Old doors, especially wooden ones, have likely experienced all types of weather. Years of weather change exposes them to years of expansion and contraction as temperatures change, which can wreak havoc on the internal parts.
Though you might not see it, the inside your door could be warped or weathered.
Check for stress fractures in the wood grain. Look for light filtering through the door. These can indicate a weak structure.
Assess your door’s shape to see if it’s misaligned or curved where it shouldn’t be. For example, doors that scrape along the floor as they open could be sagging from years of internal damage.
Plus, this constant scraping isn’t doing your floors any favors.
If you detect any of these symptoms, you’ll benefit from a complete door replacement. Not only do cracks or holes let in air and bugs, but it also indicates weaker structural integrity.
Cracks could pose a safety risk to your family, especially if someone is determined to enter your home.
If you have a wooden door, you already know that wood and water don’t mix well together.
Wood is an organic material, meaning it’s a susceptible spot to harbor mold and mildew. This concern increases if your door doesn’t receive much direct sunlight.
Eventually, the wood will start flaking off in small, soft pieces. These pieces are a sign that the door is no longer structurally sound to do its job. Doors that have sustained water damage should be replaced, and the sooner the better.
Yes, even doors have warranties.
The life of a warranty says a lot about the manufacturer’s confidence in their products. If your door has a short warranty, or if the warranty is expired, you might consider opting for a door replacement simply for peace of mind. Before you purchase a new door, look at what the warranty covers, as well as what the installer guarantees. Not all warranties are created equal.
A good warranty that covers common types of damage could be a deciding factor when selecting your new door.
Rust doesn’t just appear overnight. It’s a result of months or years of being exposed to the right elements for rusting to occur. If your door has rust, the problems began long before you noticed it.
Rust is a narrow issue. That is, there’s no “cure” for it.
Sure, you can paint over areas to hide ugly rust spots, but the underlying cause is still present.
If you bought an off-the-shelf door at a home improvement store, you should know these doors aren’t known for their structure and durability. These doors are typically made of 24 or 26-gauge steel coating a wooden frame.
Once a door starts to rust, moisture is likely seeping into the wood frame, too. This further jeopardizes the door’s integrity, making a sound case for a door replacement.
Aside from its inability to keep your home at a comfortable temperature, rusty doors do little to protect your home from invasion. Keep your family safe by opting for a full door replacement.
Doors that stick or are hard to open aren’t just inconvenient; they’re inefficient.
It could be that your door is made of cheap, low-quality materials. Or, it could be that your door has sustained weather damage or other issues that cause it to stick.
Regardless, you shouldn’t tolerate a door that doesn’t do its job.
If you have trouble opening your door on a regular basis, it won’t open any easier during an emergency. This factor alone makes a door replacement completely worth the investment.
As mentioned earlier, water and wooden doors don’t mix well. However, some water damage isn’t as easily noticed.
If your door has windows, you likely have double-paned glass. This means there are two layers of glass that make up the window.
Over time, these two layers of glass can separate, allowing moisture to seep in between the glass.
When this happens, your window is susceptible to mildew, mold, and other damage.
Inorganic Material usually surrounds regular windows, which makes window replacement less urgent. Mold and mildew cannot spread to other areas of your home.
Unlike the windows in your home, the glass in your door is surrounded by organic material. This increases the urgency for door replacement because the mold or mildew can spread throughout your door and potentially into the rest of your home.
You should regularly monitor the glass in your doors for moisture issues. The earlier you can detect this type of problem, the sooner you can remedy it and prevent further damage to your home.
Humans aren’t the only ones who use your home’s doors to enter. Bugs and other pests can easily find solace inside your home if your door is faulty.
Gaps around the door, holes, and other damage could result in an uptick in unwanted visitors. If you notice more bugs in your home than usual, check your door for some of the previously mentioned signs of wear and tear.
A total door replacement can be a better (and safer) deterrent to bugs than an exterminator or harmful chemicals.
You don’t need to wait for damage to occur to warrant a door replacement. If your door seems to be in good shape and doesn’t meet any of the above criteria, looks alone can be reason enough to go door shopping.
If your home is looking a bit drab or you’re looking to add your twist to the home you just bought, a simple front door change can do wonders.
Trends and tastes in doors change just like fashion, hairstyles, and color preferences. In fact, changing out a front door to a more aesthetically pleasing door replacement can add instant curb appeal.
It can also prove to be a more cost-effective option than changing other areas of your home’s exterior, such as extensive landscaping or painting.
Think about it this way: your door sets the expectations for what’s inside your home. Consider it the first impression of sorts. It’s one of the first things people see when they look at your house.
If you’ve taken care to remodel or update the inside of your home, don’t let the experience fall lackluster with a dated door.
Upgrading your entry point can help tie your aesthetics together to create a stunning look.
If you answered yes to any of the above reasons, there’s no better time to start shopping for a new door.
Whether you’re looking for cost-effective or energy-efficient options, or simply prefer a door that will boost your natural light, US Window & Door can help you find the perfect new door to complement your home.
Opportunity is knocking: Request a free estimate today and let us help you discover your options.
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