Posted by Bealing Roofing No Comments on How to Tell if You Need a New Entry Door Home Improvement Projects in Hanover, PA, Roof Maintenance Services in Hanover, PA

5 Signs You Need a New Entry Door

When is the right time to replace your front door? That’s an excellent question. With homes now equipped with garage doors and side doors, the traditional use of a front door has diminished. Even though their use has fallen out of favor, there are still times when front doors should be changed.

Here are five ways you can tell your old front door is ready to be switched out for something new. 

Difficult to open and close

If your door is hard to open and close, it’s time to replace it.  This is typically a sign of some exposure to the elements around the door. Sticking doors in the winter are usually a sign that water is getting around the door and freezing. Look around the door jam. If you can see light, you have an issue that needs to be addressed soon. Seeing light from either inside or outside the door means heat during the winter and cool air in the summer can escape. Take a lighter and hold the flame near the areas where you see light. Does the flame get sucked towards the gap? That’s where your heating and cooling are escaping as well. Replace your door and potentially lower your heating and cooling bills. 

Dings and rust

If your door has dings and rust, this is a sign that the structural integrity of your door has been compromised. Most doors sold by box stores like Home Depot or Lowes are constructed of 24-26 gauge steel wrapped over a wood frame. Not the toughest door on the market for sure. If you have this style of front door, you may want to consider something more robust. For security reasons, it would be a good idea to invest in a solid steel door. 

Moisture between glass panes

If your front door has glass panes, this one’s for you. Over time, just like double-pane windows, the seals of the double-paned glass on doors can fail. When this happens, you will see moisture forming between the panes of glass. You will want to address this quickly, particularly if your door is steel-wrapped wood, as mentioned previously. Moisture will quickly lead to mold and a rotting wooden core if let go too long. 

Warped, weathered, or cracked

Doors see a lot of use over their life spans. Sometimes that use isn’t for the better. They can be slammed, kicked, and see huge temperature swings as the seasons change. Over time, doors expand and contract, causing them to warp and sometimes even crack. If any of these symptoms have occurred, you should consider investing in a new front door.

Stuffing a towel in front of the door?

If you have resorted to placing a towel in front of your door during the winter months because cold outside air rushes into your home, the time to replace your front door is now. This blast of cold air is a result of a failed or insufficient older bottom door seal. New doors come with newer weather stripping that is considerably more robust than what was used on older doors. If you are experiencing any of these issues with your entry door and need some advice on the best front door to invest in, give us a call. Bealing Roofing & Exteriors is happy to come take a look at your entry door and provide recommendations and steps to fix it or completely replace it.