ServicesStorm Doors
Storm Doors in Shoreline
We install storm doors that are sized to your actual opening, mounted plumb on the exterior casing and adjusted until the closer, latch and bottom sweep work together. You get a door that stops drafts, keeps rain off your entry door and lets in a breeze on dry days.
What a Storm Door Does and When It Makes Sense
A storm door is a second, lighter door hung on the outside of your entry door. It mounts to the exterior casing (the brickmould) with a hinge-side Z-bar and closes against drip cap and latch-side rails. The aluminum frame carries interchangeable glass and screen panels, or a retractable screen, so the same door handles cold months and warm ones.
It is the right call when your entry door is sound but takes a beating from weather, when you want ventilation without leaving the house open, or when an older wood door leaks air around its weatherstrip. Our wet, windy winters push rain sideways onto front doors, and a storm door keeps that water off the finish and out of the threshold.
If the entry door itself is rotted, warped or no longer seals, a storm door only hides the problem. In that case we will tell you so and talk through our entry doors service instead.
What Our Storm Door Installation Includes
Measuring the real opening
We measure width at top, middle and bottom and height on both sides. Many older openings are out of square by a quarter inch or more, and that number decides which door size and expander we order.
Choosing the door style
Full-view glass, mid-view with a lower panel, or a retractable screen model. We explain how each one handles ventilation, cleaning and pets so you pick for how you use the door.
Hinge and handing
We confirm which side the door should swing from so it clears railings, porch lights and the entry door handle. Getting the handing right avoids a door that blocks your path.
Closer, chain and sweep setup
We install and tune the pneumatic closer so the door shuts without slamming, add a wind chain where gusts are an issue, and set the bottom expander so the sweep seals against the threshold without dragging.
Cleanup and old door removal
We remove the old storm door if there is one, patch old screw holes in the casing and haul away the packaging and the old unit.
Signs You Need a New Storm Door
- Gaps you can see daylight through
- Light around the edges means the frame has racked or the sweep has worn out. Air and rain follow the same path.
- A closer that slams or won't latch
- Pneumatic closers lose pressure over time. If a new closer doesn't fix it, the hinge rail is usually bent.
- Torn screens or fogged, scratched panels
- Older models with fixed panels can be hard to service. A new door with removable or retractable screens is often simpler than chasing parts.
- Entry door finish fading or peeling
- Weather and sun break down paint and stain on an exposed front door. A storm door shields it, though we will check heat buildup if the door faces west or south.
- Corroded or loose mounting
- Screws pulling out of soft casing usually point to moisture in the wood. We check that before hanging anything new on it.
How the Work Goes
- 1
Phone call and visit
Start with a call for a free quote, and we pick a time to see the opening in person. On that visit we take measurements, probe the casing for rot and go over styles and options with you.
- 2
Written quote
The quote you receive is in writing, with the door, the hardware and any casing repair on their own lines. Take whatever time you need to decide.
- 3
Install day
Like most of our installs, a storm door is finished in one day, and the hanging itself typically takes only part of that day. We fit the Z-bar, hang the door, set the drip cap and latch rail, and then mount the closer and handle set.
- 4
Adjustment and walkthrough
We cycle the door repeatedly until the latch catches on every close and the sweep meets the threshold evenly. Before we leave, we show you how to change panels and set the closer speed on your own.
What Moves the Cost of a Storm Door
Two things set most of the total: the door model you pick and the shape the exterior casing is in. We measure before we quote, and the written quote breaks the work into separate lines so each cost is visible. Flexible payment options are available.
- Door style and glass
- Basic mid-view doors sit at the lower end, while full-view glass and retractable screen models run higher. Upgrading to Low-E or tempered glass raises the price further.
- Standard or custom size
- An expander lets most openings take a standard size. When an opening is unusually wide, short or badly out of square, a special-order door may be the only clean fit.
- Casing condition
- A door can only be mounted securely on solid brickmould, so soft or rotted casing gets repaired or replaced first. You see photos of anything we find.
- Hardware choices
- Keyed deadbolts, upgraded handle sets, heavy-duty closers and the finish color you choose each shift the final number.
Storm Door Questions
- Will a storm door damage my front door with trapped heat?
- It can on doors that get strong afternoon sun, especially vinyl or dark-painted doors. Heat builds in the gap between the two doors. We check which way the door faces and recommend a vented model or a screen panel for summer when it matters.
- Do I need a permit for a storm door?
- In most cases a storm door swap is treated as a minor exterior installation and does not require a building permit. If your project involves changing the opening or structural framing, we will check the requirements before work starts.
- Can you install a storm door on an older house with an uneven opening?
- Yes. Older openings are often out of square, and the hinge-side Z-bar and bottom expander let us take up a fair amount of that. If the casing is too far out, we will explain the repair needed first.
- How long does installation take?
- A standard storm door usually takes a few hours. Casing repairs or removing a stubborn old door can add time, but most jobs are done the same visit.
- Should I get a storm door or replace my entry door?
- If your entry door seals well and is structurally sound, a storm door adds protection at lower cost. If it is warped, drafty at the frame or rotting at the bottom, replacing it through our entry doors service is the better fix.
Let's Measure Your Doorway
Give us a few details about your entry and we will arrange a time to measure and check the casing. Quotes are free and no-pressure, for homeowners in Shoreline, Edmonds, Lake Forest Park and nearby.