SWING INTO STYLE WITH THERMA-TRU’S DOOR MAINTENANCE CHECKLIST
Therma-Tru Doors Provides Key Tips to Maintain, Upgrade the Entryway
MAUMEE, OH (June 21, 2006) – A home’s exterior makes or breaks the first impression
when visitors see your home initially. Therma-Tru® Doors, the most preferred brand
of fiberglass entry doors, has the solution for making one of the most important
parts of the house – the entryway – shine.
A spruced-up entryway adds more than just beauty to the home. Therma-Tru’s National
Home Valuation Study found that an enhanced entryway with glass doorlites, sidelites
and transom can add up to $24,000 to the perceived value of the home.
In another study entitled
"Driving Design: From the Front Seat to the Front Porch”
fielded by Harris Interactive and Therma-Tru Doors, found that driving through neighborhoods
is one of the best ways homeowners get ideas and inspiration for their homes, whether
they're building a new home or remodeling their existing home. The research showed
this is true for 70 percent of homeowners, and also showed that for a majority,
the front door and front porch are among the most attention-getting elements and
the second most common item that homeowners want to change in their own homes.
Therma-Tru offers this Door Maintenance Checklist for homeowners who want their
front door to sparkle year round:
- Search for Signs of Damage – If the front door shows wear and tear,
it may be time to replace important door system components. Look for any signs
of rusting or rotting on all the door parts. It’s important to replace and clean
these before touching up the paint or stain. If the door slab or frame is damaged,
it might be time to replace the entire unit. With fiberglass, doors do not split,
shrink or swell as wood doors tend to do. They also do not dent, rust or corrode
like steel doors.
- Check the Hinges – Is the door not swinging properly or making squeaky
noises? If the answer is yes, it may be time to try oiling the hinges for smoother
swinging performance. Tighten the screws in existing hardware or consider replacing
the hinges with high-quality brass or brushed steel components. Therma-Tru offers
high-quality hinges for excellent stability. They are available in various finishes
to match all types of Therma-Tru doors.
- Check the Sill – Check the base of the door frame to find out whether
the sill is performing properly. Your door sill and bottom sweep prevent air
infiltration and water penetration. Try to slide a piece of paper between your
entry door and the sill. If you can, you’ll likely need to adjust the sill or
replace your door bottom sweep. Many times, the sill can settle, opening gaps
for air and water.
Adjust the sill saddle so it is flush or tight with the door bottom, or consider
replacing or adjusting the door bottom sweep for a tighter seal. Therma-Tru
High-Performance (HP) Adjustable Sills are designed with rot-resistant, maintenance-free
composite cap and substrate with stainless steel adjustment hardware.
- Replace the Weatherstripping – Low-quality weatherstripping can lose
its compression over time, opening the door to air infiltration. Look for flat
or cracked weatherstripping that is no longer doing its job. A high-quality
weatherstrip keeps a tight seal for a more energy efficient home.
- Open and Shut Case – Open and shut your door on both dry and wet,
humid days. If your door fits tightly on humid days, then it is probably leaking
air on dry days. You may want to consider a high-performance door such as fiberglass
to prevent swelling.
Therma-Tru Doors offers tips on painting and finishing Therma-Tru doors at www.thermatru.com.
When purchasing a new door, select a high-quality exterior latex or acrylic house
paint in your color preference. Be sure to paint edges and exposed ends of door.
In addition to this checklist for door maintenance, homeowners may also want to consider taking advantage of this opportunity to update their entryway with a new door system. You can replace the door with a new high-performance, low-maintenance fiberglass door, or install a new door system with doorlites and sidelites.
Homeowners can find design ideas, installation tips and a complete door selection on the Therma-Tru web site at www.thermatru.com. The site features an interactive Door Designer where users can match different door styles with glass sidelites, doorlites, transoms, and stain and paint colors to create the look they want.
Therma-Tru provides fully integrated door systems with high-quality components designed to work together, including adjustable sills, top-quality weatherstripping, composite frames and multi-point locks.
Therma-Tru Doors is the nation’s leading manufacturer and most preferred brand of
fiberglass and steel exterior door systems. Founded in 1962, Therma-Tru pioneered
the fiberglass entry door industry, and today offers a complete portfolio of entry
and patio door system solutions, including decorative glass doorlites, sidelites
and transoms, and door components. Therma-Tru, part of consumer brands leader Fortune
Brands (NYSE: FO) is headquartered in Maumee, OH. For more information on Therma-Tru
Doors, visit www.thermatru.com or call (800)537-8827.
CONTACT: Therma-Tru, Sara
Theis, 419-891-7400 ext. 7426.
