A Free Guide From ENERGY WIZARD

HOMEOWNER’S GUIDE TOENTRY DOORS

Why Should You Replace Your Entry Door?

Why Should You Replace Your Entry Door?

Door Features To Consider

What Type Of Entry Door Should You Buy?

Steel Door

Fiberglass Door

Glass Packs

Storm Door and Other Options

Door Trim

Sliding and French Style Patio Doors

How to Select a Superior Entry or Patio

Door Contractor

Should I Finance My New Door?

What To Do Next

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Table of Contents

Why Should You Replace Your ENTRY DOOR?

There are many reasons that people replace their door. If you find yourself always complaining about the draft, the cold or heat that’s coming from in and around the door, you probably already know your door should be replaced. If your door is warped, rot-ted, cracked, or just plain unattractive, replacement is a good idea. New construction is rarely a guarantee that your entry door is energy-efficient or secure. In most cases, builders use low grade materials to keep costs down which results in poor quality, and inefficient entry doors. Doors ten years old or older should be replaced for comfort, energy savings, and more importantly, security.

Besides saving dramatically on energy costs and enjoying extra comfort, you can dramatically improve the exterior appearance of your home without major construction with many of the door options that are available. These options are especially help-ful when you want to set your home apart from similar looking homes in your neighborhood.

Purchasing an entry door should be an easy and comfortable process, one that you as the buyer feel in control of. Here is an explanation of some of the most common reasons to look into the purchase of a new entry door.

ENERGY SAVINGS - ENERGY TAX RELIEF

Did you know that the single largest source of energy loss in a home is its windows and entry doors? Moreover, older homes with standard windows and doors typically have higher-than-normal energy bills – in part because of doors and windows that seal poorly or offer no insulation. Energy goes out entry doors in three ways: infiltration, conduction, and radiation.

Cold air leaking into your house through your windows and doors can cause rooms to feel drafty and uncomfortable. This is called infiltration. Cold air is coming in through the leaks, and warm air

is escaping through other leaks. The same is true for that situa-tion in reverse. The biggest leaks for escaping air are often found in the windows, entry doors, attic, and recessed lights. Sound like your home? Infiltration is usually the biggest problem with entry doors. Air and moisture come in through the frame and at the bottom of the door. In addition to problems with infiltration, these areas also accumulate a great deal of moisture, and conse-quently the frame rots out.

Conduction is where Mother Nature is heating and cooling the door from the outside, while your home is trying to do it from the inside. Wood doors typically are not insulated and conduction is an issue. The better grade of steel and fiberglass doors have thick insulation equal to or better than your walls, so conduction is not an issue.

Radiation is just what it means. Like a car’s radiator, your door (if not properly insulated) will radiate your heating or cooling (dol-lars) right out the surface of the door.

From 2004 to 2006, the price of natural gas has tripled. We all know that it’s never going to go down. So it’s a safe bet that re-placing your entry door is a sound investment.

The US government is offering an energy tax incentive for the replacement of the entry door. Check with your accountant to determine what paperwork is needed to qualify for this money.

Bottom Line – You will save money on heating and cooling costs by cutting down on energy loss and through the Energy Tax In-centive allowed by the IRS.

ELIMINATING EXTERIOR MAINTENANCE

Are “maintenance-free” entry doors really maintenance-free? Many of us are familiar with the so-called sales talk and advertising when it comes to entry doors. They all tell us that entry doors will save us money on energy and maintenance. They all tell us that our home will be more comfortable and cozy. They also tell us that our home will be more valuable. So what is the real truth about entry doors being maintenance free?

Most entry doors are made of wood, steel, or fiberglass. Most steel doors can dent and then rust. Wood doors have to be refinished every year to protect the appearance and prevent warping and cracking. Even most fiberglass doors need to be resealed every 2-3 years to preserve the finish.

Bottom Line – All entry doors will require some sort of mainte-nance. Fiberglass entry doors will require some maintenance, but not as much as wood doors.

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COMFORT

When you get right down to it - it’s more than just saving mon-ey on your energy bills. Out of 1000 people surveyed by the Consumer Energy Alliance, 67% of the respondents said that COMFORT was the single most important factor to them when discussing energy issues about their home. Let’s face it-you want your house to be comfortable.

On cold winter nights do drafts chase you from rooms in the direct line of your front door? Do you find yourself piling up blankets next to the bottom of the front door?

Do you own a door sock (an elongated sock stuffed with weights and insulation that lays against the bottom of the door to cut out the drafts)?

Bottom Line – You can relax and be comfortable in areas near the door in the cold months by replacing your entry door.

SECURITY

Every day you whisper a promise to your child, “I will always love you and keep you safe”. But keeping your home safe takes more than promises. The main issues are to avoid someone breaking into your home, and to keep you safe while you are inside as well as to keep your valuables safe when you are away.

A security plate built into the frame of the door is necessary to insure this. This will vary more with the manufacturer than it does with the material. Most doors do not have security plates built in

and can only withstand 80 pounds of force. A door with a security plate will withstand 450 pounds of force.

ADD VALUE TO HOME

The benefits start immediately when you replace your entry door. From enhancing your home’s interior to adding to its curb appeal, a new entry door transforms a home from ordinary to outstanding. Decorative glass packs and grain and finish options are available that can enhance the appearance of your door. When you go to sell your home, one of the first things that a prospective customer will see is the entry door. How important is that first impression?

Bottom Line – A new entry door will raise the value of your home and create the first impression that a prospective buyer will have of your home.

Secondly, there is an issue with fires. ASteel door has a fire rating of 20 minutes. The fire-rating can be extended by enhancing the frame and hardware to achieve a 90-minute fire-rating. Most fiberglass and wood doors are not fire-rated. Wood burns well, doesn’t it? How much time do you need to get out of the house will be a consideration for the type of entry door you need.

Bottom Line – Doors were invented with security in mind. Purchasing an entry door with specific components such as a fire door and adjustable strike plate can provide added safety and security to your family and your home.

GlossaryContinuous Sill: Installation of the storm door may need to have additional framing to the brick mold or can be custom ordered at the factory to have the right fit to the new door.

Core: The inside of a fiberglass or steel door. The hollow is filled with some sort of insulation.

• Expanded Poly-styrene (EPS): Similar to the foam used for stryrofoam cups. At one time it was the best insulator available, but is now antiquated. Manufacturing of doors with EPS foam requires the foam to be sandwiched between the door components. It is half the R-Value, compresses easily and is not as durable as other insulators.

• Polyurethane: Unlike EPS foam, polyurethane is injected into the hollow of the door. It is an excellent insulator and adds durability

to the door. In addition to the door trim, look closely at any trim on a door, usually found around a window inset. Ensure any trim is heat-resistant and warranted not to warp, crack or pull away from the door, even in sunny or higher temperature settings.

Aluminum frame cladding should be coated with PVC for a completed look. In addition, this will keep the exterior brick mold trim from rotting out.

Trim On Door Deserves Close Attention

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Door Features

TO CONSIDER

1. Variable-depth wood or woodgrain texture with hand-applied stain produces an outstanding exterior door appearance.

2. Specially engineered facings are dent-resistant and manufactured to resist splitting, cracking and warping.

3. High-definition panel profile creates excellent shadow lines and distinct panel designs.

4. Square-edge design offers an attractive wood door appearance.

5. Lock areas are reinforced to provide a solid mounting surface for decorative hardware.

6. Fingerjoined, 2-ply solid oak laminated styles are locally manufactured exclusively for Energy Wizard Door for both hinge and strike sides and are proven to provide increased rigidity and structural integrity.

7. A high-performance composite material is utilized on all Heritage fiberglass bottom rails, providing excellent rot resistance.

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DOORLITE: Referring to the insulated, tempered, decorative glass packages mounted in entry doors. There are various systems used to mount the glass into the door. Some materials work better than others (TCM & BTS), and are used in higher end doors. Some materials (PVC) have serious problem (melting) if subjected to high heat from a dark finish (absorbs sun’s rays) or the addition of a storm door (green house effect).

FIRE DOOR: A door which has been tested to stop the spread of fire from one room to the next. Fire doors are rated based upon the amount of time the door will prevent the fire from reaching the room. The range varies with select fiberglass doors providing up to 20 minutes, and steel doors up to 90 minutes.

FRAME: The frame is the structure going around the perimeter of the door. Header refers to the top of the frame, jamb to the vertical sides, and still to the bottom. Higher end doors have the bottom eight inches of the jamb and the sill made of a composite material to inhibit moisture.

MULLION: Doors and sidelites are connected by pieces of wood or vinyl mullions.

RAIL: The horizontal top and bottom components of a door mounted inside an insulated door. They are made of wood or a composite. Higher quality doors will have composite bottom rails to inhibit moisture.

ROUGH OPENING: Refers to the opening where the frame of the door will be mounted.

SIDELITE: A vertical set of narrow picture windows mounted on each side of the door. A system may have one or two sidelites and usually have decorative glass packages.

SILL: The sill and the threshold are the most vulnerable for

moisture issues. You should not consider a door system which doesn’t have a composite sill to inhibit moisture from rotting out or splitting the sill. It should have bulb seals under the sill to keep water and bugs from coming in under the door.

STILE: The vertical portions that run the full length of an insulated door. Typically they are made of wood. Higher end doors will have thick stiles 4-6 inches wide on the lock side to provide extra security. The best doors will use a very strong material referred to as Laminated Veneer Lumber (LVL).

STRIKE: A mortised opening in the handle side of the door jamb that catches a spring loaded latch to keep the door closed and locked. There are some recent innovations with adjustable strikes which can resist a force of 450 pounds.

SWEEP: A rubber weather strip which has been mounted into slots (kerfed edge) cut into the bottom rail of the door. The purpose is to keep out air infiltration, moisture, and dirt. The sweep consists of a series of plastic fins and refrigerator-bulb seal combinations. Lower end doors will only have the fins.

TEMPERED GLASS: The glass is strengthened by heat processing. Tempered glass breaks into small pieces without sharp edges. Glass packs in all doors are required to be made of tempered glass for safety reasons.

WEATHER STRIPPING: Weather stripping refers to the insulation which surrounds the inside of the frame to inhibit air and moisture infiltration. Higher end doors will have long reach weather stripping which is a foam filled vinyl seal which is folded over to create a compression seal when the door is closed. Short reach seals don’t provide as much protection. The sweep on the door provides the only weather stripping for the sill, which is why it is important to have a bulb seal/fin combination.

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What Type Of Entry Door

SHOULD YOU BUY?

Choosing an entry door is difficult with the wide variety of choices and configurations. That’s why it’s so important to work with a professional that you like and trust. I cannot emphasize this point enough and this is where so many people get frustrated and taken to the cleaners. Many times salespeople will sell you what is in their best interest instead of yours. The best entry door contractor will help you choose the best choice based on your needs and budget.

Let’s take a look at some of the different options and possibilities, so that you can figure out what type of entry door is the best choice for your home. But first let’s define what features you should look for in a quality door.

• FINISH – You should be able to have the options of what colors you want the exterior and interior of the door, frames and sidelites to be.

• INSULATION – This is applicable to steel and fiberglass doors. Polyurethane is the best way to go for durability and it has twice the R-Value of Expanded Poly-Styrene.

• SECURITY – A security plate built into your door jamb and frame with its characteristic for withstanding 450 pounds for force.

• BOTTOM OF DOOR COMPONENTS – The bottom of the door should be made of a composite material to inhibit

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moisture. The sweep should consist of a compression bulb seal/fin combination. A compression bulb with three fins is the most effective system to provide maximum protection from moisture and air infiltration. The sill needs to be made of a composite to avoid rot and insects and should be self-adjusting.

• If a doorlite or sidelite is an option, Thermal Compression Molding (TCM) or Better Than Styrene (BTS) is the best means for mounting the glass. These products will allow a decent finish, and will not yellow or melt.

• Inform your contractor if you will be installing a storm door, so that compatible components are ordered with the entry door.

• Fire doors are available. They rate from 20 minutes to 90 minutes. Steel doors will provide the best rating in this category.

• The moderately to higher end doors should carry a lifetime limited warranty. Ask to see the warranty before you purchase. A reputable dealer should not have an issue with this request.

Steel DoorOver half of the doors sold are made of low-end steel. Many steel doors are inexpensive and are the favorite choice of builders and economy buyers. They are typically 24-26 gauge steel (the lower the gauge, the thicker the material). These doors do require maintenance and can be painted. Higher end steel doors have 20-gauge steel, are more energy-difficult and have a host of decorative glass options.

You can, however, have beauty, energy-efficiency, and security with a 20-gauge steel door. There are many decorative glass options for you to choose from and all the doors are fire-rated as well. Steel doors are insulated as well. Insulation can be of the EPS that are sandwiched between the two panels of steel on low end doors. or you can use polyurethane insulation, which is much more superior due to durability, air-tightness, and insulating qualities.

Low end steel doors are easily dented and scratched. Scratches and dents are almost impossible to repair. To have a door that will last in beauty and energy-efficiency, a 20-gauge polyurethane filled door is your best choice.

Bottom Line – Steel doors are a great option as long as you are buying a quality door and having it professionally installed.

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There is a great deal of excitement with fiberglass material. For doors it is an exceptional material Fiberglass doors are moderately priced and the higher end doors mimic the appearance of real wood without the downsides and upkeep. Fiberglass doors don’t dent, crack, or warp.

Some doors can withstand 450 pounds of pressure, so they are secure as well. Fiberglass doors with polyurethane insulation carry a rating up to R-15. Fiberglass doors can be painted or stained. Unlike wood, the finish can be entirely stripped off without sanding, and a new color applied.

The downside is that they can be pricey, although not as much as a wood door. They also require re-sealing every 4 – 5 years to protect the finish.

Bottom Line - Fiberglass doors are a great value with prices ranging from inexpensive to very expensive. There is little upkeep and the more expensive ones are just as attractive as the wood ones with more durability and less maintenance.

Upper end steel, fiberglass, and wood doors have the option of decorative glass packages. Sidelites can be matched. A glass package can turn an ordinary door into an outstanding door with little added expense.

Caution should be taken to ensure that the glass isn’t too close to the knob if security is an issue. One way around this issue is to have key turn locks only so that the door knob cannot be turned when locked if the glass is broken.

Bottom Line - Decorative glass packages can enhance the esthetics of any steel, fiberglass, or wood door. Considerations should be taken for budget and security when making your choice.

Fiberglass Door

Glass Packs

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When you are replacing your entry door, it is a good idea to replace the storm door as well. Very rarely do the storm doors go back on properly. Some entry doors will not accept the storm door. In many cases, the door frame has to be altered either by adding wood or a storm door adaptor. This is always the case with a continuous sill versus a boxed sill.

Custom-sized storm doors can be made to fit your existing door or can be custom sized at the factory when shipping with a new door. You can match the handles and hardware and these doors are lockable for even more security. This creates the best system for a long-term solution.

Choose options of closures, colors, handle sets, hinges, sweeps and self-storing screens or full-view screens and glass.

A good quality entry door and installation will be negated by poor outside trim work. Trim is important for sealing up any gaps and enhances the appearance of the home. Also, be careful when receiving bids from home improvement companies. Many of them don’t include the cost of trimming the entry door in their proposal to make them appear less expensive than their competitors. A reputable dealer will include all costs of the installation.

Storm Door and Other Options

Door Trim

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Sliding and French Style Patio DoorsWe install French style swinging patio doors and sliding patio doors that are built to the highest quality standards by Energy Wizard Doors. These professional class swinging patio doors are available in fiberglass, smooth steel and textured steel constructions providing the homeowner with a wide range of options and costs from which to select. Finish options for our patio doors that swing open include a variety of paint and stain colors.

Our steel patio doors are made from the highest quality materials, starting with 20-gauge galvanized steel, providing 49% more steel than a typical consumer-grade door. Each energy efficient patio door carries the Energy Star that represents superior construction and an air tight fit for reduced energy consumption and improved interior comfort. Our Energy Star patio doors are fitted with a heavy-duty extruded sill that will not rot or warp and provides a thermal barrier to outside temperatures.

Standard features on French style terrace swinging patio doors add to the comfort and security of your home and family. They include a sliding screen panel that latches when closing and a 20-gauge maximum security steel plate built into the door frame for enhanced strength at the deadbolt area for added security.

Features on our patio door products that slide include triple weather-stripping and superior insulation to improve the

interior comfort of your home by eliminating air and sound infiltration. Reinforced galvanized steel panels add to the stability and rigidity of our sliding patio doors. Smooth, easy, and quiet operation is guaranteed.

Bring the great outdoors indoors with the expansive view of a patio door. Whether you’re keeping an eye on the kids in the back yard, admiring your flower gardens, or creating an easy transition to outdoor entertaining, Energy Wizard has patio door styles that are just for you!

Choose from high-definition fiberglass, smooth steel or wood grain textured steel for a patio door that matches your room and style.

SLIDING PATIO DOORS WITH SLIDING SCREENS

When space is at a premium, our sliding patio doors provide low-maintenance, energy-efficiency, and dependability you need. A smooth runner sliding screen always accompanies these doors.

FRENCH STYLE SWINGING DOORS

Your glass…your style! Energy Wizard offers a wide variety of patio door glass options including 15 collections of decorative glass, obscure and clear glass with a variety of internal and external grid options to accent your home’s style.

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New Entry and Patio Doors Save You Money and Can Make an Astonishing Difference in

the Appearance of Your Home.

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Making a major home improvement purchase, like replacing your entry door can be a scary proposition. Unlike buying a washing machine or even a new car, most homeowners rarely make major home improvement purchases. The lack of experience can easily bring about fear of making the wrong decision, uncertainty, and general uneasiness.

Unless you have a trustworthy relative or a good friend in the business, it’s going to be necessary for you to deal with a window and door contractor. Your success in finding a reliable, honest, and dependable contractor will probably dictate your ultimate happiness or disappointment in your project.

If you know just ten critical characteristics, you can eliminate 95% of the fly-by-night and unreputable contractors who give this industry a black eye. These are the guys that work out of their truck and are contacted only by cell phone. All they care about is the up sell and quick buck that new doors can bring. Their guarantees are useless the moment you see the back of their truck drive away.

How to Select a Superior Entry or Patio Contractor

A REPUTABLE CONTRACTOR SHOULD BE ABLE TO PROVIDE YOU WITH ANSWERS ON

THE FOLLOWING:

• Numerous Customers References

• Location of Office

• Pictures of Work Done (With Homeowner in at Least One Picture of Each Job)

• Detailed Proposal of the Work That Will be Done for a Specific Cost

• Written Warranties for Product and Workmanship

• Proper Liability Insurance

• Long Term Reputation for Service

• Payment Options – Low Monthly Payments or No Interest Plans for 365 Days

• Amount of Initial Investment

• Standards for Installation and Installation Crews

IMPORTANT NOTE:

Beware of companies that promise percentages off, free financing, or very low prices. If they lie to you to get into the home, they will lie about other aspects of the job.

Many companies will offer discounts of 15 to 50% off if you purchase now. This is a feeble attempt at creating a sense of urgency. The tactic involves raising the list price to account for the discount. In essence, they are not giving any discount at all.

Any financing over 6 months is costing the company a certain percentage of the sale. The percentage is added to the cost of the job, so the homeowner is really paying for the financing. An honest company will offer financing, but will also offer a lower price if the homeowner agrees to pay cash, check, credit card, or a financing option that is fewer than 6 months.

It is also very common to see companies advertising very cheap doors as a bait and switch tactic. Two scenarios are possible. The sales rep goes in with the intention of not selling that door, since there is no commission. Instead the sales reps talks the homeowner out of considering the door altogether and purchasing a better quality. This type of company has lost all credibility by lying just to get into the home.

There are also many companies that will advertise a cheap door, but it may not include all the components for installation. This is very common with big box hardware stores. By the time the homeowner has purchased all the options to make it a complete installation, the price of the door is two to three times what it was advertised. Again, this company has lied to get into the home.

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AN EXACT QUOTE FOR A COMPLETE INSTALLATION SHOULD INVOLVE THE FOLLOWING:

• Cost of measuring the opening for the door.• Cost of Material and Ancillary Installation Materials (caulk, trim,

extra insulation, etc.)• Necessary Options — Polyurethane Insulation — Finish (one or two color) — Composite Sill — Adjustable Strike• Replacement of exterior or interior wood if applicable.• Removal of obstructions such as storm doors and removal of

old doors.• Installation• Door Cladding (Trim work around door)• A Complete clean up that involves taking away the old doors.

There should not be any other costs with the installation after the technician has inspected the existing openings and taken exact measurements. After this point, any unforeseen expenses should be at the expense of the home improvement company instead of the homeowner.

SHOULD I FINANCE MY NEW DOOR?

There are many options to pay for a new entry or patio door but be careful, financing can be tricky. A reputable contractor should be able to educate you on the available options and secure the best possible method of financing for you.

• What monthly payments are you comfortable with and for what period of time?

• What interest rates are being offered and are they competitive?• Can I finance this through a home improvement loan?• Are my interest payments tax deductible?• How long before my payments start?

Contact an entry door contractor and arrange for no cost, no obligation FREE QUOTE. (Insist on a firm proposal cost. Never accept an “estimate” as it gives the contractor license to add up to 20% more on the cost of the job.) You will be able to ask the contractor about all the information you have learned about entry doors.

What To Do Next

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