A home’s front entry needs to be on duty 24/7. Not only does it represent a welcome invitation for guests to enter a home, but it also needs to insulate the home from extreme temperatures, shield its inhabitants from unwanted intruders and ensure safety by protecting the property from storms with high winds, flying debris and driving rain.
Homeowners want beautiful doors and windows that express their style and enhance the curb appeal of their home, but they also want security against break-ins and performance against the elements. Fortunately there are several easy improvements that help homeowners secure their home’s front entrance just by upgrading the entryway materials.
Here are some ways to ensure a front entry is not only beautiful but has what it takes to provide security and protection 24/7:
Unlocked or improperly locked doors and windows are responsible for nearly half of all home break-ins, according to the Home Safety Council. You can upgrade the locking system by adding a surface-mount, rim-mount or vertical deadbolt lock. Better yet, Therma-Tru offers a multi-point locking system that engages the bolts and the door frame at three points instead of just one.
Whatever locking system you choose, a door’s weakest point is generally the area surrounding the lock, especially if it is a wood door, which can rot or crack over time, making it an easy target for an intruder to kick in and enter. That’s why it’s important to choose an entry door made of an exceptionally durable material, such as fiberglass with solid engineered lockblock construction to reinforce the strength behind the handleset.
Doors made of fiberglass are great for entryways because they can provide the rich look and style of wood doors yet fiberglass is extremely strong and won’t warp, crack, rot, swell or split like wood, or rust, ding or dent like aluminum and steel. Fiberglass doors can also withstand temperature extremes, high humidity, and they’re easy to stain or paint.
Therma-Tru offers a wide variety of fiberglass door lines to choose from, available in dozens of designs to complement the most popular types of home architecture. There are also door styles that replicate the classic look of wood-grain textures including mahogany, walnut, oak and cherry.
Severe weather conditions can create tremendous force against a home’s entry and patio doors. The summer months bring with them the threat of severe weather so it’s wise to choose a door that is impact rated. This is especially important in high wind and hurricane-prone areas of the country. Therma-Tru’s opaque impact-rated doors have a steel plate inside to withstand hurricane force winds and they have the highest structural ratings available.
You might think doors made with glass would compromise security and privacy. However, impact-resistant glass is now available in decorative designs and patterns that are so beautiful, no one will be the wiser. In addition to providing beauty and home security, impact rated glass is approved for installation in areas with the most stringent building codes, meaning it can withstand severe storms with heavy winds, rain and flying debris. Impact glass is also available in clear, grilles-between-glass or Low-E versions for improved energy efficiency.
For the safety of your family and property, choose windows for your home — especially near the entry — made with tempered safety glass. Two panes of glass are adhered to a durable plastic interlayer, much like a car windshield. If someone tries to break it, the glass will shatter, but broken pieces remain adhered to the interlayer, preventing glass from falling into the home. Be sure to only open windows that young children cannot reach. Simonton offers ventilation locks that allow windows to be partially opened for fresh air while remaining securely locked.
Patio doors have a reputation as easy targets for intruders. In addition to security concerns, many patio doors are susceptible to air and water infiltration. Look for a patio door system such as Therma-Tru’s Tru-Defense® System that offers a Design Pressure rating of 40 or higher. This means that the system can withstand structural test pressure of 60 pounds per square foot; the equivalent of 150 mph winds; will not allow air infiltration under 25 mph winds; and prevents water penetration under test conditions equal to 8 inches of rain per hour driven by 49 mph winds. Ask for a high-performance sill that will resist rotting and swelling, especially if you live in a rough coastal climate.
For homeowners who purchase a Tru-Defense Door System, Therma-Tru offers reimbursement up to $2,000 should water infiltrate into the home.
ThermaTru is a Builder Partnerships manufacturer associate. For more information about their products and incentive programs, members can login to www.builderpartnerships.com.
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