Snowy days and freezing temperatures are typical for winter in Chicagoland and Madison. While you might feel prepared for the colder times of the year, are your doors prepared to combat the oncoming winter season? Your doors work as an energy-efficient barrier, keeping cold air out and heat inside.
If you are considering an exterior door installation or replacement, there is plenty to consider. Continue reading to learn more about different exterior doors and how you can choose the best one for your home.
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Exterior Door Material Matters
Fiberglass Doors
A rising star in exterior doors, and it’s easy to see why. Fiberglass doors offer top-notch energy efficiency thanks in part to excellent insulation properties. The material eliminates almost any heat transfer, which helps maintain a comfortable temperature.
Energy efficiency is only the beginning of the benefits. The fiberglass construction provides strong, long-lasting durability and is made to resist warping, rotting, and cracking. The cherry on top is that fiberglass doors are low-maintenance and long-lasting, meaning homeowners can enjoy a durable home barrier with little extra work needed.
This all comes at a higher upfront cost, but with low maintenance and high energy efficiency, the overall costs saved are massive.
Wood Doors
When considering a traditional home’s front entry, you might think of a wood design. The natural look has remained attractive for exterior doors for various reasons. First and foremost, the elegant design creates a welcoming, classic feel for your home’s aesthetic. Beyond looks, wood provides high energy efficiency due partly to the wood fiber’s natural insulation properties.
While a durable and attractive pick, the downside comes from the maintenance required.
Wood is prone to problems like rotting and moisture damage, requiring routine maintenance and care to preserve the material.
Steel Doors
Steel doors are designed for durability, providing high resistance against accidental dents, scratches, and many other types of impact. The sturdy build provides homeowners with an ideal barrier for security and even decent energy efficiency to keep homes warm during the winter.
Beyond physical characteristics, steel provides a much more affordable upfront cost than other door materials like fiberglass.
While its durability is something to boast about, steel is not invincible. Being prone to rusting, steel requires consistent care, including routine coating and painting, to prevent the material from corroding over time. Additionally, steel’s innate energy efficiency is very high compared to fiberglass or wood, which may be a dealbreaker for homeowners trying to keep their homes warm.
What is the Best Exterior Door For Cold Weather?
Fiberglass doors are ideal for homeowners who want the best available door for the winter season. These doors stand above options like wood and steel due to a key detail—their energy efficiency.
Fiberglass is designed with built-in insulation properties that significantly reduce the amount of heat transferred outside your home. As a result, when winter arrives, you can maintain a consistently warm home while saving money on your heating bill.
Extra Features to Consider for Cold Weather Doors
- Adjustable Thresholds: This is a horizontal metal strip installed between your door’s frame and the floor. The thresholds can be adjusted to create a seal on the bottom of your door and prevent air from leaking inside and out.
- Multi-point Locking Systems: These systems apply locks to the top, middle, and bottom areas of the door, creating a much tighter seal. This helps secure your inside heating and keeps the cold air outside.
- Insulated Glass Panels/Low-E Glazing: The insulated panels come in double or triple-pane designs, which helps create better insulation. Utilizing low-E glazing applies a thin coating onto the glass, which reflects heat into the house rather than transferring it out.
- Weatherstripping: This rubberized tape can be cut to match the exact dimensions of your door and applied onto any surface cracks and gaps, preventing indoor heating from leaking outside.
- Storm Doors for Added Protection: A door made for your door. Storm doors work on top of your pre-existing exterior door, providing a more durable barrier against weather elements, especially winter conditions like freezing winds.
Signs Your Exterior Door is Not Energy-Efficient
Before the winter season, it might be time to replace your exterior doors if you notice any of the following problems:
Cold Drafts
Your door is made to seal your home away from the outside elements, so feeling a draft is a clear sign that something is wrong. This is typically due to weatherstripping weakening over time or even the result of cracks and gaps formed on the door’s material.
Cracking or Peeling
When your paint begins cracking or peeling, it’s a red flag that a more significant problem is hiding underneath. Cracks and peeled paint are signs that your door has sustained moisture damage, swelling and warping the door’s seal.
Difficult to Open or Close
If your door suddenly feels harder to open or close, it’s not your strength that’s the problem—it’s a sign that your door is damaged. This problem can cause moisture damage and swelling. When left unmitigated, the swelling can affect how the door sits in the frame, resulting in air leaking inside and outside your home.
Cost of Installing Cold-Weather Exterior Doors
The exact cost of your cold-weather doors will always vary depending on various factors such as door size, material, and even installation complexity. When it comes down to the upfront costs of an exterior door, the difference lies in the material you pick.
In general, fiberglass is a more middle-of-the-road choice when it comes to pricing. This is offset by benefits such as high insulation, which helps maintain heat and, in turn, saves you money on energy costs.
Wood is priced in the mid- to high range. While offering a classic look and decent insulation, the material is not built to last and requires consistent maintenance to prevent problems like rot.
Steel is the most affordable. While budget-friendly, its durable build creates excellent protection for your home and even comes with decent energy efficiency to help secure your home’s heat during the winter.
Need Help Installing a New Exterior Door For Your Home?
Install a new door with NEXT Door & Window to preserve your home’s heating and lower your energy bill. Our Design and energy Experts help you design the ideal exterior door to meet your energy and comfort goals.
With quality doors from industry-best brands like Marvin and Provia, you can trust our skilled crew to provide a perfect addition to your home. From patio, entry, and even storm doors, we help you find the door you not only need but also love.
Book a virtual consultation with NEXT Door & Window today!
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