Choosing a storm door that doesn't clash with original doors?
The time has finally come to replace the ugly storm doors on my 1850s home. The house has three identical doors - they're tombstone style and the front door has stained glass panels. I'm having a really hard time finding a style of reproduction wooden storm door that doesn't clash with or hide the design of the existing doors.
Here is a photo of the front door, and the storm door that will be replaced:
Here's a photo of the front door that shows its shape and design better. Excuse the Christmas decor.
Does anyone here have similar tombstone doors and if so, what style of storm doors do you have?
Comments (7)
columbusguy1
12 years agosombreuil_mongrel
12 years agoHi,
My parent's old house in Arkansas had the double-arched door, and I made this (over the top) Victorian screen/storm for it.
Later, I added the stained glass:
The door was made 1 3/8" thick of old white pine, there was a 3/8" deep depression in the rear so that the removable screen panel would sit flush, and the corresponding plexiglass panel was switched in for winter.
You may not want to go quite so ornate, but the principle of a storm, to keep the weather off the original door, is a sound one.
This summer, I built this door for my kitchen door. It's quite a bit simpler, but keeps the view clear.
Building a screen/storm is something any hobby woodworker should be able to figure out. There are countless shops that could make you a simple door for about $400. I just had my screen panel made for $40+, and the 3/16" plexiglass costs about $100.
Using the best material is key! The wood has to be chosen carefully, and prepared so as to be free from any warping. Mortise and tenon joints are crucial for a long life.
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Comments (17)It appears that you are making an assumption that an aftermarket film is in some way superior to a LowE coating that is directly applied to the glass in blocking solar heat gain, but in fact the aftermarket film actually is simply a LowE coating applied to a thin sheet of plastic rather than directly to the glass. There are two types of LowE coatings, soft coat and hard coat. Soft coats offer superior performance when compared to hard coats, but need to be protected from the elements by placing the coating between two lites of glass in either an IG or laminated glass configuration. Hard coats are much simpler that soft coats but with the advantage that they can be exposed to the elements so can be used in single glass or aftermarket film applications. For optimum performance in blocking solar heat gain the coating should be installed on glass surface 1, or the face exposed to outside, whereas the film will likely be installed against glass surface 2, or the inside of the door. Being installed on surface 2 isn't a bad thing, in fact it's a requirement when using soft coats since they can't be exposed to the elements, but surface 1 application is probably going to block a bit more heat gain and keep the glass slightly cooler overall than surface 2 application, either coating or film. I just can't recall ever seeing any performance information on single lite glass with coating on surface 1 and film on surface 2. Since this a door, so required to be tempered glass, I wouldn't be concerned at all about heat retention in the glass and really not seeing an overwhelming reason not to do it, again assuming that the outside coating IS a low solar gain coating. (I overemphasize that requirement because high solar heat gain hard coat coatings are much more common than high solar heat gain rejecting hard coat coatings, and while I trust coating manufacturers to get it right, I don't always trust distributors to get it right. Probably just being a bit paranoid since you are in a cooling environment so the distributors know what's needed). In your case I would suggest initially going with the LowE coating (preferably on surface 1, but surface 2 isn't a deal breaker) and see how well it works. If you aren't happy with the performance then add the film on surface 2 and see what happens. If you are okay with the results then that's done. But if you opt for clear glass with the intention of adding film to surface 2 and you aren't happy with the results you would not have any real options left short of replacing the glass or possibly even the whole door....See MoreFrench doors and window alignment and clashing muntins.
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