Our front doors are a part of our lives that is easy to take for granted, and often, people will wait too long to provide the necessary attention to their door and have to replace it instead. Our front doors are what we see when we arrive home, and there is the curb appeal and first impression of your home to guests and even prospective buyers. Fortunately, we are here to help.
At Darcy Joinery, we have expert wood door manufacturers who know the signs of a front door that needs replacing, and we’d like to share them with you below.
1. Damage and Decay
A front door is exposed to all manner of damaging events, from accidental slams to bad weather, and they will make you wonder just how long a wooden door should last. Unfortunately, no matter how high quality a door is initially, it will need replacing over time with age and wear.
Cracks and splits are the most common signs of a door suffering from damage and decay. When the integrity of the door is broken either by impacts or age, then moisture seeps in and creates additional damage, significantly decreasing the lifespan of the door.
2. Difficulty with Opening and Closing
Your front door’s condition is not just dependent on itself. The state of the hinges, lock, and frame will have a significant impact on how the door feels when you use it, and if it feels different, it’s usually because something needs addressing.
Having a difficult front door is an annoying problem for day-to-day use, but it is also a safety hazard as you need to know you can get out of your house quickly in case of a fire. Sometimes, this issue is solved by simply checking if the hinges are oiled or tightened, but over time, it’s likely the door itself has warped or begun to rot, and the best action is to replace it.
3. Draft and Comfort Issues
Is there a visible space underneath the door? If there is light seeping through past the door frame or casing, then there is more than enough space for the outside cold air to get through. No one likes draft in their house, and this is especially evident if your home’s layout has the front door open into a living space without a connecting porch.
Unfortunately, as the door gets older, it will warp or incur damage that creates several problems, including feeling that unpleasant cool draft from outside at all hours. There are temporary solutions for this kind of fault, such as draft stoppers, but they will infringe on the normal use of the door. The best solution is to replace it and start again with a fresh, strong front door.
4. Poor Energy Efficiency
We discussed how a drafty door is unpleasant to experience, but that humble draft will have escalating issues for your home, most notably for your energy bills. Essentially, a drafty door is a clear sign of a door that needs replacing as it is exposing your building’s thermal envelope.
The thermal envelope is the technical term for the ambient temperature in your home. Imagine a bubble of warmth contained by your walls, windows, and roof that creates a pleasing atmosphere thanks to the air conditioning or heating you’re paying for.
As a general rule, you want to keep your envelope as secure as possible to maintain the best energy efficiency possible. In a practical sense, this means making sure you do not lose heat through a warped front door and feel drafty in return.
5. Increased Noise Level
Along with a windy draft, gaps around a door frame will let more noise in than intended, which, naturally, will be frustrating. This is especially frustrating for homeowners in big cities, where there is exciting nightlife and homes where the front door opens into the living area.
Even if the door seems visibly sound, the sound insulation properties of an old door will be far lower than those of a new one as it ages. Choosing a door with good sound insulation is one of the many things to consider when choosing a new front door.
6. Outdated Designs
An outdated front door design not only reduces the overall appeal of a residence but also signals the urgent need for a modern replacement. Worn materials, faded colours, and obsolete styles harm the curb appeal significantly. Alternatively, a modern front door, crafted with contemporary aesthetics in mind, will rejuvenate your property and present an inviting and stylish entrance that complements the architectural integrity of the property.
Investing in a new bespoke front door from our team in Manchester also enhances the marketability and value of your property. Potential buyers are often swayed by the appearance and condition of a home’s exterior, with the front door being a critical component. An outdated and worn front door may be perceived as a sign of neglect, whereas a modern, attractive door can increase the perceived value and appeal of the home, making it a more enticing prospect for potential buyers.
7. Security Concerns
A front door that is suffering from decay and rot presents a significant security risk to your home in multiple ways. Firstly, you have criminals attempting to break in. A door that is weakened with rot will present an insignificant challenge for anyone breaking and entering your home.
A new, strong door not only prevents the event but even stops anyone from considering it as the visible condition of the door will make it seem a far tougher challenge to break and encourage the criminal to try a different home.
Reliable Door Replacement Service at Darcy Joinery
When you’re looking for a new wooden door, choose us as the leading door supplier in Manchester. We offer an extensive range of designs, styles, and timber types and specialise in creating bespoke doors in Manchester. The team doesn’t like to shy away from out-of-the-box ideas or challenges. So contact us to discuss your desires for your front door and start the journey to a fresh new one today.