subject: Door Replacement: Four Ways To Save With A New Entry Door [print this page] Most likely, that old entry door of yours is costing you money without you even realizing it. If your home has double-pane windows that are energy-efficient but your entry door is drafty and dilapidated, your home's energy and temperature could be flying right out the door. Here's what a new entry door can do.
Door Replacement Savings? Let's Count the Ways: A door replacement with an ENERGY STAR rated model not only decreases utility bills, but may help you qualify for a 30% tax rebate as well, through December 31, 2010.
If you're a capable handyperson and your house isn't terribly out of plumb (check the door jamb with a level) you can save more money by installing the door replacement and its all-in-one frame unit yourself. There are plenty of guides out there to help you accomplish this.
New doors with appropriate materials help eliminate maintenance problems. For example, some entry doors take a terrible beating from the sun, rain, snow or wind. Wood splinters or rots, flying debris breaks door glass, or the constant baking peels the paint. Make sure to choose a door replacement with external cladding like vinyl, aluminum, steel, or fiberglass if you are in a climate that requires a bit more protection.
Save face! Well, that's tongue-in-cheek, but your entry door is the face your home presents to visitors (and appraisers.) A beautiful entry door sets the expectations for what's inside the home. It states how you want the world to see your dwelling: new and fresh, or old and worn. And since you see it daily, it either welcomes you home or makes you grumble as you struggle to open or close it day after day.
The timing is right and the savings are yours to enjoy. Get that new entry door in place in 2010, and before your climate's worst weather kicks in.
