Benefits of a Storm Door for your Garage
Storm doors offer the best of both worlds and can still help you achieve your entryway goals. They ensure more light into your garage workspace when you want it, and other practical benefits like extra protection, airflow, security, noise reduction, and comfort through added insulation – especially if your garage’s side door isn’t completely airtight.
These secondary garage entry doors are installed to help form a barrier between the main door and the outside. As the name suggests, as long as the glass remains, it protects that main garage side door and threshold from harsh weather like heavy rainfall, snow, fast winds, debris, ice, and maybe even a stray ball from the neighborhood kids!
You could still be wondering, are storm doors a thing of the past or a useful addition to your garage entrance? Well, hopefully, we’ll be answering that question here.
What are the Advantages?
Many factors can help decide if a storm door is an advantage for you and your home – climate, lifestyle, energy efficiency, and life – only name a few of them. If you live somewhere colder it’s nice to have that extra level of protection against air leaks to help keep in the warmth while keeping the cold air out. In warmer areas, a storm door with a screen helps with ventilation and airflow without needing to worry about pesky bugs flying into your home.
Other Benefits to Consider
A nice glass storm door immediately helps brighten up a dark garage. They also offer an extra level of protection from weather elements. These doors can even increase the lifespan of your main garage side door.
The additional buffer created by a storm door, between the outside and the main door helps to prevent air leaks. It’s because of the added layer of insulation it adds by keeping air from entering or leaving your climate-controlled garage. Now because of this added insulation, it can help the strain on your garage’s fans, helping them work more efficiently – even lowering the utility bill over time.
These aren’t the same storm doors that you remember being on your grandma’s house. The squeaky aluminum of the past is gone. Modern storm doors come in different styles, colors, and even materials. These include lots of hardware options and other customizations to personalize it to your house and your preferred style. All of these will still include the locks. Some come with deadbolts or multipoint locking systems, plus reinforced glass that will further discourage unwanted entrance.
The final added benefit of getting a storm door is sound reduction. That extra insulation also acts as an effective sound barrier. If you live in a busy area with high traffic, a hospital, railroad tracks, or maybe even a military base – a secondary door will help reduce the noise in your garage.
The Drawbacks to Consider
In some cases, a storm door can trap too much heat and possibly damage your main side door. This is mostly a concern in hotter climates and for homes where the main entrance receives a lot of direct sunlight. Another hassle can be having two doors to open when you have your hands full of groceries. Which can be annoying, but minor compared to the benefits you’ll get from having a new storm door on your home.
Types of Storm Doors
While there are many more styles, materials, and even colors available for storm doors than our grandparents and parents ever thought possible – there are three main types.
Providing the most natural light, with an all-glass panel spanning from top to bottom These not only provide the most light but give you the most view of the outside. Select styles of these doors may include interchangeable screens. This just enables you to remove the glass for the screen to allow for seasonal ventilation.
Next is a mid-view storm door; they typically have a divided glass panel that covers the top ¾ of the door with a kick plate of solid material at the bottom. This is an ideal option for those wanting ventilation and natural light, but with added durability.
Finally, high-view storm doors are made to balance natural light and privacy. They only have a glass panel on the top half, while the bottom is solid. These are good options for families with pets and children, who need a door that can withstand some heavy foot traffic.
What’s the Difference Between a Storm Door and a Screen Door?
A screen door, just like a screen door, is usually used as the outermost exterior door. Screen doors, however, are made of aluminum or wooden frames with screen panels instead of glass. That screen mesh can easily be torn, so it doesn’t offer much in ways of protection but they’re still great on a nice breezy day.
Do You Need A Storm Door?
Not everybody needs a storm door, and while it offers a variety of benefits to your garage – comfort, security, light – it ultimately depends on your garage, location, and your lifestyle to decide if they are right for you and your garage. While they do help, they may not make any crazy difference in your energy bills either.
We always suggest talking to a professional before you make these kinds of decisions.
