A s the last testimonial of our Happy Customer Testimonial series, we’re featuring Vilma’s story for entry door reviews in MA. Vilma shares how one of our sales team members helped her select the perfect entry door for her home in terms of aesthetics and energy savings.

One of the most exciting features of entry door replacement is customizing it to get the perfect look. Consider the following tips to design your dream door from Coastal Windows & Exteriors.

Choose Fiberglass: The Low-Maintenance, Beautiful Entry Door Material

Traditional New England doors were originally made from wood with interesting designs and names including the coffin door. The downside is that wood doors are difficult to maintain and can cost $200-$300 for a paint job by a pro.

If you fail to maintain your wood door, the paint or stain will eventually fade. You’ll then notice the wood begin to peel and the material turns soft over the years. This leads to wood rot and potentially mold and mildew growth, which is the result of moisture damage.

The fix? Fiberglass! Fiberglass is resistant against dents, dings, and cosmetic blemishes that ruin the look of a wood door. Even though fiberglass can look like a real wood door, it won’t rust, rot, or peel like its natural wood counterpart. Fiberglass is weatherproof, durable, and the perfect complement to any New England home.

Styling Your New Entry Door

Here at Coastal Windows & Exteriors, we have a few style secrets up our sleeves for fiberglass entry doors.

  • Get the look of real wood by applying your favorite wood stain. A fiberglass door with wood stain adds instant warmth to the exterior with an authentic New England appearance.
  • Coastal Windows & Exteriors can paint your entry door any color in the Sherwin Williams exterior paint color catalog. According to Coastal Living, exteriors look best with multiple colors, which means you can explore your creative side by trying out a door color such as red or yellow.
  • Give depth and texture to the door by opting for raised panels. Doors with six panels were so ubiquitous during the 1700s that they were referred to as Colonial doors. This is a common feature of old New England doors that create traditional curb appeal today. Choose entry doors with raised panels for a stately and traditional appearance.
  • Side lites are an excellent option for enhancing the look of the exterior while keeping to traditional New England architecture. Side lites and transom windows were also found in the 1700s throughout New England, and they come in countless ornate styles for the home today. Install side lites or transom windows for increased natural light or to add pizzazz with decorative glass.

The Elements of an Energy Efficient Entry Door

With a climate like New England, it’s important to select exterior products that protect against the elements while keeping energy bills low.

  • Install a fiberglass door with a polyurethane foam core. Polyurethane foams are molded to fit inside the door and contain an R-Value between 5.5 to 8 per inch. This provides insulation value that lowers energy bills.
  • A polyurethane foam core provides sound-reduction properties that reduce outdoor noise.
  • According to the Department of Energy, choose entry doors containing low-e glass. This is especially important for extreme climates like New England. Low-e reduces heat transfer and it’s applied to fit the specifications of our climate zone.
  • A well-sealed entry door uses both weatherstripping and a sweep. This fills the space between the threshold and the and the bottom of the door—which are two of the most vulnerable areas that allow drafts into the home.

The last piece of the puzzle for energy efficient entry doors is professional door installation. An incorrectly installed door allows drafts to pass through the frame and the bottom of the door. Opt to hire a professional door installation to save more money on energy bills.

Are You a Happy Customer?

If you’re a happy customer of ours, we’d love to hear from you! We are always looking for happy homeowners to add their reviews on places like Facebook or Google.

If you’ve never worked with us before, we hope that this series helps to earn your trust with our company. We’re here to educate the homeowner every step of the way and provide the best experience possible. For a free quote, contact us at svanderbilt@mycoastalwindows.com or call 978-304-0495.