Top 5 Signs It’s Time to Replace Your Doors

Doors serve a crucial function in any home or workplace. In addition to providing privacy and helping you separate the different areas of your property, they also increase curb appeal, improve insulation, and keep burglars and other criminals away. 

For this reason, having your doors installed and maintained by a reliable carpentry services provider in Fort Collins is essential in order to keep your home or place of business safe and operating as it should. 

We have previously listed the different types of carpenters and gave you some pointers on whether to replace or repair your kitchen cabinetry. In this article, we’ll help you decide whether to install new doors or repair existing ones by listing the 5 signs that your doors are at the end of their service life. Read on.

When should you replace a door?

Removing old doors and installing new ones can be a lengthy, expensive, and difficult process. Always take a good, long look at your existing doors before determining whether extensive replacements are necessary.

Here are the 5 major signs you need new doors:

1. They’re no longer usable

As a door reaches the end of its life, it’ll become increasingly difficult to lock, close, or open. While routine maintenance (e.g., changing out a lock) can sometimes solve this problem, a replacement is usually the more cost-effective option. 

2. Severe damage or wear

If your door has become cracked or warped, or there are clear signs of rot, mold, or termite damage, you should get a new one. However, if the damage is only surface-level (e.g., peeling or scratched paint), a fresh coat of paint may be able to solve the issue.

3. The door is dated

Sometimes, the door may be perfectly functional and undamaged, but it may still look outdated in an otherwise contemporary home, or lack modern features such as stronger insulation, support for more complex locks, and so on. 

4. Your doors are drafty

Like old windows, old doors tend to get drafty over time. This is not only uncomfortable for the occupants, it can also drive up your energy bills. It’s sometimes possible to solve this problem by installing sealing trim behind the problematic doors, but in most cases a door replacement is a better long-term choice. 

5. They’re unsafe

Old doors use old locks and tend to be more loose in their frames. This makes it easier for thieves to break into your property. Furthermore, older doors tend to be made of flimsier materials that are easier to break into than newer fiberglass, metal, or vinyl doors.

When replacing a door do you have to replace the frame?

The door frame is the structure that supports the door while it’s shut or open. It contains a few different components, including the sill (bottom part of an exterior frame), head (top part of the frame), and jamb (the two side parts of the frame). 

Both interior and exterior doors can be replaced without the need to replace the frame as well. However, exactly how you’ll go about doing this will depend on whether the door in question is an interior or exterior one, and whether it uses a standard prehung frame or a custom slab. 

Who should I call when I need reliable carpentry services in Fort Collins?

Having the right craftsmen on your side is essential in order to ensure your new doors are installed properly and with minimal hassle. Here at Handyman Connection of Fort Collins, we can provide you with the complete range of home improvement services, including carpentry, electric, plumbing, painting, and more. Reach out to us today if you’d like to request an estimate. Our technicians will quickly deal with whichever problem you may have while you relax or enjoy an outdoorsy day at the Soapstone Prairie Natural Area with your friends. Call us today.