Acting as the face of your house, the entry door is the first impression of your home that guests receive. How do you want your guests to feel as they walk up to the door? Whether you’re going for a classic and familiar feeling or something new and exciting, the experts at Shepard’s Glass in Kalispell, MT, consider both looks and functionality as valuable factors in picking out the right entry door for a home. They suggest asking some fundamental questions when you go door shopping.

Questions to Ask When Shopping for Entry Doors

Does the Door Have Proper Insulation?

Believe it or not, entry doors make a big impact on how well-insulated your home is. If there is even the slightest gap between the door and the floor, the climate-controlled air you foster in your home literally goes out the door, making for a big waste of money and energy. Airtight entry doors can be achieved by choosing steel or fiberglass doors with a foam insulation core. Wooden doors and sliding glass doors make particularly bad insulators. If you like the old-fashioned look of a wooden door but want to be energy efficient, opt for a storm door that protects the entry door from the elements and keeps your house insulated. Glass doors made with several layers of glass and metal frames with plastic insulators work as well. Opt for swinging doors that provide a tight close over sliding glass doors.

While these features seem costly, they will save you hundreds of dollars a year in energy bills in the long run.

What Maintenance Is Required?

Ask yourself how much time and money you are willing to spend on the upkeep of your entry door. Wooden doors require frequent staining to maintain their classic look and are likely to warp and rot because of their exposure to the elements. When well-maintained and protected, they can last a lifetime and will never go out of style. Fiberglass and steel doors are more durable in comparison. Steel doors won’t crack or warp and are resistant to fire, but they can rust if scratched through their protective coats of paint. Fiberglass doors are scratch- and dent-resistant and very easy to clean.

How Does the Door Fit & Swing?

Most doors come pre-hung, which means the door already comes attached to a frame. So any existing door frame in your home has to go if you buy one of these doors. You’ll need to take proper measurements of your doorway to ensure a perfect fit. If you like your door frame or plan on buying a door on its own, consider these questions before you settle the bill: Do you want the door to swing in or out? Do you want the doorknob on the left or right side? As small as these details are, they matter when you’re the one opening the door every day!

Since 1959, Shepard’s Glass has helped Kalispell residents perfect their homes with the best door installations. They also provide a range of services including window installations, repairs, and renovations. For more advice on picking the right entry door for your home, get in touch with the staff of Shepard’s Glass at (406) 755-4540 or leave a message on their website.