Guide to Buying Storm Doors 

You have a beautiful solid oak and cut glass entry door, but the elements are quickly affecting the finish of your door.  You could refinish your door every year or so, or you could protect it from the elements with a storm door.  Okay, I know that many of you think that storm doors are flimsy, aluminum, and very unattractive doors that will distract from your beautiful entry door.  The truth is that today’s storm doors are now upscale.

Several years ago the evolution of storm doors started with the incorporation of baked on colors, replacing the ugly aluminum mill finishes.  This brought about other changes such as, the disappearance of visible screws, and the incorporation of a variety of sophisticated options like solid brass hardware, keyed deadbolt locks, and full-sized glass panels with etched, stained, beveled, or camed glass including beautiful stained glass, which resembles pieces of artwork.

Today’s storm doors block drafts, minimize energy loss and provide an extra security measure; they also protect the primary entry door against the elements.  In addition, you can open the main entry door and allow more light or ventilation into your home. 

Storm doors are available in standard door widths--30, 32, 34 and 36 inches.  They are sold as pre-hung units that may be hinged on either side and most styles are available in double-door kits.  Installation of the pre-framed modules is easy, requiring that they only be screwed onto the existing doorjamb. 

If added security is important to you, then there is security-storm doors made of heavy-duty aluminum frame and have either foam or a solid-wood core.  In addition, you can choose decorative heavy-gauge aluminum bars that have been designed to withstand pulling forces of greater than 250 pounds.