How Much Does A Storm Door Cost?

A storm door can make for a great barrier that can help to protect your home from outside elements. If you are considering purchasing a storm door, you may be wondering how much they typically cost. In this post, we are going to answer this for you.

Storm doors can cost anywhere from $75 to over $600. The reason for this wide range in price is the fact that they can be made from a variety of different materials, with the more quality materials being more expensive. The main purpose of a storm door is to protect your door against the various effects of weather such as ice damage, water leaks, and heavy winds. They also help to preserve interior heat by providing an extra layer of closure and keeping cold drafts out.

There are many options to choose from when it comes to purchasing storm doors. Here, we'll discuss some of the most common styles and designs. We'll also cover how to know what size storm door to get, whether or not it adds value to your home, what the difference is between a storm door and a screen door, and more. So be sure to keep reading.

Factors Influencing Storm Door Prices

Storm doors can be made of aluminum, fiberglass, rigid foam, nickel, and custom brass. They can also include models that contain a "full view" glass pane that covers the entire area of the door. Other factors that can affect their costs include styles, such as beveled glass, stacked vinyl, and double-glass panes. While the typical storm door is 6 feet 8 inches tall and 36 inches wide, they can come in custom-made sizes to fit special door frames, which will also drive up their costs.

With all that being said, let's talk more about the various designs, styles, and add-on options that are usually available when purchasing storm doors:

Opening Orientation

Most storm doors can be reversed to the other side. This means that you can install them to open either on the left side or the right side, which is something that's usually a matter of preference.

Most of the time, homeowners choose to have the storm door open on whichever side their entry door opens. So if your entry door opens from the right side, you'd choose the storm door that has a label listed as "right-opening," and the same for the left side. The label refers to the view of the side of the door when you are outside facing the home.

Building Material

Storm doors can be made of a variety of materials, with the less expensive ones being vinyl, aluminum, and rigid foam. Vinyl and rigid foam are probably the most commonly purchased storm door materials as they have the lowest price points.

You can usually buy these doors for around $75 to $100 at most home improvement stores. However, if the door is made from aluminum-clad, you can expect to pay well over $200 or more.

Aluminum-Clad Doors

These doors are very durable, and they can last quite a while. But they are fairly light doors and may not be the best option if you live in an area that experiences very high winds in the colder months. These doors come in a wide range of colors, including white, silver, evergreen, cream, and black.

Vinyl-Clad Doors

Vinyl doors are a great option if you are looking for a door that can withstand an onslaught of elements such as wind, ice, snow, and heavy rain. Their durability makes them an inexpensive go-to option for many homeowners who live near coastlines or in particularly rainy climates.

One downside to vinyl doors is that their color can fade a bit over the years, especially if they are west-facing. It's best to try to find a fade-resistant vinyl door.

Steel-Constructed Doors

Steel storm doors have the durability, density, and lifespan to last several years--even in the most challenging climates. They are known for holding up well to everyday wear and tear such as slamming, bumping, and heavy winds (when they aren't shut completely). You can also find them in several colors including untouched silver, brick, black, white, and eggshell.

Design

There is a variety of design options available for storm doors. For example, some homeowners prefer doors that let in a lot of light, while others may prefer to block some of the light that the door lets in. For the latter, you can choose a door that has a glass panel only on the top, as opposed to the top and bottom of the door. These are referred to as "half-view" doors, where the bottom half is made of solid material and the top half consists of a single glass pane.

You can also opt for a "full-view" door, which usually consists of one single glass pane (or two) surrounded by a metal frame. If you choose the 2-pane option where the two glass panes are stacked, you can slide down the top pane to let in a little fresh air. There are also options to add a mesh screen instead of glass, which helps to keep fresh air in without attracting flies and other pests to the home.

If you are looking for complete privacy with your storm door, you can choose a "high-view" door that consists of a solid panel bottom and a glass panel top. The top glass panel can be made from frosted glass.

Check out this storm door on Amazon.

Additional Design Options

Nearly all storm doors today are made from tempered glass, so if they are broken, the shattered glass will break into dull rounded pieces as opposed to sharp slices of glass that can be dangerous. For added protection, you can also find storm doors that contain double and triple panes of glass or ones that include low-emissivity glass, which blocks the transfer of heat.

Storm doors containing "Low-E" glass are great options if you live in a warm area or if the door is west-facing, as they can help to conserve energy. Typical glass designs for storm doors include stained, etched, frosted, and double-glass options.

Storm doors can also come with pet doors already built into their frame (though you can have a door customized for this as well). Another option to consider for your storm door is the inclusion of a customized handle set if you have specific design colors at your home's entry. Common handle set finishes include brushed steel, satin brass (which looks like gold), polished nickel, and oiled bronze.

Check out this satin nickel handle set on Amazon.

Costs To Have A Storm Door Installed

Depending on where you live, a storm door installation can cost you anywhere from $130 to $250. Most contractors will have a set price for installing storm doors. They will typically charge extra if you have a customized door, or if they need to adjust the frame of your door so that the storm door fits properly. It can take anywhere from 1 to 3 hours to install a storm door.

Does A Storm Door Add Value To Your Home?

One great benefit of storm doors is that the models with glass panes can enable visibility into the home and allow for a huge amount of light to enter as well. These two things can make for enormous curb appeal, which is important to buyers when they are looking at the exterior of your home.

Does it add the same level of value as would a new kitchen remodel or a newly installed roof? No, but it can help your home stand out to prospective buyers.

Should You Put A Storm Door On Your Front Door?

Many homeowners love storm doors because of the protection that they can offer. And at the same time, many dislike storm doors because they feel that they block the beautiful aesthetics of their entry door. With that being said, it's really a matter of personal preference.

If you are looking for a way to protect your home from outside elements without blocking the view of your door, you could simply install a full-view storm door that includes a glass pane.

What's The Difference Between A Screen Door And A Storm Door?

The terms "screen door" and "storm door" are often used interchangeably, but they are two distinctly different types of front door options.

Screen Doors

The main difference between the storm and screen doors is the fact that screen doors will have a screen either on the top of the door or on the top and bottom of the door. The main purpose of the screen is to keep pests such as flies, mosquitos, and other bugs from entering the home while being able to allow fresh air and natural light inside.

Storm Doors

Storm doors typically come either with a glass panel on top or the top and bottom of the door. The purpose of a storm door is to offer protection of the home from various outside elements as well as let in natural light and fresh air (if there is a retractable glass pane).

All storm doors will feature a handle set or a latch so that the door can close securely and remain locked. Today, many storm doors even come with enhanced features such as hidden closers, laminated glass, and screen door options.

How Do You Know What Size Storm Door To Buy?

Before purchasing a storm door, you will need to know the size of your door frame. The standard measurements for most door frames in America are 80 inches by 36 inches (LxW). However, it's not uncommon for side doors or back doors to have a width of anywhere from 30 to 36 inches. In this case, you still shouldn't have a problem finding a storm door to fit.

To pick the right storm door, be sure to measure your door frame from top to bottom and then from side to side. When measuring, make sure that you place the tape measure on the inside face of the exterior trim. Note the smallest measurement.