Winter in Ontario is no joke. Snow starts falling in November and doesn’t stop until April. At the same time temperatures can spend weeks in a row below zero with howling winds out of the northwest and ice coating everything from the driveway to the knob on the front door. No, winter in this part of the world is not for the meek or the weak, nor does it show any pity to homes that are not properly prepared. This year, when holiday guests arrive to spend time and share in the joy of the season, make sure they’re not afraid to take off their sweater by securing your entrance doors against the worst of the elements.
Entrance Doors Let in More Than Your Guests
Most drafts originate at or around the entrance doors. With that in mind and winter looming autumn is then the perfect time to perform an entry door check-up before the polar vortex imposes itself on your holiday celebrations. Here are some things to look for visa-vie your entry doors before the winter sets in.
- Check the weatherstripping: The weatherstripping around your door is there for a reason. Make sure it’s the first thing you check on your entrance doors. No special abilities are required to add new or replace worn weatherstripping. Any DIYer can handle it with relative ease. If your weatherstripping was in bad shape then restoring it to its proper state should produce a significant reduction in drafts as well as a difference on your utility bill each month.
- Paint the door: The Toronto winter takes no prisoners when it comes to the exterior facing elements of your home. If things aren’t properly sealed against the forces of nature they’re in for a rough ride. Adding a fresh coat of paint to your entry doors in the fall will help them weather the coming storm (both literally and figuratively) and emerge unscathed in the spring time.
- Check the hardware: Loose hinges can cause entrance doors to hang unevenly on their frame and allow air to leak in, even if your weatherstripping is up to snuff. Have someone in to check all the door’s hardware including the hinges, doorknobs/handles and locks before the winter starts. Also, if you have a deadbolt, make sure the action is smooth and that the bolt doesn’t get caught at any point on the door jamb.
- Consider upgrading: If your door has seen better days the smartest move may be to simply replace it, frame and all. Entry door replacements provide the highest ROI of any home improvement project. Did you know that? Installing a new insulated steel door and frame will not only stop the drafts and keep the precious heat in the house where it belongs, it will also make your front entryway virtually impenetrable.
- Gussy it up: The holidays are coming for Pete’s sake! Don’t let your front door say “I don’t care”. Get in the spirit of things by going out and getting a nice big holiday wreath to hang smack dab in the middle of the door. Better yet, recruit the kids and make a family project out of creating your own holiday wreath. Your front door will love you for it.
Toronto Doors and Windows are the GTAs premier window and door sales and installation professionals. If you’d like to make sure your home’s entrance doors and windows are secured against the coming winter give us a call. We’ll send someone out to make sure your home will be cozy warm and inviting for your family and friends until the flowers begin pushing up through the ground come April.
