Signs Your Front Door Requires Replacement

Dec 11, 2020

In addition to being a gateway into your home and serving to display some of your home’s curb appear, your front door also helps to protect your home and those that reside in it. With that in mind, Wendy Cline, J&B Construction co-owners, offers four scenarios that likely mean it is time to replace your front door.

Difficult Door Operation

“Is it a struggle to simply open and close the front door of your home? Have you noticed that it primarily sticks during the wintertime?” Wendy asks. “Doors that are difficult to open in cold weather and easier to open in warmer temperatures tend to be warped.” Wood doors are particularly susceptible to warping as they expand and contract in response to temperature fluctuations. Difficult door operation and warping are major contributors to energy loss and often signal that the door is aged and beyond repair. Therefore, replacement is advised.

Chilly Drafts

Drafts are not only bothersome, but they can be expensive as well. “If you’re uncertain if your front entry door is the source of the draft in your home, there are a couple of ways to confirm or deny this,” she explains. One way involves the sun. On a clear day, study the framing of your front entry door when it’s closed. If you can see any rays of sunlight shining through the framing of your front door, you can conclude you have a draft. Alternatively, you can hold your hand a couple of inches above the door’s framing while the door is closed and proceed to follow the perimeter of the door with your hand. If you can feel outside air entering your home at any point in the door’s framing, you can be certain you have a draft. “In both instances, the front entry door needs to be replaced in order to eliminate the draft and reduce energy bills,” Wendy says.

Dings, Dents, Scratches, and Rust

Beyond compromised aesthetics, dings, dents, and scratches on your front door can indicate that the structural integrity of the door is in jeopardy. “If your door is made of metal, any evidence of corrosion or rust is equally concerning as it generally means that moisture is finding its way into the interior wood frame of the door,” she says. “Wear and tear coupled with time are the main culprits of entry door related damage as your front door endures extreme weather conditions every year.” Depending on the severity of the damage, this situation can be a serious safety issue for homeowners as intruders can kick in a defective front door with minimal effort. As a result, replacement is strongly advised in this scenario.

Moisture, Mildew, and Mold

Many entry doors feature double-paned glass panels. The seals between the two panes of glass can gradually deteriorate and fail over time. Consequently, moisture can find its way in, which can contribute to the development of mold and mildew. “Not only would moisture-covered glass struggle to keep the warm air inside and the cold air outside in the winter and vice versa in the summer, but it will further deteriorate with time as well,” Wendy says. “Not to mention, mold and mildew is a significant health concern. To completely remove the moisture, mold, and/or mildew, front entry door replacement is necessary.”

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