Storm doors are meant to protect. To provide an extra layer of protection, if you will. That’s why getting the right door for your home is important. Since they are part of the main entrance, they need to be aesthetically pleasing too. And the good news is that there are options and solutions for all home styles. What we like to do now is share some extra pieces of information about storm doors and thus, help you choose yours easier.
Should we start with the basics?
What’s a storm door?
Have you seen glass doors installed in front of entry doors in some homes? These are the storm doors. And so, when we talk about storm doors, we don’t talk about the front door but an extra door that goes before the main entry door. As its name implies, the main purpose of this door is to protect from the elements. It mainly protects the front door and by extension the home. Additionally, most storm doors provide extra security and allow you to ventilate the home.
Which are the main characteristics of storm doors?
The features of storm doors vary to meet the needs of the home in many aspects – dimensions, type and style, ventilation, and security. Some things you should know?
• Most storm doors are made of aluminum since the material is highly resistant to the weather. But you can also find them in PVC and fiberglass.
• When storm doors must secure too, they are made of security glass, have protective grilles and heavy-duty hardware, and feature strong locks. This way, you have two-layer protection – security-wise, in the home. That of the entry door and of the storm door.
• Storm doors consist of three layers with the one in the middle being insulation foam.
• The glass panels of the door can be removed for ventilation through screens.
• High-end storm doors feature Low-E glass for higher energy efficiency and protection from the UV rays.
Are all storm doors aesthetically the same?
Just the fact that storm doors vary in terms of features is enough to conclude that they are not all the same aesthetically either. Besides, when you are done talking about the technical details of the door, you can pick from a sea of styles. Since the door material is not always the same, the appearance of the door is not the same either.
Then, storm doors may have a full view glass – that’s from top to bottom. Or half view. Or three-quarter view.
The colors vary too, although the most common hues are black and white. Of course, if you have yours custom-made, the door contractor can offer more choices. If you order the entry door and the storm door together, you can get the same style and color to match them.
When are storm doors necessary?
It makes sense to say that storm doors are necessary for areas prone to hurricanes and heavy rainfall. Don’t forget that their main job is to protect from the weather and thus, protect your door. With a storm door, you won’t be needing a front door replacement any time soon since the storm door takes all the beating year-round.
Since storm doors make a significant difference in energy efficiency too, they are recommended for all areas. And they are excellent all around the year. In the summer, they help you air the house by temporarily replacing the glass panel with a screen. In winter, they keep the house warm thanks to their triple-layer material and insulation.
If you consider that storm doors can protect the house and distance the need for front door installation while at the same time they increase energy efficiency, allow the sun rays to come in the house when the entry door is open, help you ventilate, and still keep the home beautiful, you can understand that the benefits are plenty. Consequently, they are a good choice even in areas with mild weather.
