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.
