So you’re renovating your home, and you’ve gotten to the point where it’s time to select new entry doors. There is a lot that goes into choosing both windows and doors because they make up a great deal of a home’s outer appearance. In a lot of ways, a door can be compared to your home’s “face”. It’s the first impression that your home gives to a lot of people and can really set a stylistic tone for your house.

Chances are that you’ve never shopped for entry doors before. Therefore, you may want to do some preliminary research before you settle on the right door for your home. The more you know ahead of time, the easier it will be for you to choose the right exterior doors, whether they’re replacement doors or meant for a brand new home.

What Materials Are You Considering?

There are actually far more materials available for entry doors than you might think. The reality is that you need to consider several different types before moving forward. Traditionally, many homeowners prefer wood doors. That is what they picture owning, and many of us assume that entry doors that are not actually wood are wood. They are aesthetically pleasing and versatile, but they’re not without their issues. Wood is a naturally porous material, which means that it absorbs liquid. Gradually, this can lead to rot over time, degrading the door. Wood will also naturally expand and contract depending on the surrounding temperature. Not only does this affect the quality of the door, but its appearance as well, causing warping over time.

A common alternative to wood is steel. Steel is preferred to wood by many homeowners, but it’s likely that you haven’t seen a lot of entry doors that look like they’re made of steel. Graining patterns can be added to make steel doors look as if they are made of wood. Because they’re made of steel rather than wood, however, the door will not warp through the expansion or contraction of the grain. This also means that steel doors remain easy to open and close. Additionally, these doors provide the best security levels. They can’t simply be broken down the way that wooden doors can be. Although some homeowners don’t like the aesthetics of steel doors, they can be made more eye-catching through glass inserts as an alternative to the faux wood graining.

Fiberglass is another great alternative, though it’s somewhat newer to the market. While steel can be susceptible to rust, fiberglass has no such issues. Fiberglass doors are fairly tough doors, remaining resistant to both dents and environmental factors like rain. They also provide the best levels of insulation, which is important to consider when you remember that 25% to 30% of all residential heating and cooling energy usage is the result of heat gain and loss through windows. Doors can function in a similar way, which is why insulation is crucial.

What Kind of Look Do You Want?

As previously mentioned, some people like their doors to resemble the rustic appearance of classic wooden doors, regardless of the material the door is made from. But the fact is that not everyone likes the appearance of wooden doors. If you’d like your home to remain more sleek and modern, an industrial steel appearance may be more ideal.

You should think for quite a while about the color of your door. Again, a gray or black door will come off as more modern, while some people prefer red doors in the sense that they stand out. White doors are more associated with a cottage or farmhouse appearance, while blue or green doors are considered a bit dated.

Mentioning again the idea of glass inserts, these are quite modern and create a sense of beauty and sleekness. The issue is that you do lose a bit of privacy when adding glass inserts.

Remember too that you don’t necessarily have to spend too much money on entry doors. Discount doors are available, and they are not necessarily lower quality. No matter what, be careful when selecting your door, and remember that it will have a major effect on your home’s overall appearance.

We don’t think often about replacing our windows. We may replace our roofs or even our floors, and certainly our furniture, but we don’t often replace our windows. But the reality is that residential windows do not last forever, and eventually all of them need to be updated. The fact is that if you don’t buy replacement windows in a timely manner, your home will experience a variety of different negative effects. Additionally, if you attempt to sell a house with damaged or outdated windows, you will inevitably see that reflected in a reduced value.

At the same time, many of us don’t know when our windows are ready to be replaced. The last thing you want is to replace your windows before it’s time. The typical lifespan of the average window types is 15 to 20 years, but if your home is older than that time range, you may very well not have an idea of how old your windows are in the first place. With that in mind, let’s look through some of the ways that you can determine whether or not it’s time for window replacements.

1. You’re Wasting Money on Energy

Are your energy bills higher than they used to be? This could be a sign that it’s time for you to consider replacement windows. Higher energy bills are often indicative of hot or cold air escaping your home, and your HVAC system working overtime to compensate for that. The question is how this air is escaping your home, and it’s often through windows and doors.

There could be several issues at play. The problem could be damage or simple wear and tear causing gaps within the windows. The window types themselves could also be outdated and more prone to draftiness than more updated types of windows. Either way, it will probably be less expensive for you to invest in replacement windows, as opposed to allowing these inadequate windows to remain as they are.

2. Rot

Depending on the types of window materials you’re dealing with, your window frames may be more prone to rot. Obviously, wooden window frames will be particularly prone to this kind of damage, even if the glass windowpanes themselves are undamaged. Although these types of issues can sometimes be repaired without requiring entire window replacements if they’re caught early enough, quite often a full replacement is indeed necessary.

The reason why windows begin to rot is often that they’ve sustained water damage. Therefore, homeowners in more humid or wet areas should pay attention to their windows in particular. Wooden window frames can also be affected by bugs, especially termites. Though rot will eventually become visible, homeowners may want to do general inspections of their windows every few months. Rot will also become apparent through softness in the frames as well.

3. Cracked Panes

Keep in mind that one of the main reasons why homes begin to lose value is aesthetic damage. You may be satisfied with a single cracked windowpane here and therefore. But if you plan on selling your home, you’ll need to invest in replacement windows anyway if the windowpanes are cracked.

The issues with cracked windowpanes go beyond the aesthetic problems. Cracked windowpanes also present issues related to energy usage and even security. The last thing you want is for your home to be more vulnerable to potential intruders because you ignored damage to your windows.

4. Condensation

If condensation is building up between the layers of glass in your windowpanes, this is a sign that your windows need to be replaced. The condensation is likely occurring because there is damage to the glass that may not be apparent to your naked eye.

Unless your windows are brand new, if the windowpanes are damaged you should probably replace the windows in general. Usually, damage has been done to the windowpanes the frames are at a point where they need to be replaced as well.

These types of issues should be considered as you prepare to evaluate your windows and determine whether or not they need to be replaced. Replacing your windows may be irritating, but remember: this is an investment in your home’s long term future.