When it comes to windows and doors, durable materials and stylish designs are essential. Equally critical is ensuring professional installation, whether for one door or window or an entire home upgrade.
Correctly installed doors are crucial as you use them daily. With an expert installation, you can enjoy a professional fit and lasting quality.
You use your doors every day, and your entry door is one of the first things people notice about your home. When it’s time to get a replacement, professional services that offer quality results are vital.
Your door does more than connect you to the outside – it adds to the overall functionality of your home. Proper door installation impacts your home’s security, its market value and helps with energy efficiency. It also affects the long-term performance of the door, including how easily it opens and closes.
Getting a new door can be exciting, from selecting the right hardware to choosing the ideal color that blends with your home. It may be tempting to rush the installation to get the door working as soon as possible.
However, a poor or DIY job may cause several door installation problems that can impact your investment over the long term.
Proper insulation, which includes covering cracks and open slits where air might escape, helps with energy efficiency. The idea is to keep as much air-conditioned air inside as possible and prevent it from escaping, keeping the indoor air comfortable and minimizing pressure on your air conditioner and heater.
When a door isn’t correctly installed, even small cracks and gaps can lead to heat loss, raising energy bills.
A door may seem straight, but without a trained eye to know what to look for and where to measure, it may not sit flush with the frame. Being just a few measurements off during installation can impact the door’s performance.
An improperly set door may swing open, stick or fail to latch especially if your home is on a slope or hill.
An unprofessional installation can cause the door to not fit the frame, potentially causing gaps and slits. These open or uneven areas are a significant security risk, as they’re easier to force open. In most cases, a resourceful intruder only needs one small gap.
A properly installed door with the right sealing is built to keep water out. Improper sealing allows water to seep in, affecting the integrity of the nearby structures. The water can settle into the subfloor, frame and walls, potentially leading to rot and other damage.
The door’s frame is the foundation of the entire system. Professional door installers take specific steps to ensure the door installation sits straight, is high-quality and will provide reliable and predictable functionality.
Plumb describes how straight a door is vertically. If the door’s frame is slightly off and leans to the side, the door will also lean to the side, causing it to open or close on its own. If the plumb isn’t right, it can be frustrating and impact your home’s value.
Whereas plumb describes how straight the door is from top to bottom, level measures the door’s frame at the top horizontally. If the door’s top frame isn’t level, it will have an unsightly small gap at the top, and the door may scrape the floor on one side. Ensuring the door is level gives it a professional, clean look and smooth function.
Square refers to the two top corners of the door. It brings the plumb sides and level top frame together, and both top corners are supposed to be at a 90-degree angle. Essentially, square corners ensure the frame is perfectly rectangular to fit the rectangular door.
For a door to fit accurately, all three elements need to work. The sides should be plumb, the top should be level and the corners should fit square. A door that fits is adequately sealed, keeps out drafts, and looks tidy and immaculate.
Another tool professionals use to ensure the door is even is a shim. In most cases, the wall won’t be perfect, which will affect the door’s frame. An expert installer will place one or more shims to keep the door parallel on all sides. Once the shims hold the door in the right position, they’re permanently secured.
Hiring a professional will ensure a premium installation. An expert will use durable insulation, like low-expansion foam, to fill any gaps in the frame. Insulation helps stop drafts and prevent energy loss.
They will also install flashing, a waterproofing material, on the door’s exterior. It directs water away from the base of the door, protecting your walls and adjacent structures from rot.
A professional door installation offers more than just convenience. It safeguards your investment and gives you confidence, knowing you have a durable, smooth-operating door. Some more advantages include:
At Renewal by Andersen, we treat your home like it’s our own. We’re your local, trusted experts for beautiful replacement doors and skilled installation, with a professional process that prevents common door installation problems.
If you want to get started or learn more about our services, contact our team today. We’ll provide a comprehensive consultation process and customized solutions for a premium, professional door installation.
