There are a number of ways you can tell, when it’s time to replace your front door. Do you notice any signs of excess moisture in your front door? Did the windows on your front door get cracked or chipped in the recent winter? Many doors have two paned windows, and as soon as the seals between these panes wear out, moisture will seep through.
If you need help determining whether it’s time to replace your front door, there are a number of reputable sources, like door replacement Northern Virginia or a business that’s closer to your current residence, that can help you out.
You can also look at the following signs that you should already replace your front door:
Moisture Build-Up
As your door is constantly exposed to the outdoor elements–from snow to rain to sunshine–it wouldn’t be a surprise that the seals will start to wear down and fall apart.
When these seals start to break down, moisture seeps in and gets caught. This results in the glass of your front door always looking unclean whenever you wipe it down. The reason for this is that you can’t access all the moisture that’s being built up between the panes of glass. That is why you should install your front doors with impact glass as it prevents up to 99 percent of harmful UV rays from entering your house. UV-rays have the potential of damaging the pictures, furniture, draperies, flooring, and other valuables in your home.
Cracks and Chips
With constant use, exposure to the elements, and flying objects from time to time, this will result in cracks and chips. These can be found either in the wood or glass, or both.
If you start to notice a crack forming in the wood of your front door, you want to act fast. If the crack is not addressed in ample time, moisture can find its way into that crack, causing the wood to rot. This will weaken the core strength of your door, causing the crack to get even bigger over time. Not to mention, these cracks can compromise the integrity and security of your door as a weak door is an easy target.
This is also similar to the glass. If you notice a crack in the glass of your front door, you want to address it before it gets any worse. A crack weakens the overall strength of your glass panes, which can spider web if the door is slammed or the weather elements influence the crack enough.
Dents and Warps
We’ve all been there: getting ready for the holiday season, and you’re carrying a number of decoration boxes from the garage, then you kick open the door, leaving you with a nasty dent.
Dents can come from insect damage but you wouldn’t really know until you abuse the door in some manner. There’s really no way to fix that unless you want to gut your front door and fill it back in with the wood product, at which point it would just be easier to replace the door in its entirety.
Depending on the severity, warps in the door can be extremely irritating. You can especially notice the warp if it becomes difficult to close the door all the way or you notice parts of the door sticking out of the jamb like a sore thumb. There are a number of things that can cause your door to warp, such as the age and drastic changes in weather.
Draft Issues
This particular issue is easier to spot or, rather, feel. As the weather gets colder, you might not even notice it at first. You kick up the heater every so often, then you feel random shivers as you walk by the front door. Then, there it is, you’ll end up shoving a towel or heavy blanket against the bottom of your front door to keep the cold air out.
Not only is this problematic, considering it’s not energy-efficient for your home and can end up costing you more money, but it’s generally unpleasant to deal with, making it less than comfortable living in your home unless you typically keep your thermostat low year-round.
Conclusion
When it comes to the integrity of your front door, easy maintenance tasks will upkeep the door and help it to last years longer than you might expect.
If it does come down to it–replacing your front door–do some research to ensure you’re fully aware of all your options. This is advisable as you want to make sure that you understand the different characteristics, materials, and the style of the door that a prospective company has to offer. Regardless, the choices are entirely yours on the expenses and style you want for your home.