How to Choose the Best Option for Interior or Exterior Door Installation in Boulder

Whether they're on the outside or inside of your residential or commercial building in Boulder, doors are an absolutely critical part of your property. In fact, they are one of the defining features of any building and while they tend to get taken for granted, you notice immediately when they aren't working properly, don't meet the needs of your household or are missing altogether. Interior entries give you privacy when you need it most, and offer some sound separation that can go a long way toward getting a peaceful night's sleep. Exterior entries, on the other hand, are a necessity to protect your home and family from harsh weather, pest infestations, thermal energy loss and even intruders.

If your existing entryways are in rough shape, or you want to enhance your home by getting a new style put in, you need professional Boulder door installation services. Getting your entries back in perfect working order will make your house a lot more livable and better suited to your needs. A new exterior door installation, for example, can also protect your home better, increase the value of your property and potentially save you a significant amount of money on energy costs.

But selecting the perfect choice for Boulder door installation can be a big challenge. There are so many product options available, so how are you supposed to know which one will work best for your home or commercial property? This guide explains the ins and outs of what you should consider before making a purchase decision, along with expert advice from the team of Boulder handyman service professionals at Mr. Handyman of E Boulder, Broomfield & Erie.

How Do You Select the Best Exterior or Interior Door Installation for Your Boulder, CO Property?

If you’ve begun to look around online or in person for the ideal Boulder door installation, you’ve probably realized that there is an incredibly wide range of options available, from different features and styles to a variety of colors and materials. If you're not sure where to start, there are some key considerations that will help guide you to an excellent option for your Boulder, CO property that will enhance your home or business for years to come.

Location and Purpose

It makes sense that the location of your Boulder door installation in your home and your priorities for its use and function will, of course, influence which materials are going to work best. If you need a standard-sized interior door installation, you're likely looking for something that will match other similar interior entries in your house. If you can't find a precise match, that may be stressful—but it's not that uncommon for interior entries to be similar without being exactly identical. For example, all the bedroom entries may be one particular style, while the bathroom entry could be the same color in a slightly different style to differentiate the purpose of the room. Don't be afraid to experiment a bit and give some thought to other possibilities.

If the entryway is leading to a common area such as a dining room, study or sunroom, consider more elaborate options such as windowed French doors that allow for the transfer of natural light between rooms and influence the interior design of the whole house. These types of entryways can be perfect for rooms that currently have a double-wide arch leading into them but no actual door, especially if you'd like to be able to close off those rooms from time to time.

Security and Durability

When it comes to interior entries, durability isn't necessarily as important—of course you want it to be sturdy and last a long time, but interior entries are not required to withstand the barrage of damaging elements that an exterior door installation is subjected to. An exterior entry is your home's first line of defense against so many things that can cause major damage, from moisture incursion and pest infestations to wildlife attacks and harsh weather patterns.

If you just want a reasonably affordable option that will perform well for a long time and resist normal wear and tear, fiberglass may be the perfect material for your property. It's resistant to corrosion and moisture damage, and is also durable and cost-effective. But if you're looking for something that offers additional security against intruders, pests and more, take a look at the options for steel entries. This incredibly strong, durable, energy efficient material can take a lot of abuse and remain in safe, solid condition. It can also be painted any color to perfectly match or complement the style of your Boulder home. Steel does have one small weakness—it's vulnerable to corrosion such as rust, but that is easily avoided with some simple maintenance.

Limited Space

What do you do when you need an entry for an area with limited space, such as a small bathroom off a narrow hallway with no room for the entryway to swing inward or outward? In that case, pocket door installation can work beautifully to close off the room without taking up any additional space. It slides inside the wall on tracks when the entry is open, keeping it out of the way, and can be easily slid shut when needed. Or, maybe the installation is for a room where the entryway will usually be open, such as a dining room or study, and you don't really want a big set of doors taking up space. A pocket entry will work perfectly in that scenario as well. Barn doors are another popular choice—they are very similar to pocket doors, but slide along the outside of the wall rather than going inside the wall. That gives some added style and design substance to the room without taking up more than a couple inches of space.

Energy Efficiency

Energy efficiency is one of the most important considerations when you are planning an exterior door installation in Boulder, CO or anywhere else with a climate that experiences long cold spells. Generally speaking, the most energy efficient choices for Boulder homes are steel or fiberglass. They supply the insulating qualities necessary to avoid heat loss in winter. While it's true that wood has low thermal conductivity, it's not usually as energy efficient as steel or fiberglass. If it's exposed to rain and snow melt, it's also vulnerable to decay issues such as wood rot that will compromise its energy efficiency. That being said, an entry with a window set in it is pretty much always going to be the least energy efficient choice, regardless of what the rest of the door installation is made of. Glass is a poor insulating material, so entryways with a window are going to lose heat faster than those without a window.

Commercial Door Installation

Our expert Boulder door installation services aren't just for residences. If you are a business owner in Boulder who needs a new entryway installed, you can count on our team of skilled handyman professionals to get the job done on time, effectively and efficiently. Commercial properties have unique needs that go beyond those of a residential property, and we are prepared to handle your commercial door installation needs, including automatic, revolving and handicap-accessible entry types.

Warranty and Door Installation Guarantee

Before you make a purchase for a new Boulder door installation, take the time to make sure your choice is covered by a decent manufacturer's warranty. While this may not be such a big deal for interior entries, exterior entries as a rule are a lot more costly, so you want to ensure that you aren't the one who will have to soak the replacement cost in the unlikely event that you get a faulty product or material defects.

Door installation can be more complicated than many homeowners suspect, and it is possible for damage to occur during the installation process—especially if it's not being done by an experienced Boulder handyman. That's why it's a good idea to hire a service professional who guarantees their workmanship. We only hire the best Boulder has to offer, so we’re certain our skilled handyman team can get the job done right the first time. That’s why we stand behind them with the Done Right Promise, a guarantee on our workmanship. If it's not done right, we'll make it right!

Why is Energy Efficiency So Important for Boulder Door Installation?

You may be wondering if energy efficiency really matters that much. If you don't like the thought of paying more than necessary on your monthly utility bills, it definitely does matter. There are three main reasons why energy efficiency should be one of your biggest considerations when getting a new door installation in Boulder, CO.

Your HVAC system needs to use a lot of energy, whether it's electricity or natural gas, to keep your house at the temperature you have set on your thermostat. That's why heating and cooling are usually the biggest expenses by far on everyone's energy bill. But when your door installation is not energy efficient, it lets warm air from your furnace or cool air from your air conditioner escape outdoors, changing the temperature in your house and forcing your HVAC system to operate for much longer periods of time to compensate. That added operation time can significantly increase your already considerable HVAC energy costs, needlessly inflating your utility bill.
If your entry has slowly deteriorated over the years, or it was not installed correctly to begin with, it can let moisture and air drafts into your house from outside. That makes your home more uncomfortable and less livable, and it can also create water damage issues such as wood rot that can eat away at the wooden structure of your building and cause stability issues.
When energy such as natural gas and electricity are wasted, it creates a strain on resources that is not kind to the environment. The Energy Star program, which is jointly run by the U.S. Department of Energy and the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, was created to address that issue by promoting energy efficiency and certifying products such as doors and windows that meet certain standards of energy conservation.

Have questions about window installation and how it relates to energy usage? Check out our answers to homeowners' questions about window replacement in Boulder.

Signs You Need Door Installation or Repair Services

If you are aware of the indications that your house or commercial property needs Boulder door installation, you can call a professional handyman and get it taken care of before the damage worsens and spreads to other parts of your building. Here are some warning signs that your entryway needs help from a professional handyman:

Visible light around the edges of a closed entry
You can feel air drafts coming from the entry when it is shut
Loose, wobbly or squeaky hinges
Entry is difficult to open and close without extra effort
Frame, jambs or slab itself has patches of rotted wood
It's difficult to turn the key in the lock
The knob doesn't turn, or turns too far
Insect damage such as maze-like holes or channels on the surface
Window in entry is foggy due to condensation trapped between panes
Peeling, flaking paint or wood stain
Pet or impact damage
Double doors are misaligned
Outdated or unattractive appearance
Slab or jamb has been damaged by an attempted home intrusion

Your Local Handyman Expert is Ready to Get Your Boulder Door Installation Project Done!

Whether you are in Boulder, CO or a nearby town such as Frederick, Broomfield or Superior, you can get reliable service for door installation and much more from the team of professionals at Mr. Handyman of E Boulder, Broomfield & Erie. We can help with all kinds of home improvements, from door installation to a kitchen remodel.

Get in contact with us today by calling 303-647-9132 to speak with our knowledgeable customer service staff and find out more about our trusted Boulder handyman services, or to schedule an appointment at a convenient time.