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Interior and Exterior doors are going taller , wider , and more contempary . Therma Tru has been displaying 8-foot entry doors with an expanded glass selection that includes modern leaded glass and textured glass inserts with moldings and bold color options . Glass door walls that fold back for access to outdoor spaces . The strap hinges accent the modern style & enhance curb appeal .

Today , we will talk about  the differences between solid core wood doors & steel doors .

Solid core wood doors  are made of a thin exterior wood grain  layer  that encloses larger layers or plies of wood .  The middle of the door contains polyurethane insulation .   The main downfall with solid core doors is the deterioration of the outer veneer of wood.  If you fail to seal & refinish periodically , the door won’t last long .    Furthermore , the number of times you can  stain & refinish the door is limited due to the thin outer layer .

Steel doors are used more than any other type of exterior door in residential construction applications .  The price is reasonable & the metal skin is far more durable than wood .  Steel doors must be finished with paint instead of a stain .  You need to ask your salesperson  the thickness of  metal.  The higher the number , the  thinner the steel .   Some home stores will sell a 24 gauge residential door , however don’t make this mistake. You’ll need a   22 gauge door at a minimum .

One other piece of information you should know is that a high end priced name like Pella doesn’t equate to a higher quality & better made door .  Check with the retailer to see if the company builds everything in house .  Some door companies have their doors & frames manufactured somewhere else. Then they install there own glass & hardware packages so they can use their name on the product .

Therma Tru , Jeldwen ,  Stanley , & Reliabuit are durable & of high quality .

Spring is around the corner, contact us today if you’re planning an outdoor project .

We incorporate sleek, custom features into everything we build. We will do our best to give you a finished project that’s appealing, functional, & tailored for your lifestyle.

I wanted to offer some easy low cost energy tips for your family .  Most of these are easy & practical .

1. Seal the outside envelope of your home .  Doors , windows, fireplaces , vents , fans, & mechanical penetrations can be easy avenues for outside air to make its way in .  The U. S. Department of Energy stresses the importance controlling air movement . Use caulking and expandable foam help to reduce air leakage .

2. Limit incandescent lighting .  Can lights are the most inefficient type of light fixture you can buy . The standard bulb uses a heated tungsten filament to produce light . This causes 75 % of the light to be lost as heat.  A compact fluorescent lamp uses 75 % less energy while lasting 10 times longer . Some can lights can’t have any insulation in contact with the light , thus creating an avenue for warm air at the ceiling to escape into the attic .  Furthermore,  there’s different types of trim rings that fit around the light housing & finished ceiling . Be sure to pick a ring that covers more of the housing so less air can escape .

3 . Choose high efficient HVAC equipment when it’s time to replace existing .  For example, there’s a $ 2200.00 price difference for a 90 %  high efficiency furnace & heat pump compared to 80 % unit  .  Most  utility companies offer a rebate  for the better equipment .  According to City Utilities of Springfield,  90 % efficient equipment saves you $ 481.00 per year when compared to equipment that’s 15 years old .  The standard life expectancy of a heating & cooling equipment is 25- 30 years.  My HVAC contractor says it will cost you $ .10 extra for  every dollar you spend  if you choose a 80 % over a 90 % system .

4. Check your attic insulation .   You need at least 14″ tall of insulation in your attic .  14″ equals an R-30 rating .  Adding insulation is easy , most companies will rent you a blower to install the insulation yourself .

5.  Install a programmable thermostat .  This feature will reduce the energy used to heat & cool your home while you aren’t at home .  Make sure to shut off the power supply before changing if you do this yourself .

6. Cover your existing foundation vents with foam insulation during the winter .  Doing this keeps cold air out of the crawl space .  Extruded polystyrene insulation offers an R-5  per each inch of thickness .

I hope this helps you stay comfy & keeps $ in your pockets !