Do I Need a Storm Door? What to Consider

Storm doors may not be the most glamorous home addition, but they can add much more to your house’s appearance than you might think. Their design has greatly improved over the years and comes with benefits like protection from severe weather and interchangeable glass panels and screens. So, if you’ve ever wondered if you need a storm door, our guide can help you find the answer.

What Is a Storm Door?

Storm doors are exterior doors made of wood, aluminum, vinyl, fiberglass, or steel with glass panels that you install in front of your existing front door. They serve different uses, but overall, they allow for more light to come through your home, improve insulation, provide seasonal ventilation, and offer increased durability and protection against high winds and severe weather.

Differences Between Storm and Screen Doors

Both storm and screen doors are the outermost exterior entry doors. The difference is that screen doors are on a wooden or aluminum frame with screen panels. Their main purpose is ventilation. You can let air in and out of your home without welcoming insects, too.

But screen doors are easy to rip, especially if you have pets or kids. And if it’s raining, you have to close your front door to prevent your home from getting wet. Storm doors have a glass panel and are more durable than screen doors. Plus, they make storm doors with interchangeable glass and screen panels if you still want ventilation during the warmer months. 

Storm Door Pros

Let’s look at some of the benefits you can expect from adding a storm door.

Improves Airflow

Some storm doors offer the flexibility of changing your glass panel to a screen one during warmer weather. If your home feels a little stuffy, you can easily switch between your panels and allow a nice breeze to come through your door.

Protects Against Environmental Factors

When it’s raining or windy, your storm door can protect your front door, which can help it maintain its original appearance. In addition to your front door, storm doors also provide another barrier between insects or small animals and the inside of your home.

Boosts Energy Efficiency

If you live in an older home or if your front door isn’t correctly installed, air may seep through the cracks, increasing your energy bill. A storm door can act as additional insulation and help lower your electric bill by keeping cool air in and hot air out in the summer and vice versa in the winter.

Lets More Natural Light In

With a front door, there’s very little, if any, natural light that can come in. Storm doors, however, let in all the natural light you want without exposing your home.

Affordable

Installing a storm door is less expensive than the cost of replacing an exterior door. If you plan on eventually changing out your front door, storm doors are a budget-friendly option that can benefit your home while you work toward installing a new front door.

May Offer Additional Security

Storm doors can also act as another layer of protection. Some storm doors even have keyed deadbolts you can use while away from home.

Storm Door Cons

Storm doors are handy, but they don’t come without their drawbacks.

Inconvenient

While storm doors offer great benefits, not everyone wants to or can go through two doors to get in and out of their homes.

Not Optimal for Every Home

You might not need a storm door if your entry door is sealed correctly, is in good condition, and is protected under a porch or roof. Of course, every situation is different, so you’ll want to evaluate your reasons behind getting a storm door before making that investment.

Maintenance

Another door means another thing to clean and maintain. While a storm door will protect your front door from the environment, its glass panels can still show signs of dirt, grime, fingerprints, bugs, etc. Since your storm door will be a focal point in your entryway, you’ll want to stay on top of cleaning any imperfections. 

Over time, you might also need to replace some storm door parts, such as the handle, lock, and stopper.

Types of Storm Doors

If you’re considering adding a storm door to your home, you can choose from several options, depending on your needs and goals.

Full-View Storm Doors

Full-view storm doors have an all-glass panel from the top to the bottom of the door. These doors let in as much natural light as possible and allow you to see outside without any restrictions. 

Some doors also come with interchangeable screens that allow you to remove the glass panel for seasonal ventilation.

Mid-View Storm Doors

A mid-view storm door has divided glass panels covering most of it, with 12 to 18 inches of solid material at the bottom. These doors are perfect if you want ventilation, natural light, and a door that can withstand heavy foot traffic.

High-View Storm Doors

These storm doors only have a glass panel on the top portion, while the bottom is solid. They work best if you want some natural light but want to limit how much of your home’s interior people can see from the outside. 

This option is also great if you have kids or pets since the bottom half of high-view doors hides fingerprints and paw prints. And you won’t have to worry about them potentially hurting themselves on the glass panels.

What to Consider Before Buying a Storm Door

Here are the different factors to consider when deciding if a storm door is right for your home.

Where You Live

Storm doors can trap heat, which can cause your front door to warp. This problem is more common if you live in a warm climate and your front door gets direct sunlight for a few hours a day. You’ll need to weigh the pros and cons of getting one, and you’ll have to look into getting a storm door designed to minimize UV rays.

The Door You Have Now

Do you have an older wooden door? If so, it may be prone to drafts, which affect your energy bill. A storm door can help you lower your energy bill and drastically improve your curb appeal. But you’re less likely to need one if you have a newer front door and it’s airtight.

Your Goals

Storm doors are great, but they’re not a catchall. If you’re aiming for maximum security for your entryways, you’ll want to consider an actual security door that’s far better suited to the task.

If you want to lower your energy bill, don’t rely on a storm door to fix that entire problem for you. There’s no denying it’ll help, but your entry door probably isn’t the only area in your home affecting its energy efficiency. 

So, before you look into getting a storm door, ensure you have realistic expectations of how it can help you with your goals.

Cost to Install a Storm Door

You can expect to pay $180 to $650 on the cost to install a storm door, including materials and professional installation. Depending on the type of storm door you want and the features that come with it, it can cost as low as $100 and up to $1,600 per door. But to get a more personalized idea of your project's cost, contact a storm door installer near you.