Decorative storm doors can let in more light, increase ventilation, and still protect against the elements.
Storm Door Products
If you are a do-it-yourselfer researching decorative storm doors for your next project and you plan to buy a pre-hung door, you have a few decisions to make before you make your purchase. Whether you're restoring an older home, choosing a door for new construction or working on a home improvement project, decorative storm doors dramatically enhance the look of your home.
The right door can add a touch of warmth, sophistication and individuality. But if you're in the market for a pre-hung door, before you buy you'll want to know what you're buying. If you're not careful you could end up receiving a bundle of boards rather than a ready-to-install pre-hung door.
Pre-hung Unit
Pre-hung storm doors provide a complete usable door system. It includes:
- Jambs (sideboards and top boards)
- Sill and threshold
- Hinges
- Weather stripping
- Mulls strips
- Moldings
- Stops
- Pneumatic closer
- Latches
A pre-hung door will have all the essential components needed to install your storm door properly, plus it's convenient because the unit is assembled and ready to install before you bring it home. A quality pre-hung storm door will not only last for years, but it will help eliminate drafts and reduce heating and cooling bills.
Pre-hung Kit
A pre-hung kit is different than a pre-hung unit because the un-milled parts come unassembled. This means you still have to:
- Cut and trim parts to size
- Mortise the door and jamb parts for hinges
- Miter and screw
- Glue and nail all parts with absolute precision
This will not be the choice of many because it is time consuming and it is much more efficient to buy a pre-hung unit already assembled.
Pre-hung Unit Knock Down
A pre-hung knock down storm door unit has been mortised for hinges and the jambs have been mitered and milled. However, this differs from the pre-hung unit because the boards are not assembled. So though this knock down unit is ready to install, it requires quite a bit more work as well as expert knowledge.
Buying Decorative Storm Doors
Today's storm doors come in designs that include classic traditional styles that complement architectural styles like:
- Colonial
- Craftsman
- Prairie
- Tudor
- Bungalow
Resources
You can find a nice selection of storm doors at your local home improvement center, such as Home Depot or Lowe's. There are also a number of online suppliers, but if you go this route be sure to check the history of the company you are buying from. If you have a problem with the product, how easy will it be to return it and receive the replacement?However, even if you don't want to buy online, the various sites offering decorative doors make it easy to narrow your tastes to decide what type or design you want to install to enhance the look of your home. Here are a few resources to get you started:
How To Measure for Pre-hung Door
Measuring for your decorative door will differ depending on what type of door you buy. For a pre-hung door, you'll have to measure the existing door frame or casing. For older homes, the opening may be an odd size. If this is the case, it leaves you with a couple of options. Instead of a pre-hung door, you could purchase a slab door, or you check with the door manufacturer or supplier and see if they will offer to pre-mortise the latch set.
Benefits of Upgrading Your Storm Door
No matter the reason you've decided to install a new storm door, today's decorative doors offer a number of benefits. The first is that it enhances the exterior appearance of your home. However, the newer doors also offer:
- More security
- Lasting durability
- Improved energy efficiency
