Publication date: 06/18/2010

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Options for upgrading your front door

Summer is a great time to tackle projects that improve your home's curb appeal. One of the fastest ways to do that is with a new front door.

However, buying a new front door can be expensive, especially if you have double doors. But when you consider how important your front door is to your home's style, it can be a great investment.

If you have a front door that needs refinishing, you can generally do it yourself. Steel doors can be repainted, and both fiberglass and wood doors can be refinished. For a wood or fiberglass door, you will have to remove the old stain using a product like BIX Varnish and Stain Remover, www.bixmfg.com. Then use Cetol Door and Window stain products by Sikkens, www.nam.sikkens.com. For a fiberglass door, after stripping, I recommend using the Therma-Tru fiberglass door stain kit, www.thermatru.com.

Front door systems usually consist of either single or double doors, glass side panels called sidelights and a decorative glass panel above the door called the transom. Today, there are many door and glass combinations that can fit your budget and your home's style. That includes a large selection of glass options that can enhance a home's architectural elements.

The least expensive option is a steel door. Homes built in the 1970s and 1980s featured a basic builder's model of steel door that had a metal "skin" wrapped around a wood frame with an insulated core. Today's steel doors come in a variety of styles and colors, with many even made to look like wood.

When shopping for a new door, most people say they still prefer wood. They soon find out that wood doors are the most expensive and also require more maintenance. If you want the look of wood without the price tag, in addition to steel you should consider fiberglass. When stained or painted, today's fiberglass doors combine the look of wood with the advantage of less maintenance.

"Our fiberglass doors range from $1,200 for a single door to more than $4,000 for double doors, while wood doors are 25 percent to 50 percent more depending on the style," said Lisa Keller, vice president of operations for Empire Doors, Windows and More in Southfield, (248) 353-2200, www.empiredoorswindowsandmore.com.

When buying new entry doors, it is vital to get a door that fits the exact measurements of the opening, because there isn't a standard size that fits every home. That's why Keller said Empire actually comes to the home to take exact measurements before they build the door for their customers.

Despite the cost and maintenance issues, Lisa said that when homeowners select wood doors, Empire is recommending those made with mahogany to withstand Michigan's harsh weather extremes. She also has noted a trend toward darker finish colors.

"Today, the hottest color for our wood and fiberglass doors is a rich-looking dark burgundy or mahogany," she said. "That's different than in the past when the lighter wood colors like oak were more popular."

Other quality exterior door manufacturers include Jeld Wen, www.jeld-wen.com, Therma-Tru, www.therma-tru.com, Andersen, www.andersenwindows.com and Clopay, www.clopayentrydoors.com.

You may also have a storm door that requires maintenance or upgrading. If it looks good but doesn't close properly, you may only need to adjust the closing rate screw or replace the hydraulic door closer to fix the problem.

"Generally, doors with poor construction will eventually have sagging corners or the hinges go bad, and need to be replaced," according to Jim Fox of Fox Aluminum Products in Hazel Park, (248) 399-4288, www.foxweldoor.com, who also points out many older storm doors were not of the highest quality and may have other problems that can't be fixed easily.

Fortunately, storm doors have seen a drastic improvement in both design and build quality. Fox said he manufactures a variety of doors that also have the appearance of wood and can even be powder-coated in a color to match the home's exterior. Fox Aluminum doors are available from distributors in 40 states.

Now you've got the facts. When it comes to repairing or replacing your front door, the right selections will guarantee the project will be an open and shut case.

Note: This article was accurate at the date of publication. However, information contained in it may have changed. If you plan to use the information contained herein for any purpose, verification of its continued accuracy is your responsibility.

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