cold temperature can also cause latches and handles to fail. This can be for any number of reasons. First of which is that moisture freezes over and causes the mechanisms to jam. Another reason is that cold temperatures can cause metals to contract, which can lead to stiffer operation of those latches if they’re old or misaligned. Normally a bit of lubrication is enough to fix this issue for the winter, but sometimes replacement latches are needed.

For double or triple paned windows, moisture can be an issue. While normally, misty windows means that your home is sufficiently heated so that the warm air in your home condenses on the glass which was made cold by the outside winter temperatures. But moisture accumulation between the panes on window glass is a clear sign of a leak in your window installation. When you notice this, it’s very important that you speak to a door and window service company and have them take a look for necessary repairs or replacements.

Preparing Your Doors and Windows for the Toronto Winter

Now that you know about a few things that could happen to your windows and doors during the cold Toronto winters, you can prepare your home for the winter months. The following are things you can do during the fall:

Inspect your Doors and Windows

Knowing that these problems can exist in your doors and windows, it’s important that you inspect them during the fall so you can call on your local Toronto window and door service to come and perform repairs and replacements for you. A classic way to check for drafts in your home caused by enlarged gaps between the frame and windows is by taking a candle on a windy day and placing it by the windowsill. If you notice the flame moving around that means there’s a draft there and it’s probably time to fix it.

But not just your windows, make sure you take the time to inspect the hinges of your doors and see if they need lubrication. The cold temperature can cause these to stiffen up. Inspecting the railings for damage and debris should also be done, especially in the external rails so that you have ample time to replace parts like rusted or stiffening rollers.

Replace Weatherstripping

During your inspection, take note of any damaged weatherstripping. Temperature and moisture changes can lead to weatherstripping becoming dry and brittle. It’s better to replace them during the fall when the weather is still good for doing these fixes rather than having to clear out snow and ice to replace them during the winter when they inevitably break.

Clean Your Windows and Doors

This should be something that you do fairly often throughout the year but this is perhaps more important as you prepare for the winter months. Take a vacuum and make sure to collect all the dust and debris that accumulated over the months of use. Leaving dust and debris in and around your doors and windows can lead to it getting stuck between the weatherstripping and the window and can lead to drafts. Not just that, when snow falls, it can pack down all that dust and debris into the railing and can lead to light discoloration that will be difficult to clean off in the future.

As for the glass of your windows itself, even during the winter, it’s a good idea to keep them clean. Make sure that the cloths you use to clean your doors and windows are lint-free as these will prevent smudges when you’re wiping away your washing solution. Lint-free cloths also don’t impart static onto the glass that can attract dust. Keeping your windows clean will also help let light in during the bright white winter days, helping you cut down on energy costs.

Consider Installing a Storm Door

A storm door is an external, secondary door that can be installed over your current front door. There are a number of advantages to installing one of these. In the winter, it can create a buffer area of air between the outside and your front door. This can keep your front door and thus the interior of your home a bit less cold, saving you money on heating. Furthermore, a storm door can also protect your front door from snow and sleet, which can cause significant damage to the lacquering, paintwork and detailing common for most front doors. It’s a relatively inexpensive way of keeping your front door looking pristine for as long as possible.

Thicker Curtains and Drapes

Another good way of saving up on heating bills is to install some thicker curtains and drapery for the winter months. Thicker fabrics provide insulation, preventing heat loss and can save you a good amount on heating bills. They can also provide some much needed shade in case the winter days become too bright. They also add a nice cozy look to your home, something that can accentuate the look of your rooms during the cold months.

You don’t have to keep them up all year long either. Come spring time, you can take them down and stow them away for the next winter. Just make sure that your curtain rods are strong enough to support the heavier fabrics you’ll be using for winter.

If you ever find an issue with your doors or windows that needs immediate addressing; or are looking to be in the market for a new installation, feel free to contact Toronto Doors and Windows at 647-932-3667 and request for a free estimate. Our expert team will make sure your home will be in top shape and ready for the coming winter months!

The Consequences of Not Replacing Old Windows and Doors

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Given the cost of new windows and doors, it is hardly surprising that many homeowners, in Toronto and elsewhere, delay the decision to fit them in their properties as long as possible. However, when you look at the possible consequences of not installing new units in your home, you may change your mind and decide that the sooner you have the work done, the better. Firstly, new vinyl units may not be as expensive as you think and secondly, the cost of not replacing old doors and windows could be more than you had previously imagined.

Why Your Windows and Doors Should Be Replaced

Before you decide to put off replacing yours, consider the possible consequences of doing so, as outlined below.

• Higher Utility Bills – Older windows provide less insulation than modern units, as do older doors with panes of glass in them. This means that if you have particularly old doors and windows in your home, you could be paying more to heat and cool it than is really necessary. To establish exactly how much you could save by installing replacements, you should talk to a reputable contractor.

• Less Security – Windows and doors that feature single panes of glass are an open invitation for opportunist thieves in the area as they are very easy to break. Modern glass units, with at least 2 panes that are separated by a vacuum, are considerably more difficult to break. While far from impossible to gain entry through such units, the amount of time it would take and the attendant noise are enough to put off most potential intruders.

• Lower Property Value – Whether you wish to sell your home in the near future or borrow money on the capital invested in it, based on an appraisal from your bank, brand new windows and doors will increase its value and should therefore put you in a better bargaining position. While you may not recoup the total cost of replacement in the event of a sale, you will be able to enjoy the other benefits pointed out in this list until you decide to move on.

• Less Curb Appeal – Even with a fresh coat of paint, new shingles, eavestroughs, soffits and fascia board, your home will still look a little shabby if your doors and windows have seen better days. Installing replacements is a great way to give an otherwise nice looking Toronto property an instant and dramatic facelift.

• More Maintenance Work – Whether you do it yourself or pay someone to do it for you, there is no getting away from the fact that wood-framed windows and wooden doors require more care and attention than their vinyl and aluminum counterparts. If you prefer the idea of a good-looking, low maintenance property, you should seriously consider having replacement windows and doors fitted in the near future.

• A Noisier Home – The insulating properties that make modern vinyl units such a good choice for those who are trying to create an energy-efficient home have the added benefit of providing better isolation from outdoor noise. If you decide to put off replacing your current doors and windows, there is a very good chance that your home environment will be much noisier than it really needs to be. For peace and quiet, as well as peace of mind, new vinyl units are well worth considering.

If you are convinced that now would be a very good time to replace the windows and doors in your property, please feel free to get in touch with us to arrange for a free no-obligation estimate.

How to Tell if Your Entry Doors Need Replacing

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Pulling up in front of your home, one of the first things that people notice is the front door. It can make or break a first impression, and it’s something that can make you feel good about walking into your home – or feel bad if the doors aren’t in good condition.
But entry doors aren’t restricted to just the front door. Entry doors include all doors that connect the outdoors to inside, including garage doors, side doors and patio doors. All of these doors are important to keep your house safe and secure, keeping certain things inside and other things out.
Unfortunately, entry doors are often taken for granted – not often thought about even by the homeowners – and if they do get forgotten about, they will begin to age and wear down. Stop and think about your entry doors for a moment. Do they need replacing? If you’re not sure, check out the following list of signs that indicate they probably do need replacing.

5 Tell-Tale Signs Your Entry Doors Should be Replaced

1. Drafts

As a door ages, the seals surrounding it can shrink and/or crack, leaving gaps from which the outside air can get in, and the air in the home can get out. It is easier to feel when the outside air is cold rather than warm, but in either case you will definitely notice a jump in your heating or air conditioning bill if the draft goes without repair. If you can’t find where the draft is coming from, you’ll need to hire a general contractor or door and window specialist.

2. Ease of Opening/Closing

Take a look at how your exterior doors function overall. Can you open and close them with ease, or do they scratch the floors as they swing? Do they get stuck in the door frame when you start to open them or do you have to give them a hip check to get them closed? Alternatively, can you see any large gaps between the door and the frame? In some cases, a small adjustment might be all you need. However, most cases are caused by warping. Entry doors are affected by intense climates, expanding and contracting with the hot and cold temperatures, leading to permanent warping of the material, especially when the doors are constructed from wood, which is prone to warping. If you’re unsure if the door is permanently warped, give a call to your local door and window installation company to get a professional opinion.

3. Weathering

Entry doors face extreme weather conditions such as heat, sun, wind and humidity on a regular basis, and they will eventually start to show that in their appearance. Are any of your entry doors cracked, dented or rusted? Some doors simply need a coat of paint to look brand new – but cracks, dents and rust are more serious and it’s likely a good idea to get a replacement quote to start working into your budget.

4. Everything Together

There are many components to a door that can be damaged over time, causing the entire structure to need repair or replacement. The frame, door jamb and threshold are all susceptible to wear and tear, another common problem for entrance doors. If the door itself is still in great condition, you might be able to get away with replacing only the damaged components, but more often than not, you’ll need to replace the entire system. Doors are often sold with the frame, which is one reason fixing the components separately can be difficult. Get your local door installers or even a general contractor to assess what can be done in this situation.

5. Insect Invasion

Ants and spiders will be the first to find out that you’ve got any type of gap in your door. If you’ve got a marching line of ants or other insects coming from your door frame, it’s a clear sign that you need to check the seal of your door frame, and again – check for warping of the actual door.
Replacing your entry doors can be a scary thought, as quality doors can be expensive. However, investing in a good quality door now will ensure that it lasts for a long time.
With over 15 years of experience in window and door installation, the skilled team at Toronto Doors and Windows can help you decide whether or not you need to replace your doors, and we can offer you advice on what style and material of door would work best to increase the curb appeal of your home, as well as help to save you money on heating and cooling with properly insulated and sealed doors.

If you’re looking to replace any doors or windows in your home, our team would be pleased to offer you a free quote.

Give us a call at 647-932-3667 or fill out our online form for your quote and, of course, we are happy to provide answers to any questions you may have.

Features of the Best All Weather Windows and Doors

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Torontonians are no strangers to extreme temperatures, going from -25 °C in winter to +35°C in summer (okay, only when we get lucky). But that’s still a huge temperature difference from season to season. And as if having to spend bundles of money to dress yourself for these varied temperatures wasn’t enough, the drastic temperature difference can ruin your doors and windows, costing you extensive amounts of money in repairs.

How Extreme Climate Changes Affect Door and Window Installation

As the temperature rises and falls, materials contract and expand, causing:

  • Permanent Warping. If the materials expand and contract too much, they lose their shape, and become permanently warped – leading to gaps between the door/window and its frame, causing drafts and in turn higher energy bills.
  • Broken Seals. Even the best window sealings will crack with too much movement between the frames and doors/windows, letting air in and out.
  • Paint Chipping. If you’ve got paint on your windows or doors, extreme humidity as well as being exposed to the elements will cause the paint to chip away. Direct sunlight will cause colours to fade.

These factors can cause your exterior doors and windows to look old beyond their years, as well as cause major damage, unless you fit your home with high quality all weather windows and doors made specifically for climates such as ours. All weather windows and doors use unique technologies to create energy efficient, long-lasting, low-maintenance doors and windows.

Unique Technologies Behind All Weather Windows And Doors

  1. V-Weld: Technology for the Elements: Traditional combination windows are usually put together with Box-to-Box modular construction, requiring gaskets and silicone to seal them properly. While this method is okay, it offers limited structural integrity and water and air leaks become common place over time. V-Weld technology, however, welds the pieces completely together so there is no need for gaskets or silicone. And, these pieces expand and contract together, ensuring a tight and lasting seal while virtually eliminating water and air leaks. This tight seal on all weather windows and doors increases energy efficiency – and lowers your monthly energy costs.
  2. Superior Glass Options: To further enhance the energy efficiency of your windows, you can choose specialised glass that will further keep your home properly insulated. Most all weather windows will offer you the following options for energy efficient glass:
  • Double Pane: Regular double pane windows give you two panes of glass, usually separated by half an inch of air. The air acts as an insulation barrier, protecting your home from the outside elements.
  • Triple Pane: Triple pane windows offer a third pane of glass, each separated again by half an inch of air. This extra air pocket provides further insulation while also providing an extra sound barrier, keeping your home protected from outside noises.
  • Argon Filling: Argon is a non-toxic, clear and odourless gas that can be used to fill the gaps between the panes of glass in either double or triple pane windows. This gas evenly distributes heat through the window, so that frost is less likely to build up on cold days.
  • Low-Emissivity Coating: “Low-E” coating can be put on the window panes to further enhance energy efficiency. It causes the warm air from your furnace (or cold air from your air conditioner) to basically deflect off the glass and send it back into the room, instead of escaping through the window. Low-E coating can provide up to 105% better insulation than non-Low-E windows.
  • Sun Stop Coating: Essentially two layers of Low-E coating on each pain, this will keep the sun’s rays from adding too much heat to your home, while still letting the sun shine through to brighten up your rooms.
    Combining these features (say, triple pane windows with Low-E coating) will drastically increase your home’s insulation while decreasing your energy bills each month.

Bold, Long-Lasting Colour Innovation

All weather windows and doors are often constructed from vinyl (PVC), which up until recently had been very limited in terms of its colour options. You could potentially paint or add metal cladding, but paint chips easily making typically low-maintenance windows, high maintenance. And metal cladding comes with high added costs. Now, however, new technology from Europe called Renolit Exofol FX, means that your all weather windows and doors can be fitted with an acrylic-based exterior film that permanently bonds beautiful, vibrant colours to your windows. And unlike paint, it wipes clean easily, won’t chip and is backed by a 10-year warranty if applied by professional window and door installation contractors.
At Toronto Doors and Windows we can help you increase the energy efficiency of your home with beautiful, long-lasting, low maintenance windows that match your lifestyle.

Give us a call today for your free consultation and quote.

Exterior Doors Can Be Made From Many Materials: Which One Should You Choose?

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With Canada’s extreme temperature differences throughout the year, it’s important to choose entry doors for Toronto your home that can easily handle the temperature fluctuations without getting damaged, and keep the home well-insulated during the long and cold winters.
50 years ago, you’d have just one choice of material: wood. However, these days, fiberglass and steel entry doors are becoming more popular choices, albeit for their own reasons which we will discuss in detail below.

Benefits of Exterior Doors Made of Fiberglass

  1. Beauty: Fiberglass doors can be made with a stunning array of finishes, including stains that look just like real wooden exterior doors – but at half the price of a real one. A new technology duplicates the look of oak or mahogany wood grain and replicates it onto the durable, cost-effective fiberglass for a classy, elegant look.
  2. Low-Maintenance: Entrance doors often warp and twist over time due to the contrast in temperatures that they have to endure. Doors made of fiberglass do not warp, bend or twist – making them an excellent choice in climates such as Canada. As well, you do not have to worry about rot or rust, and these doors do not dent or scratch easily. Overall, they are very low maintenance.
  3. Efficiency: A quality door made of fiberglass can offer up to five times more insulation than a wood door, and surpasses the level of insulation on steel exterior doors as well.

Benefits of Exterior Doors Made of Steel

  1. Low Cost: Steel doors are definitely the lowest-priced exterior doors on the market, making them an excellent choice for those on a budget. They also come in a variety of colors and finishes to suit almost any home.
  2. Medium-Maintenance: While steel exterior doors are not quite as low maintenance as those made of fiberglass, they’re still pretty easy to keep. They do not warp or bend, but scratches can lead to rust if you’re not careful, and the paint can often chip away, needing frequent touch-ups.
  3. Efficiency: As far as insulation goes, steel sits somewhere in the middle: a better insulator than a wood door, but not quite as good as a fiberglass one. Steel doors do, however, conduct temperatures. On a cold day, that steel door is going to feel quite cold from the inside. You won’t necessarily be losing heat, but it will feel chilly when you’re standing close to it.

Which Exterior Door is Best for You?

As you can see, both steel and fiberglass materials offer many benefits when used to produce exterior doors. So still the question remains: Which material should you choose? That depends on a few things:

  1. Budget: As we stated above, steel doors are the most inexpensive option, although doors made of fiberglass are slowly making their way to the lower-price market and will hopefully be available for every budget in the near future. Until that happens, however, your budget will likely play a huge role in your decision. But just remember – a small investment in a top-quality door now will last you many years and could save you a lot of money in the long run by providing better insulation and thus lowering your heating costs.
  2. Time: You might be thinking ‘What does time have to do with my front door?’ But time, in this case, refers to how much time you really want to spend maintaining the door in the future – and also how much time do you wish to lapse before having to replace it? Fiberglass is the most durable material by far, will require the least amount of maintenance, and will have the longest lifetime.
  3. Placement: Where are you putting this door? You may wish to choose different materials for different spaces in your home. For a door on the side of your house that leads only to the garage, you might opt for a cheaper steel door where temperature conduction doesn’t matter since most garages are not heated. For the front door – which gets the most amount of use – you’ll want the sturdiest, most durable door that you can afford.

At Toronto Doors and Windows, we have over 15 years of experience with door and window installation, and our qualified team would be happy to offer you personalized advice if you’re still unsure of which doors will suit your needs best. Whether a simple patio door replacement, or an entire house fitting of all-weather windows and doors, we pride ourselves on the hundreds of satisfied homeowners we have helped around the GTA, and we’d love to help you as well. Give us a call or fill out the online form to get a free quote or ask us any questions you might have about doors and windows. We look forward to hearing from you!

Looking for Entrance Doors? here are the factors That Need to Be Considered

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Most homeowners know the value of a solid, high-quality entrance door. They understand that a door is not always just a door. They know that with entrance doors you can’t sacrifice function for form. They know that a dependable entrance door can enhance their homes physically and aesthetically. But what many don’t know is what to look for when they’re in the market for new entrance doors.
If you’re one of those homeowners who’s looking for a guide to buying a new entrance door and your flummoxed as to where to start, look no further. Toronto Doors and Windows has put together a list of all the factors that need to be considered when buying new entrance doors.

Entrance Door Mindset

First, you need to consider what you want from your front door. If you’re looking for a simple door that just works, you have nothing to worry about. The days of flimsy entrance doors have passed us by. Nearly any door that you find will provide you with a functional entrance for your home.
If you’re looking for something more complex that will offer you all of the same functionality as a simpler entrance door, there’s good news: New materials and styles of entrance door allow you to have just that

Material Matters

Next, you need to figure out which door material you prefer. There are a number of different materials from which modern doors are crafted and each offers its own special benefits to suit your individual needs.

  • Wood: Wood is a classic material that offers a traditional feel and aesthetic beauty. Oak, mahogany, maple, and cherry entrance doors are widely available and look great as the entry to your home. However, wooden doors, while beautiful, do come with the added responsibility of regular maintenance to keep them looking fresh and new.
  • Fiberglass: If you’re looking for a versatile door that can take nearly any shape and even mimic the beauty of wood, then fiberglass doors are your best bet. They offer better insulation than wooden doors, are more gouge- and scratch-resistant, and also require very little, if any, maintenance. Over the lifetime of a fiberglass door, you can expect minimal hassle and big energy savings.
  • Steel: The final category of door is all metallic. They’re the second most expensive of the different materials, but offer you the added security of knowing that your entrance door is strong enough to defend your family. Steel doors offer the same protection against cracking and rotting as fiberglass doors, but tend not to insulate your home as well.

Style Selections

Now, the most exciting part: choosing what your door is actually going to look like. There are a few factors to consider when it comes to style. The material of your entrance door will not say much about you and your family, as most people will never touch it, but its style can speak volumes. Do you want people to think of your home as more traditional or would you prefer that people thought you were modern? No matter what, there’s a style of entrance door perfect for you.

  • Traditional: More traditional entrance door styles like Georgian or Edwardian give your home an almost historic feeling, showcasing that you are the type of person who understands why traditions are important and has a certain level of refinement.
  • Modern: Modern entrance doors can take an old-fashioned house and make it into something contemporary and lively. If you would prefer that your home have a sense of modernity, Toronto Doors and Windows has you covered with our vast selection of modern fiberglass doors.

Strong Silent Types

In these troubling times, safety is one of the few things that many of us are unwilling to compromise on. Protecting your family is important and every decision you make plays a part in keeping them safe, including what type of door you buy. It’s important that you consider what kind of security options a new entrance door will offer you and your family before you buy it. If the material doesn’t stand up to the possible abuse of home intruders, it’s a definite no-go. Ensure that the design doesn’t have too much fragile glass that could be broken in order to force entry into your home. Glass accents can make a door look more ornate, but they can also leave the locks on the inside vulnerable.
There are a lot of factors to look at when in the market for new entrance doors, but the most important are mindset, material, style, and safety. If you have any questions or concerns, please feel free to contact us at Toronto Doors and Windows for advice or a new entrance door installation.