Have you ever heard the saying that a lock is only as strong as the door that you install it in? It's a saying for a reason -- because it's true. You could have the strongest deadbolt in the world, and it won't matter if you have a door that's easy to kick in. Upgrading your door could do a lot to improve your home's security. Old front doors and seldom-used back doors are often the weakest links in a home's security. In this blog, I'll be giving tips and advice for choosing and maintaining secure entry doors for your home. Don't overlook this important safety issue -- make sure that your door can help protect your home.
How Secure is Your Door?
Tips To Help You With Replacing And Updating Your Home Exterior Door
Josephine Carroll
The exterior door to your home is a big feature in its appearance and is one of the first things any visitors will see. However, it also has a big effect on your home's security and protection. Whether your home's door is older and in need of updating or it is damaged and needs replacing, you can look at options for a door replacement to improve your home's value and security. Here are some tips if you are considering replacing or updating your home's front door.
Choose the Right Material For Your Needs
There are many types of exterior doors that you can choose from, depending on the type of design and style you want in addition to the maintenance and its durability against the elements and a potential break-in. A steel door is likely going to be the most budget-friendly replacement option. A steel door is also going to give you a wide variety of looks, colors, and also the option of a window set within the door. Steel is also a good option because it is a material that won't swell, shrink, or warp if the weather is humid, dry, cold, or hot, and it needs little to no maintenance to keep it looking nice.
Some other options for door materials include fiberglass and wood. Fiberglass can be made to look like many materials, such as wood, but without the upkeep. However, a solid wood door is going to look beautiful and provide you with the security you want in your home.
Select the Right Door Installation
After you have chosen the door material and its related cost and features, you will need to decide how you want to install it onto your home. You can buy a new door all on its own, which is referred to as a slab door, and you will need to install it into your home's existing door frame. A second option is to purchase the door pre-hung, which means it is already installed within the door frame and is balanced to fit within the frame.
When you purchase a door that is pre-hung, you don't have to worry about it fitting into your home's existing door frame and whether it will hang crooked or have any gaps around its edges. This can provide you with a more energy-efficient home and minimize the effort in its installation. When you buy a door pre-hung, you also get all the necessary weather stripping around the door, hinges and hinge pins, the doorknob, and lock hardware along with any deadbolt options you want to be installed.
Make arrangements when you order your new door so you can have it professionally installed in your home. Along with getting a new door that will fit within your home's existing door opening that has been accurately measured, you will also update the door frame and remove any existing old and rotting frame that would reduce your home's security. Contact a door repair service for more information.
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