Here’s How New Exterior Doors Can Lower Your Energy Costs & Increase Home Security

The front door of your home says a lot about your pride of ownership and personal taste. More than a statement of design and colour, it’s also the main port of entry that gets plenty of use and abuse throughout the seasons. Decaying wood, damaged weather stripping, and inefficient glass all contribute to heat loss and higher energy bills. A new, insulated exterior door with energy efficient glass sidelights can save you money, improve security, and refresh your home’s curb appeal. Now is a great time to look at not just your front door replacement options, but for all the exterior doors of your home.

Front Door Energy-Efficiency

Unless you have a mud room, your front door opens directly into your living space so it’s vital that it provides as much insulation as possible during heating and cooling seasons. It’s important to weigh the various benefits of steel and fibreglass construction when choosing a front door replacement.

Steel Front Doors

A windowless steel exterior door compares favourably to its fibreglass counterpart for insulating value and is often less expensive. Both types of doors use foam core technology but differ in their exterior cladding. Depending on their quality, steel-cladded doors transfer heat and cold to a greater extent than fibreglass versions. Steel also shows dents and marks and is prone to corrosion if nicked or scratched. Overall though, a steel front door gets higher marks for strength, investment return, and longevity.

Fibreglass Front Doors

A simulated wood grain fibreglass door offers the warm texture of a wooden front door combined with weather resistance and carefree maintenance. A superb insulator, fibreglass cladding will not expand, contract, or transfer energy in extreme temperatures. Fibreglass doors also offer more choice of finishes, inserts, and detailed design elements to allow extra light to enter your home. While there is a trade-off in added cost, strength and security, a fibreglass exterior door is preferable for creating a visually compelling entrance.

Increased Home Security

Would-be intruders are attracted to poor lighting, outdated entryways and antiquated door hardware. A modern, beefed-up entry door combined with other home security features such as video monitoring and an alarm system is your best defence against break-ins. Upgrading to a modern front door can also help reduce your home insurance premiums for loss due to theft or mischief.

Steel Front Doors

There is no substitute for a steel entry door from a security standpoint. More rigid than fibreglass, a pre-hung steel door can withstand brute force and still maintain its structural integrity for many years. If security is your main concern it’s best to avoid an exterior door with glass or a front door with sidelights. A windowless steel door will provide more security and peace of mind.

Fibreglass Front Doors

Undeniably sturdy and well-insulated, pre-hung fibreglass doors are slightly more vulnerable to forced entry. They aren’t as strong as steel, but still offer a high-level of deterrence along with the classic look of a hardwood front door. By all means consider fibreglass for a decorative front door, but opt for steel door replacements for less visible side and rear entrances.

Make Your Home Brighter

The potential to bring more natural light inside your entryways is an attractive benefit of a new door installation. Sidelights are glass inserts that can add visual impact, architectural detail and even extra ventilation. A front door with glass sidelights allows sunlight to sift through to the indoors while still maintaining privacy. High-quality sidelights use energy-efficient Low-E glass to prevent heat or cooling loss. There are several different types of front door glass inserts to consider:

Door Lites are cut-outs built into the door that allow light to enter and enhance the design. Energy-efficient glass is essential in door lites to prevent heat and A/C loss.

Vertical Fixed Sidelights feature narrow glass panels installed on one or both sides of a single or double front door. The glass may be frosted, etched or patterned for artistic effect.

Venting Sidelights mimic the stationary version in their design but act as vents to allow fresh air into the home.

Decorative Sidelights often employ a custom pattern intended to flatter or match other exterior design elements on your home. Their main purpose is to add grandeur and curb appeal.

A Transom Sidelight is installed above the door to allow natural light to flood in from above rather than at the sides. It is usually rectangular or a half-moon shape and can span the width of the door, or the door and a fixed sidelight.

Added Value & Curb Appeal

As a primary focal point, a great looking front door can increase the curb appeal and add value to your home. A modern door with architectural style is a great investment from every standpoint, and an absolute must if you are putting your home up for sale. A black front door and white front door offer neutral colours that will match any house-repaint plans of prospective buyers.

Upgrade Your Patio Doors

Years of constant use take a toll on the rollers and moving parts of sliding patio doors. No one wants to give up the convenience and easy access to the outdoors, so an upgrade is your best option. This is your chance to invest in energy-efficient glass, new security hardware, better frame insulation, and improved ease of operation. Clear window glass is generally the best option for exterior sliding doors as it offers an unobstructed view of your garden and kids’ play areas. For a more upscale look consider hinged French doors with decorative dividers. They can swing toward the inside or outside, and double the size of your doorway when fully opened. As with all your exterior windows, look for Low-E glass to save on energy bills.

Canada Greener Homes Initiative

The incentive to swap out that tired old exterior door has never been greater. The federal government is offering to reduce your door replacement cost via grants and subsidies through a national retrofit program. Check the online documentation for dates, guidelines, and eligibility requirements.

*Note: Home Hardware carries many Energy Star products but they are not identified on homehardware.ca. Please contact your local store for more information.

New exterior doors can raise the value of your home and lower your energy bills. The choices of finishes and details are limitless with many custom solutions for dramatic curb appeal. Don’t pass up the chance to transform the look of your main entrance, enhance your home’s security, and embrace the latest technology designed to make your life easier.

Here’s How New Exterior Doors Can Lower Your Energy Costs & Increase Home Security

Added Value & Curb Appeal

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