The speakeasy grille—reminiscent of Prohibition—is an accessory used on doors, even in this modern day and age. It’s often a front door accessory used to add a rustic or historical feel to a house’s exterior, especially for those who appreciate an architectural flair. The speakeasy grille is designed to open a small part near the top of the door—or mimic this look—where someone from inside the home can see or speak to a person outside.
Let’s take a look at some of the reasons why you should consider adding a speakeasy grille to your exterior door.
Historical charm
The speakeasy grille was popularized during the Prohibition Era, which fell between 1920 and 1933. Speakeasy bars were establishments that sold alcohol illegally to their patrons. The term “speakeasy” came from the phrase “speaking easy” that patrons would use, meaning to speak quietly to prevent authorities from finding out about the establishments. Patrons would speak into the speakeasy grilles to gain entry, often using a password.
While speakeasy grilles were quickly abandoned after the Prohibition ended, they have been brought back in recent years as an elegant or historical touch to a home.
Conversation starter
Not only do speakeasy grilles have roots in American history, they’re a great accent piece to add to your door for a unique look. Speakeasy grilles can add a subtle touch of class to your home’s exterior and boost your front door curb appeal. This is a great way to impress any guests and visitors by allowing your style, personality, and appreciation for historical architecture to shine through your home.
Functionality
Speakeasy grilles that can open and close—like they did in the Prohibition—offer additional functionality to your door. When answering the door, instead of opening it to greet any callers, you can first check who it is from inside the safety of your home, especially if the visitor is unexpected. Speakeasy grilles can make it safe and fun for children who enjoy running to the door to see who is visiting.
Pair your new speakeasy grille with Plastpro’s Rustic Series
Speakeasy grilles pair particularly well with Plastpro’s Rustic Door Series, which has charming features such as vertical planks, distinct panel details, and arched and radius tops. Depending on the style, you can opt for a country, vintage, or classic look to complement your home. The Rustic Series is made from fiberglass, which combines the charming, natural look of a rustic wood door with a fiberglass door’s low-maintenance benefits and enhanced door security.
Plastpro’s speakeasy grille accessories offer two options: the Industrial Speakeasy, which offers the classic speakeasy look with wrought-iron bars and the Open Speakeasy, which offers the expected look of a grille with an opening. Pair your speakeasy with our other wrought iron accessories for a front door that is hard to ignore.
Design your door today and use our Doorability tool to visualize it on your home. Check out our Where to Buy page for more information.
Natural light is an often sought after feature for any home. When given the choice between the sun’s natural rays and fluorescent lighting, most would opt for natural light over artificial. And for good reason—it’s a great feeling to walk into a warm, bright room.
However, while a brighter space is often the first thing that comes to mind, natural light also has many other benefits—for both a home and its residents. Let’s take a look at some of the most impactful.
Benefits of natural light
Improves wellbeing
There’s a reason humans are awake during the day and sleep at night. As we’re programmed to respond and adapt to sunlight, it makes sense for us to prefer as much natural light in our home as possible. Natural light also helps our bodies produce vitamin D, and a lack of natural light can even contribute to Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD), making natural light immensely beneficial to both our physical and mental wellbeing.
Can help prevent mold and mildew
Another benefit of natural light is that it can potentially keep your house healthy and free of mold and mildew. Dark, poorly ventilated spaces, such as basement apartments, make it easy for these irritants to pop up. When a home is exposed to an abundance of sunlight, it can prevent the mold spores from growing and becoming a future issue.
Improves the appearance of your home
Many architects will design buildings to allow for as much natural light as possible, as it can make spaces appear bigger, illuminate a particular aspect of your home, and generally improve the aesthetic quality of the space. This certainly applies to homes, as prospective homeowners often seek homes with as much natural light as possible.
Can increase the value of your home
Going off of the last point, it’s not uncommon for houses with expansive windows and an abundance of natural light to sell for more than those that appear darker and more sheltered from sunlight. As mentioned before, natural light can help spaces appear bigger, and thus, as more valuable. New doors and windows are often recommended as ways to improve your home value before selling, and opting for those that allow for the most natural light can make your home even more appealing.
Adding natural light with Plastpro
There are many ways to add more natural light to a home. Often, adding windows is the first thing that comes to mind—but adding a new front door with glass is another great option that won’t require changes to any existing structure.
Plastpro’s Onelite and Nova Series’ offer a wide variety of options for any home, style, and preference to maximize your home’s natural light and the benefits that come with it. The Nova Door Series features direct glazed glass which creates a seamless blend between the glass and the door. Adding a full glass door option will allow maximum natural light into the space, making it a great choice for reaping the multitude of benefits natural light provides. Translucent glass options are also available, which are a great way to add light without compromising privacy.
In addition to the benefits of additional natural light, all our door series’ offer Plastpro’s exclusive HydroShieldTechnology, which will provide additional weatherproof durability and the security that comes with a high-quality, fiberglass exterior.
Check out Plastpro’s Where to Buy page to find a dealer near you today.
Whether you’re planning a home makeover, sprucing up your entryway, or trying to boost your home’s curb appeal, you might be considering changing up your front door’s color. Choosing a front door color might seem like an easy, personal choice—and it can be—but there are a variety of factors that go into making this decision, especially if you’re trying to re-sell your home.
If you’re trying to stay up to date, knowing the current trends for front door color is especially important. A front door can change the entire look of a house, whether it’s a new door or has simply been re–painted with a new color.
Choosing a new color for your front door depends on a variety of factors: your home’s architectural style, the color of your home, and your personal tastes. While a certain color might appeal to you personally, it’s important to think about whether or not that color will complement your home’s exterior. That being said, here are six of the most popular door colors. Before choosing a paint, be sure to check with your manufacturer’s warranty and care and maintenance information, to ensure you choose the right type of paint and don’t void your warranty or damage your door.
Seafoam green
Seafoam green—whether a bright hue or a more muted tone—can offer a nice accent to the exterior of your home. A seafoam green front door usually pairs best with a neutral exterior color such as white or gray. Depending on the undertone, this can even work well with a brick home.
Coral
For a cheerful statement, coral can be a great choice for your front door color. This pairs well with an exterior that has light, neutral colors such as white, tan, or gray and gives it a pop of color. Or, it can even add a nice contrast to a house that’s painted with green or blue tones.
Light Gray
A light gray door can offer a classic, elegant look and is one of the most versatile colors, as it goes well with a wide variety of architectural styles and colors, from Victorian to Contemporary to Cottage-style. If you’re not looking to make a statement with your front door, light gray offers a subtle, yet gorgeous, look.
Bright red
A bright red front door is one of the most popular colors right now, and for good reason. It’s bold and vibrant, easily catching the eye of anyone who passes your house— it certainly will boost front door curb appeal. A red front door is best suited for a light, neutral house (white or gray) or a house with a brick exterior.
Teal
For another bright and cheerful color option, you can almost never go wrong with a teal front door. Teal can work with nearly all home styles, but it’ll offer the most crisp, dazzling appearance against a white or stone house. It can even be a great statement piece against a brick house.
Mustard
A mustard or similar shade of yellow can brighten up your entryway and add a warm pop of color to your porch. Yellow is another versatile color, going well with many home styles or colors, from a dark gray modern house to a white Victorian home.
Finding a customizable door
Choosing a new front door color is a great way to express personality or creativity through the home. If it’s not time for a replacement, painting the door is an easy solution for updating your entryway. For more information on painting doors, check out Plastpro’s guides on painting woodgrain or smooth skin doors.
When it’s time for a replacement, opting for an easily customizable door will make it easy to get the right color. Plastpro’s Smooth Skin Series can be easily painted to accommodate any style or preference. Alongside this added customization are all the benefits of Plastpro’s fiberglass doors, such as superior durability, security, and energy efficiency. Plastpro’s blend of style and performance will make any entryway stand out.
Check out Plastpro’s Where to Buy page to find a dealer near you, or try out our Doorability tool to start customizing today.
Your front door is where guests are welcomed into the home and the first thing neighbors will notice about the home, so it is only natural to want this focal point to give a great first impression. However, given the high traffic of front doors, this means they’re subject to wear and tear, dirt, grime, and other issues that might not leave the door as neat and tidy as desired. However, there are plenty of ways to maintain your front door and keep it looking great all the time, and it only takes a little bit of regular attention.
Let’s take a look at a few door maintenance tips to keep your entryway looking great all year long. Please note that you should always check with your door’s manufacturer for official care and maintenance tips as well, to be sure you stay within the terms of your warranty.
Door Maintenance Tips
Regularly check the hardware
Your front door is used so often that it’s rarely given much thought, but constant use will put pressure on and wear out the hardware. Screws, doorknobs, hinges, handles, or door plates can loosen—or even break—and locks and hinges can stick. Tightening, lubricating, and replacing hardware as needed is crucial to the safety and structural integrity of your door.
Inspect the weatherstripping
Door maintenance doesn’t only mean the door itself; it includes the surrounding hardware. Weatherstripping is important to ensure your door is properly sealed against the elements. As it generally runs alongside the sides of your frame and the bottom of the door, it’s highly prone to wear and tear. Running your hand along the sides of the door when it’s closed to feel for drafts is a great way to inspect your weatherstripping on a regular basis, as well as checking for cracking and peeling, or damage in general.
Address wear and tear
While significant wear and tear might be something that requires a larger solution, minor wear and tear can be easily addressed when it comes to door maintenance. Depending on your door’s material, this might be scuffs, loose paint, scratches, or dents. To keep your door looking great, buff away scuffs and scratches with sandpaper and take a stiff brush to loose paint chips.
Clean your door
As your front door is in constant use, it’s certainly not immune to dirt, dust, and other elements that might plague your door’s appearance. When cleaning steel, fiberglass, and wood doors, use a gentle cleaner like diluted dish soap or baby shampoo mixed with water. You’ll want to avoid anything abrasive so as to not damage the door; sponges or lint-free towels are the best choice. Once you’ve finished cleaning the entire door, rinse and wipe dry. If your door has glass, vinegar and water is a great cleaning solution for your glass inserts.
Please note that we emphasize gentle cleaning and highly recommend you avoid power washing windows and doors, as this can lead to damage and foggy glass. Check with your door manufacturer for recommended cleaning methods that won’t void your warranty, as well as with the manufacturer of your paint or stain.
Apply a fresh coat of paint or top coat
To go the extra mile with door maintenance, give your front door a face-lift with a fresh coat of paint. This is a great time to change your door’s color to give it that pop of color you’ve been mulling over to renew the look of your home. Applying a fresh coat of paint will also renew your door’s protection against the harshness of the elements. If you are looking to keep the same color, a simple top coat will also protect your door from color fading or weather damages.
Plastpro has specific guides for painting our Smooth Skin and Woodgrain fiberglass doors- again, we recommend you check with your door’s manufacturer for similar guidance.
Don’t forget the door jamb
While the door slab is usually top of mind for door maintenance, inspecting the door jamb is equally important. Exposure to the elements can lead to damage, warping, or rotting over time that can be easily missed. Regular inspections make it easier to spot these issues and take action quickly—and potentially avoid the need for a full replacement.
How fiberglass doors can help
How often door maintenance is required will depend on the material of your front door, especially if you live in a climate subject to harsh elements. Fiberglass exterior doors are a great option for reducing the overall amount of door maintenance needed, especially when compared with wood or steel doors.
Plastpro’s fiberglass doors resist rotting, warping, denting, and other common issues found in wood and steel doors. Not only does this mean less yearly maintenance, but it also leads to a longer lifespan overall. Fiberglass doors are also highly weather resistant, ensuring that you are protected from damage in climates prone to severe weather. Our exclusive HydroShield Technology encases the door with composite, weatherproof material on all 6 sides to reduce warping, rotting, and the buildup of mold and mildew that will create a need for more intensive maintenance.
Pair this technology with our fully composite, Polyfiber (PF) Door Frames to allow your door frame to have the same durable benefits and create a fully impenetrable entryway.
If you want to keep your yearly door maintenance to a minimum, check out Plastpro’s Where to Buy page for more information.
When it comes to having the best-looking house on the block or getting your home ready to sell, “curb appeal” is something you might hear quite a bit, and for good reason. Being that the outside of your home is the first thing a neighbor or prospective buyer notices, it is important for making a great first impression.
While having nice, updated features throughout the exterior of your home is certainly the best way to boost your home’s curb appeal, the front door plays an especially essential role. But if updating your entire door is more of a project than you can take on at the moment, the easiest way to boost your curb appeal is by adding front door accessories.
If you’re looking to breathe some life into your home’s appearance, here are some front door accessories that can help.
Decorative Hardware
Adding decorative hardware to your front door can add a lot of personality and style to your door—and capture the attention of visitors and neighbors. Plastpro offers a variety of decorative hardware options for our Rustic, Craftsman, Nova, Oak, and Smooth Door Series.
Clavos
Clavos are a small way to add a major pop to your door. They can be customized to your individual style—whether it be bold, studded square clavos, or the subtle, minimalist round clavos. Each is also available in large or small sizes to fit your taste. The deep black will easily stand out against our Rustic Doors, especially when paired with a plank door.
Hinge Straps
A hinge strap is a subtle, yet stylish, way to add dimension and charm to your door. Plastpro’s hinge straps come in a bold, black color that will pop against the rich woodgrain skin of our Rustic Doors. Made of durable aluminum that resists rust and discoloration, our hinge straps are a low-maintenance and long-lasting way to boost your curb appeal.
Speakeasy
As the name suggests, speakeasies feature the vintage charm of the Prohibition Era. This unique door accessory is perfect for those looking to add antique flair—one that is sure to be a conversation starter for guests. Plastpro’s speakeasies come in two designs: the ornate, eye-catching Industrial Speakeasy, and the sleek, eclectic Open Speakeasy.
Dentil Shelf
For a touch of elegance, you may consider adding a dentil shelf. Set at the top of the door, a dentil shelf adds dimensionality to your entryway. Plastpro’s dentil shelves come in three finishes—oak, fir, and smooth skin—to accommodate your door style, and they’re made from high-density polyurethane to ensure they can stand up against the elements with no warping or cracking.
SDL Kits
Adding Simulated Divided Lites (SDL) Kits to your front door glass is a perfect way to add beauty to the door while also improving the aesthetic of light as it enters the home. The kits come in a variety of design options depending on your door size and style. Plastpro’s SDL Kits are pre-cut and easily installed, making them a simple way to add curb appeal to your door. Made from composite material, the kits are weatherproof, ensuring you can enjoy your new door design for years.
Other new hardware
Purchasing other new hardware like doorknobs and knockers can breathe new life into any front door. If you don’t have a door knocker, you might consider one for added elegance to your front door. For a more modern or artistic look, choose a color that pops against the color of your door, or match it to your trim.
New moulding
Front door curb appeal isn’t just limited to the door itself, but includes the surrounding components too. If you’re looking to put a bit more effort into your home’s curb appeal, installing new moulding—especially if you’ve just gotten a new front door—is a great way to boost appeal and freshen up your home’s exterior. Moulding is typically available in a variety of styles to fit your home’s aesthetic and is a great way to add a personal touch to your entryway.
Plastpro offers a fantastic variety of moulding options to fit any style of door. Made from composite material, Plastpro’s moulding is durable and provides additional protection to the entryway. It can also be painted, making it a flexible option for those looking to have some fun with new colors in their home’s entryway.
Quick add-ons
If you’re looking for an even quicker and easier way to improve curb appeal, there are a variety of add-ons that you can purchase almost anywhere to give your entryway new life.
A fresh welcome mat
One of the simplest ways to liven up your front door and entryway is through a fresh welcome mat. Stepping through a home’s threshold should be a welcoming experience, and what better way to do this than providing an inviting message or seasonal image for guests as they enter? A new welcome mat will make your entryway appear fresh and clean—as well as help prevent dirt and debris making their way into your front hallway.
Seasonal accessories
Another common way to enhance your door’s appearance is through seasonal accessories—the most common being wreaths. Wreaths add a welcoming, homey vibe to your front door. While seasonal might make one think of the Christmas season, seasonal accessories for your front door extend well beyond Christmas offerings. There are various types of wreaths and other seasonal front door accessories to fit any season, holiday, and home.
Customize your entryway with Plastpro
To get started with Plastpro’s fiberglass doors, composite frames and moulding, and front door accessories, check out Plastpro’s Where to Buy tool to find a dealer near you today.
Adding an entry door with glass inserts is a great way to immediately transform the look of your home—and to give yourself some natural light. Natural light provides many benefits, and door glass can be a great way to reap the benefits while also adding curb appeal and maintaining privacy in the home. There are a variety of considerations when choosing entry door glass inserts, especially when you are also looking to maximize natural light.
Let’s take a look at four of the most important factors for entry door glass inserts.
Transparency
When deciding on glass inserts for your front door, two of the biggest deciding factors are privacy and light. The two often come with trade-offs: while someone who enjoys a lot of natural light might want a full or half clear glass door, this can compromise the privacy that a front door often offers.
Entry door glass inserts come in a variety of transparency levels depending on your privacy needs. Options such as frosted or opaque glass will provide the most privacy—however, this often comes at the expense of a bit less natural light in your home. For those looking for a balance of both, combining opaque glass with clear glass near the top of the door can provide the privacy you’re looking for without sacrificing the extra light.
Design
Your front door’s design and your home’s architectural style can also play a role in the entry door glass inserts you choose. Glass inserts come in a variety of styles that you can select depending on your taste and how much natural light you want.
Intricate designs featuring decorative glass and caming are great for boosting front door curb appeal or expressing yourself through your home’s design, but busier designs may come at the cost of less light. If natural light is your top priority, you may need to sacrifice these design options in exchange for simpler clear glass.
Energy Efficiency
If you live in an area with extreme hot or cold temperatures and are concerned with maximum energy efficiency, a past bad experience with thin window glass might make you hesitant to opt for entry door glass inserts. Chilly drafts in the middle of winter are a pain, but having glass inserts doesn’t mean this is something you’ll have to deal with. Low-E (low-emissivity) glass is a great choice for indoor temperature regulation, as the microscopic coating on the glass reflects the interior temperature. This will help keep your home warm in the winter and cool in the summer.
Luckily, energy efficient glass does not need to come at the expense of natural light. This thin glass coating does not change the visible look of the glass or the amount of light coming indoors. Therefore, you get all the natural light with additional protection from the elements—and added savings on your heating and cooling bills.
Security
One of the biggest worries homeowners have when considering glass inserts is whether or not glass will compromise their front door security. While a door with glass inserts will not be quite as secure as a full slab door, entry door glass inserts are often designed to be more durable than normal glass so that homeowners can enjoy extra natural light and the appearance of glass inserts without safety concerns.
Entry door glass inserts are often designed to be impact resistant, as the decorative glass used for front doors is tempered, meaning the material is stronger and more difficult to break. Special impact glass inserts are also available, so that homeowners in hurricane prone regions can still enjoy the benefits without sacrificing safety.
Plastpro’s Entry Door Glass Insert Options
When considering the categories above, it can be difficult to find entry door glass inserts that fit all of these needs while still providing ample natural light. Luckily, Plastpro’s Doorlite Series and Solution Doorlite Series are excellent options for adding beautiful glass designs to your entryway without sacrificing energy efficiency or security. Available in a variety of designs, it’s easy to find a style that complements your home, each with varying levels of privacy and natural light to fit your needs.
When it comes to adding natural light with entry door glass inserts, it’s best to identify your top priorities so that you know exactly which options are right for you. But with numerous options available, you’ll surely find your perfect fit. Get started designing your dream door with Plastpro’s Doorability, or find a dealer near you.
With winter quickly approaching, homeowners in colder climates are putting the finishing touches on weatherproofing for the season. If you have yet to start preparing, or are wondering how to keep your house warm in winter, it’s not too late- we have provided some tips on big and small projects that will make an impact on your daily life. Whether you’re being mindful about energy efficiency or simply don’t want to deal with cold drafts blowing through your house, there are plenty of ways to keep the warm air in and the cold air out during the winter.
Major Home Makeover Options
If you’re looking to boost the overall energy efficiency of your home, major home projects may be the way to go. These upgrades can have long-lasting impacts, and are sure-fire ways to keep the heat in during the winter.
Install energy-efficient exterior doors and windows
Your front door is one of the most important aspects of your home, especially when it comes to keeping your house warm in the winter. Installing an energy-efficient front door is one of the best ways to retain heat during the winter season. While your wood or steel front door may do the trick, fiberglass is an efficient option, especially as fiberglass can have up to five times the amount of insulation value compared to wood.
The same can be said for energy-efficient windows. Low-E (low-emissivity) glass is a great choice for indoor temperature regulation, as the microscopic coating on the glass reflects the interior temperature. This will help keep your home warm in the winter and cool in the summer. This protective coating doesn’t diminish the light coming in through the window and provides additional benefits such as protecting furniture or flooring from damage and fading caused by UV rays.
It should also be noted that, if replacing your windows isn’t an option, there are solutions available to help keep your windows insulated. Clear, insulative film can help keep pesky drafts out of your home in the winter and won’t compromise how much light comes in. If visibility or natural light isn’t a top priority, heavy-duty insulation is also available.
Insulate your attic
Ensuring that your home is properly insulated will go a long way in keeping your home warm in the winter, and one area to be mindful of is the attic. Without proper insulation, your attic can lead to significant temperature differences and fluctuations in your home. Ultimately, this can lead to higher heating bills in the winter. Insulating your attic can make for a more comfortable and consistent temperature in your home all winter long.
Check the seal of your doors and windows
Even if you have an energy-efficient front door, it’s not guaranteed to keep your house warm in winter if the weatherstripping is in need of replacement or there are gaps in your door. Understanding how to inspect your door’s weatherstripping is a great way to ensure your entryway is ready for the winter winds—or if it’s time for replacement. If there are visible cracks or holes around the door, filling with caulk can help prevent drafts. Additionally, a draft guard can be used for the bottom of the door.
Be sure to inspect the weatherstripping around your windows as well, and check for any visible cracks in the glass that could let the cold in. Additionally, using storm windows can provide additional protection against the wind.
Quick Home Maintenance and Tips
In addition to larger home projects, there are a variety of ways to prepare your home for the winter. Let’s take a look at a few.
Use a doormat and an entryway rug
While your front door is certainly the first line of defense against cold weather, it certainly will not help your case if you’re tracking snow and ice into your home during the winter. Putting a doormat outside to brush off snow and a rug inside to prevent cold puddles from forming will help maintain a warmer entryway during the winter.
Cover tile and hardwood flooring with rugs
Your foyer isn’t the only place where a rug can come in handy. Floors can account for up to 10% of a home’s heat loss when left bare. If your house has a lot of hardwood and tile flooring, using thick rugs will provide insulation and lessen heat loss.
Select heavyweight curtains
Alongside window insulation, heavyweight curtains are another great way to keep your house warm in the winter, as closed curtains will keep warm air from leaving the home through your windows. The thicker the curtain, the better protection it offers against heat loss.
Move your furniture
To maximize the warmth in your house, it’s recommended to rearrange your furniture if your couch is blocking your source of heat.
Close your fireplace flue
Unless you’re enjoying a fire on a cold evening, it’s important to close your fireplace flue as fireplaces and chimneys are often a cause for heat loss in homes during the winter season. To minimize cold drafts as much as possible, consider buying an inflatable chimney blocker—just make sure to take it out before using the fireplace.
How Plastpro can help
As mentioned, upgrading to an energy-efficient front door will go a long way when it comes to lowering your heat bills and keeping your house warm in winter. Plastpro’s exterior fiberglass doors are a great solution when comparing wood, fiberglass, and steel options due to the interior construction. The interior of our doors—the core—is made of a tightly packed, dense polyurethane foam. This allows our doors to be six times as insulating as a standard wood door.
High-density foam means fewer air gaps are left within the door, preventing air from passing through—holding in the interior air temperature and blocking outside temperatures from penetrating. We offer attractive, ENERGY STAR qualified doors that will help to keep the warmth in on those cold winter nights, helping you to stay comfortable while also saving on your monthly heating costs.
Pairing a Plastpro door with the other options listed above will ensure that your home stays warm this winter. To get started, find a Plastpro dealer near you to check out our selection of energy-efficient fiberglass doors.
Front doors are important to the first impression your home makes, and they’re the first place many homeowners turn to when upgrading or changing the look of their home. Whether you’ve just purchased a new home with a front door that you don’t love or have decided it’s time to change the look of your entryway, it’s important to know and consider all of your options, especially when it comes to selecting the right door glass.
The right front door glass selection will last a long time, improve your home’s energy efficiency, and add value to your house—as well as improve the curb appeal. Oftentimes, the door itself is still in great condition with the glass being the main issue. In situations like this, you may opt to replace the front door glass.
Reasons to replace front door glass
There are a variety of reasons why one might need to replace the glass in their front door. Understanding some of the common situations can help you identify which replacement options may be best suited for you when it comes to replacing your front door glass. Let’s take a look at a few of the most common.
1. Your exterior door glass has suffered damage
The easiest way to determine whether you need to replace front door glass is if the glass has suffered physical damage. This might be cracks, breaks, or chips around the edges. In this case, it’s important to inspect both the exterior and interior sides of the glass section. While it’s not always necessary to replace your front door glass if the damage is not that extensive, it’s possible the damage can worsen and result in a less effective entryway in terms of efficiency, security, and appearance. In this case, replacing the glass can save you money on your energy bill and improve front door security.
2. You want to upgrade your entryway for a new look
Sometimes, it’s not the quality of the front door glass that’s the issue, but the appearance—whether it’s the glass or the door itself. If you’re bored or dissatisfied with the appearance of your front door—or want additional privacy—and don’t want to spend money on an entire door, you might consider simply replacing the front door glass insert(s). This can completely revamp the look of your entryway, whether for a budget-friendly home makeover, accentuating your home’s architectural style, improving your curb appeal before putting your home on the market, or, in the case of translucent glass, boosting your home’s privacy. Replacing your front door glass inserts with a new style is a simple recipe for a brand new entryway.
3. Your front door glass is drafty
Your front door isn’t just important for first impressions—it’s one of the most important elements separating you and your family from the outside world, including from harsh weather. If your front door is allowing drafts into your home, it’s possible the glass is the problem, meaning it might be time to replace your front door glass. Drafts can significantly affect your energy bill, especially in those cold winter months, making it crucial to ensure your front door glass isn’t allowing drafts into your home. This will also apply to sound, meaning an upgrade to better fitting glass can provide additional soundproofing.
To test whether or not this is an issue, you might use the “flame test” to check for drafts. Using a candle or a lighter, carefully move the flame around any areas of your front door that might be compromised, allowing drafts. If the flame is moving suddenly or flickering, this can be indicative of a draft problem and means it might be time to replace your front door glass. You may consider upgrading to low-emissivity (Low-E) glass, which is specifically designed with energy efficiency in mind.
4. Your front door glass has trapped moisture
The majority of front door glass is either double-paned or triple-paned, and there’s a risk of moisture becoming trapped between the glass panes. This is important to watch for when you have front door glass, as this moisture can make its way into other aspects of your front door and compromise the entire door, rather than just the glass. To prevent moisture damage from escalating, it’s important to address this right away and replace the front door glass to prevent any further property damage.
Options for replacing front door glass
If you’re looking to replace your front door glass to upgrade your home or fix an issue, Plastpro’s Doorlite Series offers a variety of options, from sophisticated and elegant to sleek and simple. For those looking for a clean, contemporary design to match a modern home exterior, Plastpro’s new Solution Doorlite Series is a great choice for homeowners looking for low-profile, flat frame, or patterned glass that offers a modern look without compromising safety or reliability. Discover more design options with our guide for choosing front door glass inserts.
It should be noted that if you are using one of Plastpro’s glass inserts in a pre-existing door, you’ll need to ensure that your existing lite frame is replaceable and you are using the proper frame and correct size(s). As always, we recommend consulting with your contractor and local professionals to ensure selecting the right product for your specific situation.
Check out Plastpro’s Where to Buy page to find the closest distributor for doorlites, direct glazed glass doors, and fiberglass doors. For more information on our fiberglass door offerings, visit our website.
A front door is the heart of every home. As it’s one of the first things people see, the front door plays a major part in all aspects of a house—from safety, to curb appeal, to how you feel when you arrive home. Whether you’re looking to put your house on the market or upgrade your home’s appearance, one of the first steps you should take is re-evaluating your front door, as front door curb appeal will be part of your home’s “first impression” to neighbors and potential buyers.
There are a variety of ways to increase your front door curb appeal. Find out why it’s important and how you can boost yours with fiberglass doors.
Why front door curb appeal is important
While a door isn’t going to fix a neglected front yard, it’s certainly an important factor when it comes to how inviting your home will appear. When selling your house, many real estate agents recommend upgrading or redoing a front door if its appearance is outdated or lacking charm. Not only does your front door have the potential to increase your home’s perceived value, a buyer’s first impression starts at the front door.
Even if you’re not looking to improve front door curb appeal in preparation for selling your home, your front door still has an impact on how your home is perceived, and will still be a friend’s, family member’s, or neighbor’s first impression when they see your house.
Ways to improve front door curb appeal
Bold Colors
Homeowners have recently taken to painting a simple front door a bold color. While the past few years have seen a spike in boosting front door curb appeal with bright reds, yellows, and blues, moodier colors such as dark grey, midnight blues, and dark purple have started to trickle into the market. A door with a smooth, paintable skin, like Plastpro’s Smooth Series will lend itself well to this trend.
Panel Design
Carefully selecting a door with a new panel design is a great way to boost front door curb appeal overall, but also to express the style and personality of your home. Different panel designs convey different styles and tastes—for example, a simple, symmetrical design like Plastpro’s Oak Series Six Panel Door, is perfect for a traditional aesthetic, while arched panels in our Rustic Series align perfectly with an old world style. You could also opt for the boldness of deep panel grooving, which will help your front door stand out from a distance. Plastpro’s panels are one of the most defined options in the industry, mimicking the look of real wood, which is especially noticeable in our Craftsman Series Shaker Doors.
Horizontal Paneling
Speaking of panel design, horizontal paneling is a trendy choice that adds a touch of elegance to your home’s exterior. This design features parallel, rectangular horizontal panels—often five or six total—from the top to the bottom of the door. While you can upgrade these doors with a new color, the sleek, contemporary design can easily draw attention to your home as is. This style is popular both with and without door glass inserts, depending on which style will best complement your home’s aesthetic and architectural style. For inspiration, look no further than the South Beach Door in our Modern Series.
Clean Lines
Another popular, contemporary trend is choosing a style with clean lines. An example of this would be Shaker-style doors, which have no panel detailing for a minimal look that can be personalized with your color selection. We offer this popular style in our Craftsman Series.
Door Glass
Most everyone loves natural light, so it is no surprise that this trend in exterior doors has had a recent uptick and is a great way to boost your front door curb appeal. Choose a door with a doorlite or glazed glass of any size to add natural light and an instant refresh to your home’s exterior style. Most Plastpro Series offer unique, decorative doorlite options, and we offer luxurious, direct glazed glass options in the Nova Series to maximize natural light.
Boosting your front door curb appeal with fiberglass
Upgrading your front door is one of the quickest and easiest ways to improve your home’s appearance, but choosing a door can be a difficult decision. In addition to design considerations, you must decide which type of front door to go with. When it comes to boosting front door curb appeal, fiberglass doors are an excellent choice.
Fiberglass doors offer a versatile selection, while being the easiest material to maintain. Fiberglass doors surpass wood in durability and longevity, while still offering designs that mimic the look of wood grains to match the traditional beauty many homeowners seek. While wood is prone to warping or rotting when exposed to heat and moisture, fiberglass doors are made of a composite material that will last for decades with minimal maintenance, even when exposed to extreme weather. A similar argument is made when comparing fiberglass vs. steel doors, as steel is prone to dents, scratches, and rust. Fiberglass doors are also available in smooth skins that resemble the look of steel, if that is your look of choice for improving front door curb appeal.
Regardless of which styles or designs you choose, updating your front door will refresh your home and its curb appeal. To update your front door today, visit Plastpro’s “Where to Buy” page to find your nearest retailer.
While the aesthetic appeal of glass doors is rarely lost on homeowners and architects alike, many aren’t aware of the other benefits of utilizing glass in your home entryway: natural light, easy maintenance, a clean look, and major customization potential (like the selection of low-emissivity or privacy glass).
If you don’t want a full-glass exterior door, there are a multitude of glass options to choose from, including a variety of front door glass inserts. Glass inserts are typically placed in the center or top portion of the door to offer you a glimpse of the outside and to add a dash of style to your entryway.
So how do you know which front door glass insert is right for you? It’s important to consider your door’s size and appearance, among other factors, when making your choice. Front door glass inserts come in different types, designs, and layouts to fit different needs. You’ll likely need to do some research to find the right insert for you. Many manufacturers, like Plastpro, will carry a variety of options when it comes to glass inserts to ensure you can find the proper doorlite for your door. Plastpro offers doorlites, specially-engineered glass inserts for doors, to fit your fiberglass front door.
We’ll cover the most common types of front door glass inserts, alternative options, and the benefits and downsides of each.
Clear and low-emissivity (LowE) glass inserts maximize natural light
Clear glass inserts are a conventional choice for front doors. These options maximize sunlight and views outside of the house—however, they aren’t the ideal choice if privacy is a top priority. Because of this, these inserts are often a great choice for a back door or patio door, where privacy is less important.
Some clear glass inserts, like Plastpro’s low-emissivity (LowE), clear panels, add benefits like additional thermal protection and energy-efficiency over traditional glass. The LowE panels utilize a unique, tinted coating to prevent UV radiation and minimize the transfer of energy between indoors and outdoors, therefore increasing energy efficiency and minimizing temperature fluctuations in hot and cold weather.
Textured glass offers additional privacy
Textured glass options are ideal for adding privacy while still allowing natural light into the room. From simple, translucent glass to opaque patterns, textured glass can be combined with different door models for a custom look. Textured glass is most often referring to a single sheet of glass—offering the best of both worlds, with extra privacy and detailing in one congruent design.
Plastpro’s doorlite selection features many textured options for increased privacy. An innovative new alternative to the traditional doorlite offerings is Plastpro’s Solution Doorlite Series, a modern line of textured, patterned glass inserts that attaches with a compression seal, eliminating the need for screws, and saving installation time. There are several contemporary glass options in this series as well that will bring increased privacy and textured beauty to the home.
The main con to consider is that textured glass can come with a higher price tag than a clear glass panel, and will require extra care during the selection process, to ensure the pattern compliments the design of the door.
Decorative glass panels add exterior style
Decorative glass panels are another traditional option and are subjective to your tastes. Instead of a single panel of one glass, pieces of textured glass are combined into patterns to suit different architectural styles, often with the addition of caming, or metal bars that hold the decorative pieces together. There are a myriad of choices you can select based on your personal design preferences, your home’s architectural style, or the style of your door.
Plastpro’s decorative doorlite designs cover a variety of different styles and patterns—from the classic Brentwood Zinc to the ornate Priscilla. Plastpro’s decorative doorlite selection also features many options for increased privacy—each glass design selection features an associated privacy rating for reference. Plastpro’s most private, decorative front door glass inserts include the frosted, simple Solstice and traditional, tribal Spring.
Beyond choosing the overall design of your front door glass insert, consider the caming, or the metal framework that separates the decorative glass panels. Caming adds a great deal of visual appeal to your door, and you may want to match this feature to your door hardware or other outdoor fixtures to create aesthetic symmetry. For example, Plastpro’s Rustic Door Series is created to accommodate wrought iron glass and pairs well with Renaissance-style Priscilla and the polished, extremely private Camelia.
The only downside of decorative glass? It cost more than a basic clear glass and textured glass option- the complexity of the design and its composition can run the bill up as well.
Direct glazed glass provides an alternative to traditional glass inserts
If you’re looking for options that allow the maximum amount of natural light into your home, consider Plastpro’s Nova Door Series. These doors are available in a range of sizes and grains to fit your preferences. Unlike other glass options, which are mostly installed by an insert glass frame, the Nova Series glass is directly glazed into the door during the manufacturing process. With glass glazed directly onto the door, there is a sleek, seamless blend between the door and the glass, creating a beautiful and solid entryway. In addition, the numerous Low-E and privacy glass options in this series allow you to create an entryway that is both stunning and functional.
Most people select direct glazed glass doors like the Nova Series for the unparalleled natural light and on-trend panel designs—a selection of traditional Craftsman-style sticking or more modern Shaker-style sticking. And if privacy is a concern, there are models with translucent glass, patterned Rain glass, or sleek, cordless miniblinds to choose from
It should be noted that direct glazed glass is a larger commitment than traditional door inserts, as any breakage or damage will require you to replace the entire door rather than just the insert.
Check out Plastpro’s Where to Buy page to find the closest distributor for doorlites, direct glazed glass doors, and fiberglass doors. For more information on our fiberglass door offerings, visit our website.
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