How You Can Cut Energy Costs With Door Replacement
Is the gateway to your home a tired old, faded wooden door? Is that what you want to be the first thing that people see when they visit your house? Have you ever thought that it might be time to consider a door replacement? A Door replacement can result in some substantial savings, in more ways than one.
The Tax Man Giveth......
Old,
worn-out doors are a significant cause for heat-loss, and inefficient cooling.
This results in much higher energy costs, requiring more use of valuable
natural resources, and more greenhouse gas emissions. The government tries to
counter this by offering incentives for you to get rid of those leaky old doors
with a newer, more energy-efficient door replacement. These incentives are in
the form of tax-credits and subsidies. Many states also have their own
programs, some involving direct rebates for your door replacement. You can see
which programs are available in your state by going to the U.S. Department of
Energy's database of State Incentives for Renewables and Efficiency at dsireusa.org.
First Impressions Are Lasting Ones
Your front door is the very first thing people see, and it will figure prominently in their impressions of your home. A faded, cracked old door is not going to help very much in making a favorable impression. A door replacement can work wonders to this end. Another thing to consider is that burglars and intruders look for homes with easy access when selecting their next project. Anyone with 2 minutes and a 2nd-hand hatchet can go through an old wooden door. A door replacement could mean the difference between a would-be intruder selecting your house, or someone else's as their next target.
When Your Front Door is Done For.....
Front doors have traditionally been made exclusively of wood, because until recently, that's all that was available. Fortunately, there are now many materials you can use for a door replacement:
- Fiberglass doors are the first choice for energy-efficiency, security and looks. A fiberglass door is much more durable than wood, requires much less maintenance, looks a lot better, and comes in a variety of finishes, including photo-realistic wood patterns. A fiberglass door replacement will last much longer than a wood door, as much as 25 years or more. And, fiberglass is much cheaper than wood.
- Steel doors may be a good choice if security is a bigger concern than energy savings. A good steel door replacement can be almost impregnable. Like fiberglass, they are very low maintenance, can be painted any way you want them, and are even tougher against the elements than fiberglass. Steel doors are very reasonably priced, starting at less than $200.00. A Steel door replacement can be a good option for side and back doors, where they are not as noticeable. The lower the gauge number, the thicker the door is. A Steel door replacement typically comes in 24-25 gauge thicknesses, but 22 gauge, heavy-duty steel door replacement units are available. On the downside, steel door replacements are not energy-efficient enough to qualify for any subsidies.
- A wood door replacement may be the only option for those who believe there is nothing like wood. And they are right. Nothing deteriorates faster, begins to look shabbier more quickly, warps, swells, or is easier for an intruder to break through. A wood door replacement is also much more expensive than any of the other choices. A wood door replacement is the least energy-efficient of any of the other materials, and is subject to becoming food for termites, ants, insects, and small mammals. The advantages of a wood replacement door is.......well, it's real wood. Quality solid wood doors can cost upwards of $1000.00 or more.
Upgrading your home with a door replacement can be money well spent, especially when you take advantage of subsidies and tax-credits. Your house will than you for it.....
