Top Signs You Need Exterior Door Repair in Walpole, MA

A door is not just an entry and exit point for your commuting purposes but also enhances the curb appeal of your home and protects against intruders, harsh weather and more. And then there are the add-on features that allow you to custom-tailor your home's exterior door from windows to mesh screens and pet doors—the world is truly your oyster when it comes to residential exterior doors. Apart from safeguarding your family members and property, a durable exterior door also allows you to savor your privacy as it sets a boundary against casual trespassers.

Often homeowners become complacent and allow their outside doors to fall into disrepair as they fail to perform routine maintenance. As a result, they sacrifice the structural integrity of their exterior door and eventually need exterior door repair in Walpole, MA, or it may be necessary to replace the door altogether.

By forgoing a durable exterior door accompanied by a sturdy entryway frame that anchors it in the palace, you put into jeopardy your own personal safety, protection, and household energy efficiency. Whether you need repair or replacement, you can count on the top-rated local Walpole handyman pros at Mr. Handyman of Central-Eastern Norfolk County and S.Shore to get the job done correctly and efficiently so you have peace of mind knowing that your home is secure and safe.

Your Exterior Door Is the Guardian Of Your Home Sweet Home

First impressions matter, and an exterior door particularly makes a dramatic and lasting impression on anyone idling upon your doorstep. Of course, any exterior door replacement requires proper upkeep to be preserved. As of late, if you've noticed that your door tends to stick and drag along the floor, its hinges seem faulty and loose, or it's making odd squeaking and creaking noises, these are all red flags of a damaged entryway that needs exterior door repair in Walpole, MA or a complete replacement. Your monthly utility bills are bound to soar as your house becomes less energy efficient due to lackluster indoor air circulation and bad airflow resulting in immoderate room temperatures. An exterior door itself makes a big difference for home insulation, so if it happens to be broken in any way at all, you'll feel the difference in terms of room temperature.

Depending on the extent of the damage, too, including dents, peeling, or gaps in the door's jamb or trim, you have to decide if the tradeoff of an exterior door replacement is a more worthwhile investment compared to exterior door repair in Walpole, MA. If your door slab still appears structurally sound, check if you might need to replace your exterior door frame instead. Or perhaps it needs a quick fix to one of its components, such as repairing loose nuts and bolts.

If, however, your door won't even budge, that's a cause for concern, and you may need a brand-new exterior door replacement. Either way, it's best to consult a certified, licensed, and fully insured Norfolk County handyman from Mr. Handyman of Central-Eastern Norfolk County & S.Shore for a professional exterior door repair in Walpole, MA, or replacement for the entire door package. Our experts are well-equipped with the skills, techniques, and knowledge for both commercial and residential exterior door services.

Warning Signs You Need Exterior Door Repair in Walpole, MA

Your exterior doors, whether they're on the front, back, or side of your house, perform a lot of important duties to keep your home safe and comfortable, and they also contribute quite a bit towards your curb appeal. But when they're in poor condition, they leave your home vulnerable to a multitude of issues.

If you've noticed signs that your door isn't functioning properly or is looking rather worse for wear, you may be wondering if you need an exterior door repair or if replacement is the better option. We'll cover some of the situations in which Walpole exterior door repair service is a good solution. This is unless the signs clearly indicate that you need an exterior door replacement entirely.

The age-old question of repair or replacement mainly comes down to the extent of the damage. If it's a relatively minor issue, it makes sense to get repair services and call it a day, but if it's a bigger problem or there are multiple issues, repairs would be more time-consuming and expensive than total replacement. In those cases, replacement is the best choice. In the following scenarios, the repair is usually sufficient to get your entryway back in good shape:

• Peeling Paint: Strips of peeling paint are unattractive, but this particular condition is also a warning sign that the material underneath is unprotected from the elements and will soon suffer deterioration such as wood rot or rust. Your handyman can take care of this by sanding or removing the paint strips with heat, applying a new coat of paint, and sealing. 
• Rust or Corrosion: Speaking of rust, if you have small spots of it on your metal door it can likely fixed by removing the spots and sealing the door with an anti-rust coating, but if the corrosion is extensive and has eaten holes in the material, replacement is a better option than exterior door repair in Norfolk County, MA.
• Hinges are Loose: Does your door feel like it's wobbling on its hinges or even tilting one way or another when you open it? If your door is loose on its hinges, your handyman can likely get it back in good shape by simply tightening up the screws that attach the hinge to the jamb and slab. If the screw holes are damaged or the hinge itself is broken, we can handle exterior door repair in Walpole, MA by replacing the hinges and rehanging the slab. 
• Hinges are Squeaky: If you're trying to come into the house quietly after some of your family members are in bed, there's nothing worse than a loudly squeaking door that announces your arrival to the whole household. This irritating problem can usually be solved with some lubrication on the offending hinge, but if the squeaking is occurring because of rust build-up, your handyman will likely need to replace the hinge. 
• Holes or Rips in Screen on Storm Door: If the issue is with your screen, not the frame, you just need screen door repair to get a new screen into the frame. In this case, we'll remove the damaged screen from the frame and insert a new screen panel, then fasten it into place. While it is possible to patch small holes in a screen, the patch does create a visual disturbance that some homeowners don't care for.
• Degraded Weather Stripping: If you feel cool drafts near your entryway, it could be due to damaged weather stripping from a bout of extreme weather. If that's the problem, the weather stripping can just be replaced without the need for further exterior door repair in Walpole, MA.

Indications You Need to Replace Your Exterior Door in Walpole, MA

If the damage goes beyond the minor problems listed above, complete door replacement makes more sense financially—keeping your home comfortable and safe. Here are some situations where replacement is warranted:

• Chilly Drafts: If you're shivering away in your home because of cold drafts seeping in around the frame—and it's not a simple problem with weather stripping—it could be that the door has shrunk, the frame is warped, or it was never fitted properly in the first place. Drafts make you more uncomfortable in your house, but those energy-wasting air leaks also cost you big time on your utility bill as your HVAC system is forced to work harder to compensate.
• Light Coming In: Is there a halo of light around the edge of your entry? This is a more extreme version of the same problems that cause air drafts, and it's taking a huge toll on the energy efficiency of your house. It's also dangerously insecure, as an intruder wouldn't even have to try very hard to get in.
• Rotten Wood: Wooden entries are exposed to the elements, which makes them vulnerable to wood rot. Stringy, spongy, softwood is caused by rot, and the earliest symptom of rot is discoloration, where the wood appears lighter or darker or has a white, yellow, or purple hue. If you notice signs of a rotten door frame, it's quite possible that the entry itself also has rot inside it.
• Difficulty Opening and Closing: If you have to push and pull (and kick and punch) when you're trying to get your door open or closed, that's a sign of poor alignment. This can be caused by a house shifting and settling over time, causing the frame to bend or warp out of alignment. If that's the case, the whole entry should be replaced so it can easily swing open and shut.
• Insect Damage: Maze-like holes or channels on your entry are the work of wood-destroying insects such as carpenter ants or termites, but the outward visible signs might not be that obvious. Light doors that don't seem as heavy as they used to or make a hollow sound when tapped could be under attack, being hollowed out from the inside.
• No Noise Separation: This is different from the entry itself squealing when you open it. If you find yourself disturbed by outside noises coming through the entryway even though it's closed, something is wrong. It's not going to cut out 100% of all noise, but it should do a good job of muffling sounds from outside.
• Foggy Window: When a window becomes foggy from condensation trapped between two panes of glass, you need window replacement—and if that window happens to be in a door, you need door replacement.
• Vandalism Damage: If you've been forced to deal with vandalism or home intrusion that has resulted in broken locks, large dents, or damage to the frame and edge of your entryway, replacement is needed to re-secure your home and give you back your peace of mind.

The Key Parts of an Exterior Door

If you need your door replaced or are looking for a capable individual to take care of exterior door repair in Norfolk County, MA, the team of experts at Mr. Handyman of Central - Eastern Norfolk County & S. Shore are the best choice. It's not uncommon for homeowners to assume that door replacement and exterior door repair are simple tasks because they mistake exterior doors for simple home features that only have a few parts to worry about. This is actually not the case. Entry doors, especially those designed for the exterior of a home, are a lot more complex than many people suspect and taking care of replacement and repair tasks requires plenty of experience and attention to detail to handle the process correctly and get the job done right.

Here are some of the basic parts of a front entrance and exit door for the typical Walpole property owner:

• Frame
• Head jamb
• Side jamb
• Casing
• Threshold
• Sidelight
• Handle and lockset
• Sidelight
• Panel
• Jamb
• Sill

Be aware that some parts of a standard entryway are more vulnerable than others to damage, such as the jamb, which tends to get battered the most due to wear and tear from people and animals passing through. Or the exterior door's trim may get worn out if the door is slammed hard one too many times. In this circumstance, you may need an exterior door repair in Walpole, MA to ensure your door aligns with its frame once more.

Choose From High-Quality Types Of Exterior Door Materials

Generally, the most common materials for an exterior door replacement are wood, steel, and fiberglass, as each type of door material has unique attributes that make it aesthetically pleasing. At the end of the day, the end outcomes of your exterior door depend on your personal preferences, budget, and how much effort you put into its maintenance. Also, be mindful of the fact that you can mix and match materials; for example, combine a solid wood entryway with fiberglass for a more picturesque entryway.

Solid Wood

A solid wood exterior door is made of pure and natural wood that has not been treated or altered and is usually made of layered wood panels made of maple, oak, pine wood, and more. Because it's an organic material, it boasts the most accurate aesthetic appeal, embodying a rustic and charming presence on your doorstep. It's durable and great for energy efficiency, too, as it can insulate. Plus, by opting for solid wood, you become more mindful of your ecological footprint as it's a biodegradable material that decomposes in the natural environment. The only downside is that being made of authentic wood, you need to be keen about its routine maintenance, including applying a fresh coat of paint or, at the very least, staining it occasionally to prevent wood rot. Plus, being a natural and organic material, solid wood can expand and contract if exposed to excessive moisture levels, for example, from humid weather conditions.

Hollow Core

The hollow core is lightweight, doesn't expand or contract easily, and is more affordable for an exterior door replacement. Mostly, a hollow core door is preferred more for indoor living spaces, so it may not offer the best level of security for an outside house door. Another downside is that a hollow core door is less durable and doesn't bode well for protection against fluctuating temperatures. Nor does it muffle sounds, so it offers less privacy due to noise pollution. Also, keep in mind this is a more artificial material, so it cannot be easily refinished, making it difficult to deal with exterior door repair in Walpole, MA.

Solid Core

Another wood-based material, a solid core door, is engineered wood used mostly for interior living areas and is a less expensive option than solid wood doors. It's durable and won't crack, shrink or warp as it's impervious to the expansion and contraction natural solid wood doors suffer from due to changes in humidity. Plus, a solid core entryway is good for reducing noise pollution and sound insulation for privacy purposes. It bodes well against fluctuating temperatures, including wet local weather conditions too.

Steel

A steel door consists of a layer of steel interwoven between two other layers of wood or fiberglass. It's super durable, fire-resistant, and can withstand both fluctuating temperatures and varying pressures. Steel is also great for sound insulation and is an energy-efficient material. Also, if you are especially concerned about potential burglars and theft, a steel door is the more secure option for an exterior door replacement as it will readily defend your entryway. The only downside is that, like any other metal, a steel door is still susceptible to discolored rust and corrosion if no maintenance is done, including cleaning off any accumulated debris and residue. However, this is a relatively easy fix, and the door will stay in good shape with the occasional exterior door repair in Walpole, MA.

Fiberglass

A fiberglass door consists of two large contoured sides, which are made of a polyurethane foam core that acts as insulation against outdoor weather conditions and extreme temperatures such as a heat wave or cold snap. A fiberglass door is incredibly durable and energy efficient as well. But please note that it is more expensive to afford, and for an exterior door replacement, it can be difficult to install as, given its sizing and dimension, it can only accommodate a standard exterior entryway.

Trust Mr. Handyman For Your Exterior Door Repair in Walpole, MA

Hopefully, this information has helped you make an informed decision about repair or replacement, but if you're still not sure, our service technicians can take a look at the problem and offer some expert advice. Whether you're in Walpole or nearby areas such as Norwood, Marshfield, or Duxbury, you can rely on Mr. Handyman of Central-Eastern Norfolk County and S.Shore for quality craftsmanship and excellent customer service.

Give us a call today or request service online to find out what we can do to maintain your home and make your life easier!