5 Signs Your Entry Door Needs Replacing

Your entry door works harder than almost anything else on your home. It opens and closes thousands of times a year, stands up to every season, and is the first thing guests see. When it starts to struggle, you’ll usually notice these signs.

1. Light or air gets in around the edges

If you can see daylight around a closed door, or feel cold air at the threshold, the door is no longer sealing. That means wasted energy, uncomfortable entryways and, in a South Dakota winter, frost where you don’t want it.

2. It sticks, drags or won’t latch

A door that has to be shoved closed or lifted to latch has often shifted in its frame. Adjusting the hinges can help for a while, but a frame that has settled or warped will keep pulling the door out of line.

3. The finish is faded, peeling or worn

Sun and weather are hard on doors. Faded stain, peeling paint and worn-through finishes near the bottom of the door are more than cosmetic — they can let moisture into the door itself.

4. The frame or threshold is damaged

Soft or rotting wood, peeling trim and a worn threshold are signs the whole unit is due, not just the door. Replacing the door and frame together gives you a tight, square fit.

5. It doesn’t feel secure

Loose hardware, a door that flexes when it’s locked or glass that rattles are all reasons to consider a new door. A solid, well-fitted door with quality locks is one of the simplest ways to feel safer at home.

Choosing a new door

• Pick a color that works with your siding, brick, trim and roof together.
• Decide how much light you want — decorative and textured glass brightens the entry while keeping privacy.
• Choose hardware that fits the style of your home.
• Ask about the frame, threshold and sill, not just the door slab.

If your door is showing any of these signs, we’d be glad to help you find one that fits your home and how you use it. Estimates are always free.