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A wooden door is sanded and prepared for installation

What Your Doors Say About Your Home

How well do you know your doors? Our introduction to their real value will help homeowners decide if their doors need to be updated or replaced.

Doors can’t talk, but they can still speak volumes about the homeowners living behind them. The right door can add beauty to a property and make a powerful statement. However, their value goes far beyond cosmetics. If you think of your doors as an attractive way to enter and exit your home, it’s time to take another look.

Treating them as functional holes in the wall can see doors suffer through years of being overlooked. Homeowners may also be reluctant to replace a door due to the cost. The initial expense of updating or replacing a door is a small price to pay when compared to the ongoing financial benefits of replacing it.

A quality door can save homeowners money month after month on their overall energy efficiency. What’s more, when it comes time to put a home on the market, you’ll be pleasantly surprised at how much value a new door can add to the listing price.

Here are the many different functions a door can perform, the right way to maintain them, and how to decide on replacing or upgrading.

Routine door maintenance work can delay a replacement

A few maintenance steps can go a long way in extending your door’s life if it’s in good condition. Keep wooden doors healthy by touching up or recoating the finish as they show signs of fading. A quality oil, furniture wax, or polish application is an additional way to keep wood in top shape.

Many modern varnishes come with UV protection, a valuable ingredient since sun damage is a leading cause of door degradation.

A fiberglass door can be painted or stained and refinished just like a wooden one. Use a mild soap and water (or simply a damp cloth) to clean the surface. Check on a wooden or fiberglass door once a week to see if a gentle cleaning is necessary.

Steel doors have a few more cleaning and rust-prevention options, which range from soap and water to white vinegar and even toothpaste.

Door tracks, hinges, and rollers should be lubricated regularly, no matter what the door’s composition is. There are several products favored for this with WD-40 being a popular go-to. However, some home experts recommend bar soap or petroleum jelly as an alternative.

Stubborn or broken locks should be repaired or immediately replaced. Here are the best locks available to keep your door secure and your home safe.

Whenever you touch up or maintain any component of your door, we recommend you refer to your manufacturer’s warranty for a list of approved practices and materials. A wrong decision here could void the agreement and lead to door repairs or replacements being much more costly than necessary.

The telltale signs it’s time to replace a door

Sometimes, maintenance has taken your door as far as it can go, and no amount of care or wishful thinking can mask the problems. If you’ve found yourself trying to aid your door’s performance with draft excluders or added force while opening and closing, it’s time to commit to a door replacement.

A door that drags along the floor is a sign of sagging, a common ailment with age, particularly if the door is made of wood.

Your doors should open and close easily and firmly, while successfully blocking any external drafts. Not only will invading air drive up your utility bills, difficulty in closing or locking the door is a security risk for your property and the people inside. 

It also pays to keep an ear on your door. If you hear a lot of noise when entering and exiting, that creaking or grinding may be a sign that the hinges are wearing out. In this case, oiling them is only a temporary fix.

Cracks or other visible signs of wear and tear in your door are indications that it’s time for a replacement. It’s not just an unsightly thing when viewed from outside. It shows that the whole structure of the door is compromised and is prone to further degradation from the elements. Cracks in the door are also the perfect entry point for insects and other little pests.

Many doors have glass paneling. Look closely for signs of condensation between the panes. Trapped water can become a breeding ground for mildew, mold, and other spores that can spread into the home.

Another telltale sign that a new door may be necessary is if you’re thinking of selling your home. Your current door may be perfectly adequate for your needs, but does it have the magic to set your property apart from the rest for prospective buyers?

Doors can make a huge difference when it comes to curb value

Curb appeal is one of the most important aspects of selling a home. Check out these ideas to find out how powerful a door can be in making a first impression. Visual value is great, but how much can a new front door add to a home’s perceived value?

Blue Nail are proud installers of Therma-Tru, and their research uncovered an interesting link between the value of a home and adding just one new door.

It may be a surprise to learn that the perceived value can climb by as much as $24,000 with just one new door installation. That’s an incredible potential return on investment and one that’s proven to impress passers-by and attract potential buyers.

The financial benefits of a quality door don’t stop at boosting market value. It can also lead to significant savings on utility bills that will provide a year-round return on the investment.

Reduce energy loss with the right door

The climate surrounding your home is a crucial factor in choosing the right door. Steel doors, for example, are bad insulators, making them a poor choice if you live in a colder region.

If your local temperature is prone to fluctuations, this could stress a wooden door, which will expand and contract in tandem with exterior heat and cold.

A fiberglass door is a poor conductor of heat, making it the most reliable candidate overall in preventing heat loss.

Organizations such as The National Fenestration Rating Council (NFRC) and ENERGY STAR offer homeowners valuable resources for understanding the various components of a high-energy rating for doors. Even if your current door is relatively old, the addition of a new storm door behind it can improve the energy efficiency of your home.

Doors that limit drafts and combine efficient insulation and heat transfer create a comfortable interior environment with stable temperatures – no need to overtax the AC or heating units. Energy efficiency also limits indoor condensation and the possibility of damp, which leads to mold and mildew.

A well-sealed door is also a barrier against airborne hazards like pollen, dust, and other particulate matter. While these won’t drive up your utility bills, they can cause respiratory issues for homeowners.

Bestow beauty with Blue Nail’s industry-leading brands

With all the practical aspects of doors, the last step is picking one that matches your design goals. It may be contemporary, or it may be traditional. Blue Nail can find the model to complement the aesthetic of your home.

Whether you choose Andersen, Marvin, or Therma-Tru, our options provide virtually unlimited ways to customize your new door without compromising performance or quality materials. The freedom to choose the color, size, and type empowers homeowners to optimize the visual and practical elements of their door, whether they’re looking for fiberglass, wood, or aluminum.

Our commitment to craftsmanship has helped us achieve the highest certifications in the industry. We partnered with the best brands in the country who routinely inspect our work and allow us to provide incredible guarantees to our clients.

We stand by our craftsmanship and products as well as our commitment to realizing the individual vision of every homeowner.

We continue to build strong customer relations with every new job and our ability to provide old school expertise with the most modern installation knowledge. Get in touch with us with any questions regarding new doors for your home.

Working with Blue Nail Roofing means coming home to craftsmanship. From the first call to final inspection, we’re with you every step of the way to ensure you benefit from our experience. For more information or a free consultation, drop by our contact page or call 973-937-8876.

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