Jon Kerby of RIMDoor looks at the benefits of fitting your house with secure steel doors & frames.
1) They are very resistant to many common problems that occur with wood doors such as rotting, warping, shrinking and sagging. Most door manufacturers have a polyurethane insulation available. The insulation bonds to the door’s metal surface. This makes the door even more sturdy, solid and dependable.
2) Steel doors provide the homeowner the security, protection and peace of mind. They are very effective against a home intruder and make a safe place to stand in an earthquake whereas a wood door is less effective.
3) Steel doors are also more energy efficient than a wooden door. With the costs of rising heating and cooling costs they help to maintain the temperature of the inside of your home and keep your home energy efficient.
4) Steel doors and frames are a wonderful way to go and are just as beautiful as a wooden door. In fact some steel doors and frames are available with a wood grain finish that gives them the natural wood appearance. No matter what style, color, or finish you choose you won’t go wrong if you purchase a steel door. Many people don’t ever need to get a new door again once they install a steel door.
Many of the benefits of a steel door won’t be noticed until it’s in your home, but you will notice.
From CaymanNewNews.com, Here are 10 ways homeowners can make their homes easier to maintain:
1. Urethane Products : Accessorize the exterior of your home with durable urethane products. Easy-care shutters, window and door trim pieces, louvers and balustrade systems resist warping, weather damage and insect infestations. Products are longer-lasting than wood products because they don’t absorb moisture and are weather resistant.
2. Composite Decking : Tired of termites feeding on your deck? Try composite decking. Made from plastic and wood fibers, this low maintenance product installs and cuts like wood, but resists rot and insects. There’s no painting or staining required and in many cases fasteners are hidden. The investment in composite decking pays back during the resale of a home… and during all those weekends you’re not forced to strip and reseal a wood deck.
3. Vinyl Siding : When it’s time to reside your home, invest in vinyl siding with insulator boards behind them to create the most energy efficient and low maintenance exterior possible. According to the Vinyl Siding Institute, there are a wide variety of vinyl siding textures and colors available, including woodgrain replications. Visit www.vinylsiding.org to locate certified vinyl siding products and for answers to your questions on vinyl siding.
4. Acrylic Block (Italian Glass) Windows : Forget about hanging shades or blinds in areas of the home where you desire privacy. Instead, install obscure acrylic block windows that guarantee privacy. Both the blocks and vinyl frames are easy to maintain with mild soap and water. Acrylic block windows come in operable casement and awning styles along with large, fixed picture windows – ideal for use in the bathroom.
5. Tilt-In Easy Cleaning Windows: When ordering windows for your home, make sure to request the tilt-in sash option. This feature eliminates the need to clean the outside of your windows by standing on a ladder because you can use the tilt-in feature to quickly and easily clean the glass from
the inside of the house.
6. Fiberglass Columns : Add decorative style and maintenance ease to your home with fiberglass columns. Available in both round and square profiles, the columns are insect, weather and decay resistant so they can be used both for interior and exterior applications. Versatile and elegant, can be load-bearing and can be accented with decorative capitals and bases.
7. Mouldings : Install moisture resistant urethane mouldings and decorative millwork in extremely humid areas of the home, such as bathrooms and kitchens. No matter how much steam is produced from showers or cooking, these products won’t warp like wood mouldings.
8. Vinyl Replacement Windows : Replace existing windows with low-maintenance vinyl framed windows. Easy to clean with mild detergent and water, windows with vinyl frames never have peeling paint that needs to be stripped and replaced. As a bonus, vinyl is an excellent insulator, so vinyl-framed windows are extremely energy efficient.
9. Countertops : Invest in a solid-surface countertop for your kitchen. This man-made material can have the look and feel of stone or marble while offering the advantage of needing only soap and water for cleanup. Most solid-surface countertops are seamless and resist stains, chemicals and scratches. Color and style options are almost limitless and there are no veneers to chip, crack, peel or wear out.
10. Acrylic Block Showers : Save time and effort every time you shower by installing an acrylic block shower surround. The easy-care blocks don’t require you to squeegee them after every shower to remain clean and attractive. As an added benefit, the obscure blocks provide privacy in the shower while adding a stylish look to the bathroom.