I am often asked which replacement entry door will insulate a home the best. Usually, the answer has as much to do with the installation of the door as the insulation inside the door.
An entry door is only as good as the contractor who installs it. Make certain that you’re dealing with a contractor who understands that only a custom-made door installed securely against your door frame will keep out the elements. An installer who purchases a door from a home-center or big-box retailer and merely “makes the door fit” should be avoided at all costs.
Similarly, check the contractor’s record at the Better Business Bureau (www.bbb.org) in order to obtain their grade rating. This independent source of information is priceless, as it might save you quite a bit of heartache. Check also that the contractor has been in business for more than 15 years. Sadly, most contractors are out of business within the first five years. One who has at least a 15-year track record has most likely made a commitment to servicing customer problems and performing excellent work.
As for the door itself, it is worth noting that high quality steel and fiberglass replacement doors are typically filled with the same insulating material in their interior cavity. Specifically, good quality doors contain polyurethane foam and possess a thermal-break which both help to keep the cold temperatures which contact the exterior of the door from infiltrating the interior surface of the door.
Aside from drafts coming in through the sides and top of a replacement entry door, problems with cheaper, inferior-quality doors often come from drafting underneath the door. Insist on a door with an adjustable threshold and rubber “fins” at the bottom of the entry door and you’ll be happy with your purchase for years to come. The adjustable threshold literally hugs the rubber “fins” for a secure seal to eliminate air penetration. Likewise, a magnetic rubber seal around the door frame will ensure an air-tight fit on both the sides and top of your new door.
Unfortunately, the big-box retailers are more interested in attaining a low price-point than in supplying a good high quality replacement entry door. Search for a professional, local door installation contractor whose door possesses the elements above and you’ll avoid the headaches associated these mass marketers of mediocrity.
We hope you’ll consider American Home Concepts, Inc. for your door replacement and for all of your other home remodeling needs.
For More Information about our Door Replacement & Installation services or to schedule a free consultation, call 610-667-7775 or click here.
