Storms Doors

[nate379]

Was thinking about putting storms doors up on the house/garage.

Around here it seems that houses built up to the late 80s have storm doors, but the newer stuff doesn't.

Any reason??

I have 2 doors, storm doors are around $250 each.

 

[lawfarm]

When we bought our house, I was told that the reason the builder didn't do screen doors was because they were a huge source of warranty claims. People let them slam, get caught in the wind, beat on or disconnect the closers, etc., and then call and demand replacement during the warranty period. So the first thing we did was buy and install a storm door. We found one at Menards (don't remember what brand) with the hide-away screen, dual closers (top and bottom), no-touch hold open mechanism, lock, etc., for $200. Installed it in about 45 minutes--and works perfect. Looks good, too.

I highly recommend the hide-away (rollup) screen setups. They're really great, and no more storing of storm windows/screens. The only downsides are: 1) you only get a 1/2 screen door (no issue for me, because I'd rather have the bottom 1/2 be glass anyhow, to retain children and dogs); and, 2) in really, really, really strong wind, the screen can blow slightly out of its track, leaving a gap, if you have it all the way open. Not a big deal where I have mine.

 

[accord driver]

We got new doors and I installed the nice Anderson full view storm dorrs on them. While they are almost a necessity during the winter the wind has caught them a few times and whipped them open, often breaking the closer in half and ripping the screws from the wooden frame. I have made numerous repairs and the door has pulled the brickmold slightly away from the door. Easily fixed but still a pain. I love the look but hate the "warranty" work I have to do myself. A fair tradeoff for the insulating properties in the winter. On the back door I have the same series storm door and if the wind is strong enough it opens the door by itself (and it is installed properly) but luckilly it does not whip this door open, just pulls it open a bit.

from my experience I can see why a builder would not include it. Even in all the new onstruction I see around the city here, tenants add them after they become owners. Probably same reason your builder did not add them.

 

[kbs2244]

On the house, yes.
On a nice day you can have the door open for some fresh air with out the bugs.
And in the winter it helps shield the real door from the wind.

On the garage, I don’t know.
I open the big door enough so that any bugs that want in could bypass any screen door.

 

[boiler7904]

The builder that built my house offers a Larson full view storm door as an option during constrcution- roughly $400 for a $250 door that you can buy at Lowe's or Menards'

I put in a Larson Screen Away door a couple of years ago. It's been a great door that I haven't had any problems with. It makes a huge difference in weather protection on the front of my house.

 

[nate379]

The garage is attached to the house, reason I was thinking it'd be a good idea. The wind often comes from of the back of the house (roughly the north side)

Also think it'd dress up the house a bit. To me it just seems odd to have a door with no storm door. Could be because I grew up seeing them on every house, dunno.

 

[krooser]

Storm doors increase your homes ability to stay warm with less fuel... that's only important if you have to pay for your utilities.... like I do.

I'm going to put storm doors on my shop AND replace the storms on the windows.

I like having the doors and window open in the summer unless it's too hot and humid... then the A/C feels real good.

I'm also going to put a screen on my 12X10 overhead door...

 

[nate379]

Going back on this, any recommendations?

Lowe's carries Larson, and another brand I can't remember right now.

The outside has nickel fixtures for the lights, door knobs, etc so I want to do that for the handle of the storm door too, but it seems to be not so common, with brass being more common.

 

[toolmiser]

Sounds like Larson brand. I also purchase 2 last fall, and like them so far. Can't comment about the screen though, I live in Wisconsin, it was about 10 below last week, no need for the it yet.

 

[lawfarm]

I no longer shop at Menards, and I have looked at the Larsons at Lowes; they look like a nice product. Make sure you get dual closers.

 

[wbclassics]

On my other house we went with a Pella at the main front door and Larsons on the two rear doors. Both brands were available in the same cranberry red color we wanted, and overall the door units were similar. The Pella has better detailing and the brass hardware on the Pella unit stood up much better (less tarnish / aging) than either of the Larsons. The plastic edging strips on the Pella unit also retained its color over the last five years much better than either of the Larsons...

I would probably still make the choice to put the higher end door at the most visible point / main entrance on my home and then the Larsons as the secondary units that receive less attention. We just bought our second home in Oct, and will be putting on new screen doors this spring - including the garage which doesn't have a screen door.

 

[Teken]

My intent of the storm door is secondary, to its true role. It is meant as a security layer to the home. The one I am having built is made of solid wrot iron (sp) it will have the standard glass with the proper gaskets etc.

But, its primary function is to increase the amount of time it takes to enter the building. It has been proven it requires any where from 100-250% more effort to pull something then to push it in.

The two outer lock's are both Medeco key dead bolts. Here is a picture of what I asked the builder to replicate. Once its all done it will be heavy as hell, but very strong against an attacker.

Regards

EVIL Teken . . .

 

[viper86]

I snagged an old, never-used storm door from my dad to put on the back door of the garage. Sometimes I have the garage door and the back door open for when I have people over so that they can come straight into the back yard without going through the house, and occasionally they bring their dogs with them... as curious as the dogs are, they seem to end up in the garage or in the front yard because of the open doors. By putting the storm door in, that won't happen anymore.

That, and it's just one more thing that people would have to contend with before getting into the garage. And, I think a door looks naked if there's not a storm door on it.

 

[nate379]

Pella is the other one I was thinking of at Lowe's. It seemed like they were a bit nicer, thanks for the info.

The cranberry color is what I'm looking at as well. My shutters and doors are a dark red color and I think it may match. The choad working the door section wouldn't let me take the sample they had to check if it would match. They had 5 or 6 of them... Sorry but I'm not spending $600 on 2 doors with a hope that the color will match!

It's one of those things I should have asked for when I bought the house... that and gutters. Oh well I guess, had to learn somehow huh?

On my other house we went with a Pella at the main front door and Larsons on the two rear doors. Both brands were available in the same cranberry red color we wanted, and overall the door units were similar. The Pella has better detailing and the brass hardware on the Pella unit stood up much better (less tarnish / aging) than either of the Larsons. The plastic edging strips on the Pella unit also retained its color over the last five years much better than either of the Larsons...

I would probably still make the choice to put the higher end door at the most visible point / main entrance on my home and then the Larsons as the secondary units that receive less attention. We just bought our second home in Oct, and will be putting on new screen doors this spring - including the garage which doesn't have a screen door.

 

[Tman]

Larsen are good doors. They are made in Brookings South Dakota. To give you an idea how good of a person Larson is, several years back he flew the entire company and thier families to Disneyworld over the holidays. He does something for them each year and has put a ton back into this small Eastern South Dakota comunity.

 

[The Hot Rod Grille]

I have an Anderson full-view storm door on my garage's entry door. No problems with it except for a couple of instances where my buddies have run into it (they forgot it was there!).

Jim

 

[nate379]

I think I'm going to do the 1/2 solid door. Will be nice to have the main door open in the summer but not have all the bugs coming in.

Probably will wait till it warms up to get them though, rather not freeze my **** off working outside right now.

 

[ket-tek]

I have a Pella full view glass on the front of the house and it's made a huge improvement on helping air infiltration, it has been very noticable in both the winter and summer.

On the rear I have the Larson hide-away screen unit like mentioned above, It's a real nice door, but I think the Pella seems to be slightly better quality. But I liked the screen for the rear door by the kitchen to air it out sometimes.

I recommend both doors so far, I've had them a little over 2 years.

I haven't had any issue with them blowing open? The latch on the Pella is so solid and inserts into the jamb so deep I don't think it will ever be an issue. The Larson is sturdy to, but maybe slightly less secure feeling than the Pella.

I have thought about one on the man door in the garage, but notice I go in and out so much when working in the yard and garage I keep thinking it may be in my way more than it's worth. So I have held of on it for now.

 

[Mark-in-NH]

I have the "Pella Select" from lowes on both the front and back of the house. They are an incredibly well built door, very nicely designed, universal swing. Choose your size 32" or 36", your color, your glass, your hardware.
They take a little while to install but the end result is worth every minute.
Everything about the door screams quality, from the look, the fit / finish, the solid feel of opening / closing, the built in dead bolt (comes w/2 keys). The little bracket's they provide for installing the closer's to the door jamb is ingenious and fool proof
I have both a 32" and a 36", matching color, hardware etc. I chose the full view, clear glass (no pattern).
Give them a good look, you won't be dissapointed.

 

[aar0s]

we've had good luck with larson storm doors. they also make a security storm door with multiple locking points rather than one with the dead bolt and they make roll down screens for garage doors up to 16 ft.

 

[ket-tek]

we've had good luck with larson storm doors. they also make a security storm door with multiple locking points rather than one with the dead bolt and they make roll down screens for garage doors up to 16 ft.

I didn't see the roll down garage screens on their website? Do you have a link or any info on these? I'd be interested in getting more information.

I see the ones for the patio doors/french doors, and my old neighbor used to have one of those and it was very nice..

 

[Plump]

When we bought our house, I was told that the reason the builder didn't do screen doors was because they were a huge source of warranty claims. People let them slam, get caught in the wind, beat on or disconnect the closers, etc., and then call and demand replacement during the warranty period. So the first thing we did was buy and install a storm door. We found one at Menards (don't remember what brand) with the hide-away screen, dual closers (top and bottom), no-touch hold open mechanism, lock, etc., for $200. Installed it in about 45 minutes--and works perfect. Looks good, too.

I highly recommend the hide-away (rollup) screen setups. They're really great, and no more storing of storm windows/screens. The only downsides are: 1) you only get a 1/2 screen door (no issue for me, because I'd rather have the bottom 1/2 be glass anyhow, to retain children and dogs); and, 2) in really, really, really strong wind, the screen can blow slightly out of its track, leaving a gap, if you have it all the way open. Not a big deal where I have mine.

I second the motion here for all the same reasons. Shoot, I think we even have the same door from Menards!

 

[aar0s]

http://www.larsondoors.com/screen_doors/ultrabreeze/
last time i asked about price on a 16 footer (a few years ago) they were in the 3-350 range. thought that it would be cool if your garage doubles as the gathering place for summer time family events or if you have a storm door on the building and want some extra ventilation with out the bugs