article

Things to Consider When Replacing Your Front Door

By Bluehammer Admin

Your front door is one of the most functional, visible, and important elements in your home. If you're looking for a home improvement project that can boost curb appeal, improve security, and add style to your space, replacing your front door delivers an impressive return on investment.

What's Involved

The amount of work involved with replacing your front door depends on the age, style and location of your home. Historic homes often have odd-sized entryways, while even newer houses can shift and settle, leading to doorways that are less than square. Start by measuring up your existing door to determine if you can choose a ready-made model or if you need to have a custom door built.

Factors To Consider When Choosing A New Front Door

Security

Your front door serves to keep your home safe and secure. The stronger your door is, the better it will protect you and your family against break-ins and home invasions.

While design elements like large glass inserts in your front entry can add to the curb appeal of your home, they also make easy targets for criminals. Look for a door that includes reinforced materials around the lock and handle holes, covered hinges, and other safety features. If glass is a must-have,

Materials

Steel, fiberglass, and wood are the three most common materials used in the construction of exterior doors, with steel being the most affordable option. Steel doors are strong and durable, however, design options are limited and adding features like viewfinders can be difficult.

Fiberglass doors are quickly gaining popularity among home improvement experts thanks to the fact that they require minimal maintenance and come in a wide variety of styles, while wood doors deliver unbeatable curb appeal and custom styling at a premium price.

Just like wood floors and furnishings, wooden doors do require re-staining and sealing every few years - that's why front doors made of wood rarely come with a factory warranty.

Insulation

Upgrading the front door of your home can cut down on drafts, heat loss and heat gain, leading to improvements in your home energy consumption and comfort. Steel and fiberglass doors deliver the best R-value, while wooden doors and models with large glass inserts are less effective as insulators.

Color

Upgrading your existing door with a splash of color is a great way to instantly give your home unbeatable curb appeal.

Red is a popular choice when it comes to front door colors, although yellows, blues, and even black doors are gaining popularity. If in doubt about the color, snap a photo of your home and use a basic photo editing program to preview how different colors look before you commit.

Hardware

If you're looking for a specific hardware style or design for your new front door, consider choosing your hardware first, then selecting your front door based on your hardware. Doors can be ordered in a wide variety of styles, shapes, and materials, while door hardware is virtually impossible to modify and in many cases, costs more than the door itself.

Want to estimate your home improvement costs before talking with a contractor? Claim your home for free with bluehammer to estimate costs, secure your home inventory and learn more about your home.

* THIS REPORT IS AN OPINION THAT MAY BE INACCURATE AND IS PROVIDED SOLELY AS AN INFORMATIONAL TOOL NOT DESIGNED TO PROVIDE DEFINITIVE ANSWERS. ALL ELEMENTS ARE OFFERED "AS IS" AND BLUEBOOK EXPRESSLY DISCLAIM ANY AND ALL WARRANTIES, REPRESENTATIONS, AND GUARANTEES OF ANY NATURE, EXPRESS, IMPLIED OR OTHERWISE, INCLUDING BUT NOT LIMITED TO ANY IMPLIED WARRANTIES OF MERCHANTABLITILY, NONINFRINGEMENT, TITLE, QUIET ENJOYMENT, ACCURACY, OR FITNESS FOR A PARTICULAR PURPOSE. IN NO EVENT SHALL BLUEBOOK (OR THEIR SUPPLIERS) BE LIABLE FOR ANY GENERAL, DIRECT, SPECIAL, INCIDENTAL, INDIRECT OR CONSEQUENTIAL DAMAGES OF ANY KIND, OR ANY DAMAGES WHATSOEVER (INCLUDING WITHOUT LIMITATION, THOSE RESULTING FROM USE OF THE PRODUCT, INCLUDING : (1) RELIANCE ON THE MATERIALS PRESENTED, (2) COSTS OF REPLACEMENT GOODS, (3) LOSS OF USE, DATA OR PROFITS, (4) DELAYS OR BUSINESS INTERRUPTIONS, (5) AND ANY THEORY OF LIABILITY, ARISING OUT OF OR IN CONNECTION WITH THE USE OR PERFORMANCE OF INFORMATION) WHETHER OR NOT BLUEBOOK HAS BEEN ADVISED OF THE POSSIBILITY OF SUCH DAMAGES.

Know what you should pay for your home improvement projects with bluehammer.Claim your home. It's free!

Popular


Backyard DIY Projects

You don't have to pay through the nose to have the best backyard on the block. If you have a few simple DIY skills and know how to use a tape measure and level, you can easily upgrade and update your backyard all on your own.

8 Great Tricks For Keeping Mosquitos Away

We all know about using bug spray. And citronella candles. But what about other ways to keep those pesky mosquitos away? As if they weren't annoying enough before, the threat of the Zika Virus has made mosquitos even more dangerous. So we've scoured the web for the best tricks for keeping the buggers away.

6 Ways To Create A More Serene Stress-Free Home

Your home is supposed to be your haven, the place where you can relax and wash away the stresses of the day. But, if your house is messy, cluttered, or designed in a way that opposes certain Feng Shui principles, it could actually be adding to your stress. Apply a few tips to make your home the serene spot it should be.

9 Places to Shop Online For Furniture and Home Furnishings

These days, there isn't much we don't shop for online. But if you have been hesitant to buy your furniture and other home items with a few clicks instead of being able to walk into a store and see them in person, it might be time to rethink that strategy. With so many great sites that offer easy delivery (and returns) and tons of reviews that can give you confidence in your purchase, furnishing or updating your home online is easier than ever. We have curated a few of our favorite sites.

Home Repairs VS Improvements: No Clear Answer

Question: I am having trouble figuring out what constitutes an improvement and what is ordinary maintenance. Thinking ahead to selling my house in a few years when the market rebounds, I have been keeping accurate records so that I can deduct these costs to lower the capital gains. Recently, I remodeled a bathroom, replaced a deck, replaced and upgraded the spa filter and motor, replaced the front door with a fiberglass model guaranteed to last more than my lifetime, and replaced a roof and rain gutters. Which of these can I safely regard as improvements, and which are just maintenance?

Clever Ways To Create More Storage In Your Kitchen

Who doesn't need more storage in the kitchen? You may not have a massive space with dozens of cabinets and yards of countertops, but that doesn't mean you don't have the space you need to store all your stuff. Use a few of these clever tricks and you might be surprised how much extra room you can create.

Inspired Ways To Create A Guest Space When You Don't Have A Guest Room

Not all of us are blessed with enough bedrooms to accommodate every member of the family plus a home office and a man cave and a theater room and a guest space. And, it's that last one that often ends up as a challenge when friends and family come to visit and you either have to break out the blow-up bed or give up your room and hunker down with the kids. You don't need to add on or buy a new home to provide a comfortable space for guests. These smart solutions will help you create a great space for guests with minimal effort.

Installing an Interior Light Fixture

Interior lighting not only helps you see better, but also adds to the decor of your home. Upgrading an interior light is a great way to spruce up an area and save on energy costs.

Unique Ways To Dress Up Your Kitchen Cabinets With Hardware

Hardware is the jewelry of the kitchen. In a well-designed space, it can add an important finishing touch. In a space that needs a little help, it can provide some sparkle to help distract from worn or outdated features that may be more difficult to update. And, it's an easy, inexpensive project you can do yourself.

New Kitchen Cabinetry: Make Your Investment A Smart One

At an average of $50,000, a kitchen remodel is a major undertaking. A good return on that investment means different things to different people. You may be considering resale value, your bank balance at the moment, the elements of your dream kitchen-or all of the above. Whatever the case, kitchen cabinets are a key component of every remodel.

See More Articles