If you’ve recently bought a new front door, you may be looking for ways to keep your door looking fresh.
You’re probably also wanting to ensure that your new front door keeps your home secure and your family safe.
- Looks great
- Remains covered by your warranty
- Keeps your home safe
1. Don’t Wait Too Long to Paint or Stain Your New Front Door (or the Frame Around it!)
You may be tempted to live with your new front door for a while before committing to a paint or stain color.
Unfortunately, taking too long to make your decision might void the warranty on your new front door.
That’s because most door manufacturer’s warranties are only valid if painting or staining are done very soon after your door is installed.
How soon?
Of course, it varies by manufacturer, but we’ve seen as little as two days after installation in some cases.
Other door makers give you a bit longer to decide exactly what shade you want your new front door to be.
For instance, here’s a bit of the warranty information from one of our favorite door brands, Therma-Tru Doors.
“For continued warranty coverage, all fiberglass Therma-Tru door systems must be finished within 6 months of installation. However, all bare or unprotected wood surfaces, such as door frames, should be primed and painted, or stained and top coated within the lesser of 2 weeks of installation or exposure to weather.”
2. Don’t Forget to Check the Ventilation on Your Storm Door
If your storm door isn’t properly ventilated, heat can become trapped between the storm door and your new front door.
This isn’t a problem if you have a Fiberglass front door, which can withstand the extra heat without suffering damage.
But, if your new door is wood or steel, this heat build-up can cause your door to warp, or experience breakdown of the paint or stain.
This can be especially true if your door gets a lot of direct sunlight. To avoid this, ensure that your storm door has proper ventilation.
3. Don’t Neglect to Schedule Maintenance
Whether you add a reminder to your phone, or jot it down on next year’s calendar, don’t forget to schedule annual maintenance for your front door.
Some of our homeowners have gotten in the habit of always doing this on the same day every year. For example, some choose the Saturday before Mother’s Day.
Here in central North Carolina, this is an excellent time to set aside for front door maintenance. The yellow pollen has typically disappeared by early May, and it’s not yet too hot to do work on your home’s exterior.
Whether you choose to keep up with your maintenance schedule on a paper calendar or online.
What maintenance should you be doing? We’re so glad you asked!
4. Don’t Use the Wrong Materials if You’re Going to Modify Your New Front Door
You may want to add a kickplate to your new front door to guard it from unsightly scrapes and dings. Or, you may want to add a mail slot or a pet door.
First, before you undertake any of these projects, ensure that you know whether making these modifications will void your door’s warranty.
Then, if you do decide to proceed, be sure to use the right materials.
If you are adding a peephole, mail slot, or pet door, be sure to use a product that contains a water-resistant inner sleeve. This will prevent moisture, debris, and even your mail (!) from falling into the interior space in your door panel.
If you are adding a kickplate, filling any pre-drilled holes with sealant before you apply the plate will help to protect the door’s integrity.
5. Lastly, Don’t Forget to Re-install your Security System
If you change your front door, you’ll need to uninstall any security systems that were connected to your original door. This is usually easily accomplished with a quick call to your security system provider.
Just don’t forget to include re-installing your security system once your new front door is in place!
Summary
We hope you’ve found these tips helpful as you consider what things you should and should not do to your new front door. Following these tips should help keep your door well maintained and your home secure.
When you’re ready to replace your front door, you want to work with pros who have the expertise to guide you every step of the way.
That’s where the Window Works Co. can help. We’ve worked with thousands of homeowners in the Triangle as they found just the right front door for their home. We’d love to help you, too.
When you’re ready to start your project, use the form below to tell us what you need. We can’t wait to help you find the front door you’ll love.
