6 Things To Consider When Purchasing Scenic Doors

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Spring has sprung, and the weather is finally warm! Are you ready to open up your home to the outdoors? Indoor/outdoor living is key in warmer months, and can translate well in the colder months too. Scenic doors are becoming increasingly popular, offering extended openings with a large covering of glass that increases the natural light flowing into a space and allows for expanded views of the outdoors.

What are the critical factors you should consider when purchasing a scenic door? We’re here to help:

  1. Budget: A scenic door is larger than a standard patio door – starting at 9’ wide going up to 40’ wide and 10’ tall – so they will cost more than regular swinging or sliding doors.
  2. Primary function: Will the door be used for entry/exit or primarily as a space divider? Options like the Marvin Ultimate Multi Slide Door is a panoramic door that offers expansive views, but may not be practical if being used as a primary point of entry.
  3. Opening: Is the existing opening large enough, and the wall deep enough to accept a scenic door? Most homes do not have the large openings required to receive these larger doors. A remodel or new construction project each offer perfect opportunities to achieve the open feeling of bringing the outdoors inside a great-room or kitchen.
  4. Proper overhang: Marvin Scenic Doors are designed to keep the weather out. But, since these are very large doors, extreme weather could be a factor. A proper overhang will help protect your doors and home from the elements.
  5. Style: Is your architectural design more contemporary or traditional? With the array of options available, this is a deciding factor. Our design team is happy to help with your selection.
  6. Floor covering: Will the floor be the same inside and out or will the door separate two different floors? Ideally the flooring will be the same height on both sides of the door. If they will be different, you will want to consult with your builder/remodeler on your best options.

“The impact these doors have on a home is difficult to explain. I met a builder and homeowners at their home to discuss some hardware issues. The builder and I were talking as the homeowners arrived. They walked to their new Bi-fold door going from the family room to the patio and I could not count the number of times they said WOW. Clearly this would be the focal point of their home.” – Jim Platt, New Construction Specialist, Door Store and Windows.

Ready to make this kind of impact in your home? Give us a call.

Patio Door Transformation Brings the Outdoors in

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We spent a couple of days last winter getting this patio door ready for the outdoor season in Louisville. The original patio door (shown above) was a single door with a window to the side – not exactly a show stopper. With fantastic deck space, the home owners wanted something more dazzling to transition from indoors to outdoors.

So we helped them design this beauty. Basically, a door with two full width sidelites, this patio door truly transforms the space between indoors and outdoors and better suits the deck space in scale and size. And when the homeowners saw it for the first time, they fell in love again with their patio space.

 

Check Out Our Video Series On Patio Doors

 

 

 

Our employee-installers are experienced craftsmen and created a new opening that looks like it belonged on the house all along. And what they do behind the scenes during installation is what creates real value in this door project. Preparing the door opening to accept the door involves more than removing some bricks in this case. Proper shimming and weather barrier installation will prevent moisture and rot and is how we are able to provide a lifetime installation warranty…part of our Worry-Free Guarantee.

Call today to get your patio door project ready for summer and fall. Our design consultants are here to help you get exactly what you want.

How to Solve Three Simple Cold Weather Door Problems

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Cold weather can bring previously unknown door problems to your attention. These problems can come from older doors or even from doors installed in the past five years.

Sometimes the problems – like the three problems below – are very simple to fix. Other times, there could be underlying structural issues that only an expert can identify. We’re always happy to stop in and take a look at your situation. And, if you buy your doors from The Door Store and Windows, they are backed by a lifetime installation warranty that covers adjustments and other issues.

Let’s take a look at simple fixes to three common problems…

Problem: Draft Coming From Bottom of Door

Solution: If the weatherstripping (or sweep) at the bottom of the door is not damaged, this problem can usually be fixed by a simple adjustment of the threshold – if your door has this feature. If you see four screwheads or caps (screws are under the caps) on your threshold, it’s probably adjustable. Simply turn the screws to raise the threshold so it forms a good seal against the door bottom sweep. Tighten it just enough so that when closed, you can’t easily pull a dollar bill from between the door bottom sweep and threshold. This problem can also be indicative of other, more significant problems like rot or structural failure; so if you have concerns, please call in a door expert.

Problem: Frost or Condensation on Interior Door Hardware

Solution: If your interior doorknob or handle set is frosty, wet or unusually cold, one cause could be loose hardware. Exuberant kids, heavy usage and improper installation can all result in loose hardware that does not seal the door knob hole. Small air leaks can allow cold air to meet warm, moist air and form frost or ice. Make sure your door hardware is centered in the door knob hole completely covering the hole and then tighten all screws on your door hardware.

Problem: Frost or Ice on Interior of French Double Doors

Solution: French double doors typically have an active door (with lock hardware) and a passive door (locks in place using top and bottom slide bolts). If the passive door is not properly locked in place with both top and bottom slide bolts, an air gap can develop that allows cold air into the home. This photo shows a French double door in which the bottom bolt was not properly locked into place. The top bolt can also slide out of position easily when the bolt mechanism becomes too loose from heavy use. When these slide bolts are not locked into place top AND bottom, a security risk is also created. A hard kick to the door will usually allow an intruder easy access into the home.

 

Before & After: Door Expertise Makes A Difference

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We encountered a situation where the wrong door was used for a new home resulting in door failure after only seven years…

Read more

Icy Windows and Doors: The Cobbler’s Children Need New Shoes

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We’ve all heard the old adage about the cobbler who is so busy providing shoes for everyone in the town that his own children do not have adequate footwear. We seem to have a cobbler in our midst, Laurie Scarborough, our co-owner. This is the story of her older windows and door.

Written Sunday, New Year’s Eve, temperature 16°

Like you, my husband Kevin and I are weathering this icy-cold blast this freezing New Year’s Eve in Kentuckiana. Today, our 1960s-built home turned up some interesting problems before we were out of our pajamas.

In the spirit of keeping this post to windows and doors, I won’t mention the near miss in our laundry room, and the almost frozen pipe. I know many have experienced those in the last week. The real reason for this message is to share the problems we noticed with the older windows and doors in our home. We hope that it helps those of you with similar issues.

It might be time to replace this huge window.

We have been updating our home over the last few years and have one more window to replace. It’s an architectural element on the front of the house — a huge 14’ x 12’ bow window. Bow windows are designed to create space by projecting beyond the exterior wall in an arch. It has been the topic of many conversations both at home and in the office — how to replace it, with what will it be replaced, and the proverbial ‘when.’ We have caulked, painted and babied the window for as long as possible. The real impact of this wall-length window to our heating bill and physical comfort has become very evident during this cold snap.

 

The window is single-pane glass. It’s been so cold this week that the internal humidity is freezing on the inside of the window. Ultimately this moisture causes the paint, glazing, and wood to deteriorate. This means wood rot! With wood rot you generally experience drafts and, if the rot is extensive, a strong wind could blow the glass out. 

If you see problems like these pictures, it’s time to have your windows replaced.

TIP from this local window and door dealer: You do not have to replace all your windows at the same time.  We have replaced our windows and doors over the course of many years. You can too.

Wait – the door too?

Unfortunately, this window is not the only issue that presented itself with the cold. Our front door is 30+ years old. For the first time we discovered ice on our threshold (at the bottom of the door.) 

The threshold is brass and the weather stripping on the bottom of the door is also metal. Although we don’t feel a draft, the metal conducts the freezing temperature. This, combined with the internal humidity, causes icing on the interior section of the threshold. In addition, we have seal failure in the decorative glass. Ice buildup can be seen there too.

A new door system with a threshold and “compression” weather stripping, made with composite and synthetic materials, will quickly solve these problems. Today’s doors are very energy efficient.

With all of these developments, we have been working on plans to update the front of our home — both the bow window and the front entry door. The plans and work should be completed before fall 2018. Stay tuned to see the result!

 

Rules of Proportion and Scale For Windows and Doors

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Have you ever seen a home with windows or an entry door that just didn’t look right? We see them all the time and offer design assistance to help homeowners understand the importance of proportion and scale when it comes to replacing their windows or entry doors. We don’t just plug one of our products into an opening…we evaluate the relationship of the window or door to the overall architecture and how we can stay true to the architectural integrity or even improve the overall look of the home.

Here’s a quick primer on how proportion and scale impacts your windows and doors.

Window Grids

These “before and after” photos show how selecting the correct grid size can have an overall impact on the proportion and scale of the windows to the home. Our designer suggested a move toward a more open look with larger grid pattern to provide larger daylight openings. Compare the grid patterns on the before and after homes. Notice how “busy” the original windows look when compared to the larger grid used on the replacement windows. (Click image to enlarge)

Here’s another example of how changing window grid sizes creates a cleaner and simpler look to better match the scale and proportions of a home. Not only did the grid sizes differ in the original upper and lower windows, but the lower window grid lines didn’t even line up to the upper window grid lines.

Door Styles

Sometimes the door style should be changed due to proportions of the opening. For instance, the door shown below was changed from a standard height door with two sidelites and a large transom over the door to a taller, double-door configuration with less transom area. The new door was sized to allow a simple half circle transom rather than the odd-sized transom on the original door. The door and transom size change “stretches” the look of the entryway to make it less intimidating and more pleasing to the eye. (Click image to enlarge)

Here’s a situation where the original double doors are not in scale with the home. The doors seem to be squeezed into the opening. Without changing the size of the opening, we suggested a single door with two sidelites to better suit the low ceiling height of the porch. (Click image to enlarge)

If you have a project that needs a good design eye, give us a call. One of our design consultants will visit your home and provide design opinions on how you can achieve the windows or doors of your dreams. Give us a call at 502-896-1717 to get started today.

Replacing Windows? See How Much You Should Spend.

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How much will it cost to replace my windows or doors? That’s probably the single, most-asked question we get. And because it’s also one of the first questions we get, it is difficult to answer without knowing very critical information about the installation, size, options and many other details. Our professional, no-obligation consultations are the best and most accurate way to answer the question as our design experts will help educate you on various features and options and provide you with exact pricing for your project.

While you can see how providing a price over the phone without seeing your home or knowing your needs is challenging at the least, we don’t want you to start your window or door project in the dark. So let’s talk about some price ranges and other information. Keep in mind, a consultation is the single, best way to know exactly what you need, so use the following information for basic price guidance only.

Window pricing covers a wide range starting at a few hundred dollars for a basic small, single hung window and ranging to several thousand dollars for a very large custom window with many added features. Doors follow a wide range too, with a basic steel door installed starting around $1,900 while an elaborate double door with transom and sidelines might be several times that much or more.

The Cheapest May Be The Most Expensive

Keep in mind that these prices include all hardware, finishing, professional installation and a full warranty. And since window and door products generally follow the “get what you pay for” mantra, we typically don’t carry products in the lowest end of the range that don’t meet our minimum quality criteria. Some of these “budget” products may need to be replaced much earlier than a quality product resulting in a higher lifetime cost.

Focus On The Return On Your Investment…

One of our favorite resources for pricing and value is the “Remodeling 2017 Cost vs Value Report” (www.costvsvalue.com)1. This detailed industry report provides average prices for several styles of window and door installations. The report can be viewed nationally or specifically for the Louisville market.

The “Cost vs Value Report” also provides a projected return on investment for many home improvement projects. For instance, a professional install of 10 upscale wood windows with exterior aluminum cladding can recoup 70.7% of the project cost or $12,898 in added home value based on an estimate of $18,245 invested. Another example is a mid-range fiberglass entry door replacement. The “Cost vs Value Report” estimates you would recoup 85.1% of your cost or $2,739 in added home value from a $3,219 investment in the door and installation. Nice!

…And Added Energy Efficiency

Savings on heating and cooling bills will vary greatly depending on the condition of your windows, doors and the rest of the envelope of your home. It’s safe to say your home with be more comfortable with new windows or doors if you had drafts around your old windows or doors. We had a recent project where the homeowners saved 75% on their heating bills that they attributed primarily to new windows. That’s very high and not typical, but it can happen and at least some energy savings should be factored into your investment return.

Do A Little Each Year

As you start crunching numbers in your head, you may see costs that don’t match your budget. Have no fear. We have many repeat customers that do a few windows at a time or a door and some windows. We’ll work with you and your budget to put together a plan and a schedule for your home.

Read More: Why Replacing Your Windows In Stages Might Make Sense For You.

Get Started Today!

Give us a call at 502-896-1717 to schedule an professional, in-home consultation. It’s the first step to finding out exactly what your specific needs are and how to make the most of your budget. And in the end, you’ll love how new windows and doors can transform your home.

1 © 2017 Hanley Wood, LLC. Complete data from the Remodeling 2017 Cost vs. Value Report can be downloaded free at www.costvsvalue.com.

A Look Back at Door Store and Windows Over the Years

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In celebration of our 20th anniversary, we want to take a look back at some of the milestones of our business.
October 1, 1997 – Ann Gregory and her father, John Gregory open The Door Store in Hikes Point Shopping Center on Taylorsville Road with partner, David Doctor. Focusing exclusively on replacement doors, The Door Store was a unique concept for the Louisville market.

1998 – Within the first year, the Door Store installs its 100th door and starts to establish itself as an expert in Louisville door replacement.

2003 – The Door Store becomes Door Store and Windows as the company adds window products to meet customer needs for a replacement window and door company with outstanding design and installation expertise. In 2006, the company becomes an authorized installing retailer for Marvin Windows and Doors and quickly becomes one of Marvin’s star dealers.

July 4, 2005 – Door Store and Windows moves from Hikes Point Plaza on Taylorsville Road to a highly visible and easily accessible location on Shelbyville Road. The new office/showroom facility more than triples the available showroom space for the company and adds office and warehousing space.

March 2006 – As Door Store and Windows continues its growth, Ann’s sister, Laurie Scarborough joins the firm for a “temporary” period of time to help with strategic planning, marketing, accounting and operations. Nearly ten years later, Laurie finally trades her fold-up table for a real desk and takes on a partnership role in the business.

The heart of Door Store and Windows is the team. Every member has been critical to the success of the business. Several team member additions signaled major changes and milestones for the company. Craig Rowe was hired as Lead Installer and Installation Manager in 2006. Don Erickson was brought in to establish the new construction division of the business in 2009. Virginia Bell took on CFO duties in 2015 and has recently assumed the role of Operations Manager.

2013 – Finding the best manufacturer/partners has always been a key to Door Store and Windows’ success. The company evaluates and scrutinizes every partner and found a gem with ProVia Doors. ProVia has been producing high quality entry, patio and storm doors in Ohio’s Amish country for almost 40 years and truly meets high standards of excellence.

2014 – Despite difficult prevailing economic conditions from the financial crisis and the associated housing collapse, Door Store and Windows finds the right combination of great value and outstanding customer service to continue its sales growth and receive Marvin’s highest dealer recognition – the Marvin President’s Club award – for the first time. Every year since then, the company has been awarded the Marvin President’s Club award and the ProVia Platinum Club award in the same year.

2016 – Door Store and Windows is named Window & Door Magazine 2016 National Dealer of the Year. As the first Kentucky company to be awarded this honor, the company is profiled on the cover of the window and door industry’s top national publication, Window & Door Magazine, and established as a nationally-recognized industry leader.

October 1, 2017 – Door Store and Windows rings in their 20th anniversary and will celebrate by honoring the team members, stake holders, vendor/partners and, of course, the local community for helping create outstanding customer experiences for Louisville homeowners for two decades.

 

Marvin Scenic Doors

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Our Marvin Scenic Doors bring the outdoors in by blending indoor and outdoor living spaces. Marvin Scenic Doors offer three beautiful ways to open up a one-of-a-kind view.

Marvin Bi-Fold Door

The Marvin Bi-Fold Door is a simple, elegant solution for indoor/outdoor living because it opens wide to invite fresh air in. Configured from two to eight panels, Bi-Fold Doors use a unique operating system that allows the door to fold smoothly to one side, stylishly and effortlessly connecting your space to the outdoors or to another room. Marvin Bi-Fold Doors are ideal for making a dramatic connection with verandas, gardens and more, or expanding a room into adjoining interior areas.

See It In Action!

Click the image at left to watch as Ann Gregory demonstrates the Marvin Bi-Fold Door installed in our Idea Showroom. Our display door is 16′ wide and is really simple to operate. Stop in and try it yourself!

Marvin Ultimate Lift and Slide Door

Marvin Ultimate Lift and Slide Doors will add acres to your floor plan. Available in stunningly large sizes and numerous panel configurations, it allows for a seamless transition from the exterior to the interior of your home. Marvin’s industry-exclusive hardware virtually disappears to give you an incredibly clean and unobstructed view with simple, effortless operation.

Marvin Ultimate Multi-Slide Door

The Ultimate Multi-Slide Door is more than just a new panoramic door. It’s an entirely new lifestyle. Smoothly slide it open and invite into your home expansive views, fresh air and an abundance of warm, natural light. Available in large sizes with standard widths up to 50’ wide and 12’ tall, this door comes in a variety of configurations that include pocket door panels that disappear completely into the wall or a stacked-panel configuration.

Stop in our Idea Showroom to see the Bi-Fold Door in action and discuss how we can help you connect your indoor space to your outdoor space.

Team Members Visit ProVia for Entry Door Training

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Recently, three of our team members traveled to Amish Country in Ohio to participate in a training and information session at ProVia, one of our entry door suppliers. Dena Shoemaker and Karen LaMontagne, both window and door sales consultants, and Brad Keith, our service manager, experienced ProVia’s state-of-the-art production facility first-hand and came away very impressed.

Impressive Facility and People

“The first thing I noticed about the facilities was the cleanliness,” noted Karen. Dena agreed, “The facilities were extremely clean and the employees worked hard and were very efficient.” Brad has more than a decade of experience in door manufacturing and came away totally impressed with the facility and people. “Their high tech automated system made door manufacturing look easy and the people were awesome and friendly,” says Brad.

“One-at-a-time” Door Craftsmanship

Quality and craftsmanship was a theme that resonated for our team. ProVia is located in the heart of Amish Country in Ohio and employs many skilled Amish craftspeople, but they also utilize some of the latest manufacturing techniques and technology. It’s a combination of “one at a time” craftsmanship with the efficiency of a streamlined production system that can address the unique requirements of each homeowner’s custom-built door. It also results in an entry door product that reflects the care and attention of each ProVia employee.

Some Photos From The Trip…

ProVia Goes The Extra Step

Everyone in the group learned something new during the visit. From the thickness of the steel used in steel doors (49% thicker steel than competitors) to the fact that they manufacture their own threshold (because they could not find one good enough for their doors), ProVia definitely goes the extra step to guarantee a great door. And the finishing areas (particularly the hand staining) was “hands down the most impressive part of the visit”, according to Dena. All agreed that ProVia’s investment in their painting and staining areas really shows in the beauty of their finishes and the longevity of their finish warranties. Karen adds, “The attention to detail is amazing!”

If you’re looking for a new entry door, contact Karen or Dena at 502-896-1717 to set up an in-home consultation.