Local Knowledge About Replacement Doors

In an older home, the entry door is often one of its most attractive features. Replacing a beautiful door is not a realistic option. From the standpoint of cost-efficient energy improvements, replacing an entry door is also one of the least effective options. This is due to the high cost per square foot for the relatively small percentage of the overall thermal envelope the door covers. Solid wood doors have an R-value of about R-1 per inch of thickness. The main source of heat loss from any door is through infiltration (air leakage) around the door. Careful and thorough weather stripping should surround every entry door, old or new. However, if an entry door becomes damaged or aged beyond repair, foam core and other types of replacement doors offer an attractive and energy saving option.