What are the Types of Entry Doors?

Posted on January 11, 2013November 25, 2020

Thinking about buying a new entry door? Overwhelmed by what type you should consider – Aluminum, uPVC Skin Composite, or Fiberglass Skin Composite?

The Window Depot is not only only Tamp Bay’s best source for replacement windows but also entry doors! Read below for a handy guide to understand the differences between they types of entry doors. Any questions, call us and we’ll be more than happy to help!

There are a few types of composite doors available on the market for homeowners to choose from. The three main types of composite doors are metal like steel and aluminum, fiberglass and uPVC. Composite doors are strong, last longer and are better insulated. They require very little maintenance or upkeep. Composite entry doors are available in a range of colors and styles as well to suite the décor of your home or business. Each type of door has it’s own specific benefit depending on the material used in its fabrication and overall workmanship.

Aluminum Skin Composite Door:

These doors are available in a single layer, double layer, or a triple layer. The outer layer is always aluminum and usually smooth in texture. On doors with two or more layers polyurethane foam is used to make up the core. The foam is great for insulating and sound damping properties. On triple layer entry doors you will have an extra layer of galvanized aluminum built into the door.

Aluminum doors tend to be used more in commercial environments like office buildings, dorms, hotels, and some corporate installations. A common style includes an aluminum frame with a glass window in the center. Aluminum doors also cost less that wooden doors. Usually when building a structure that includes a lot of doors such as a school you will see aluminum doors as the choice due to it’s overall value.

uPVC Skin Composite Doors:

Due to the easier maintenance and better durability than a wood door most people prefer a composite door. There are plenty of modern designs available to choose from as well. With the right paint these doors will maintain a long luster in the elements. When the grime and dirt accumulate simply wipe down your door with soap and water to have everything looking new again. These doors also resist nicks, scrapes, bumps, and jabs better than wood doors. Lastly environments that have high humidity or moisture may want to look at a PVC skin door.

UPVC composite doors also resist the weather better than wood doors. Adding a piece of frosted glass will also help let in light during the day while adding an ornamental and decorative characteristic to the door. It’s debatable as to weather the light entering you home can offset the cost of lighting your entry or foyer. Since composite doors are made by machine they are available in many different sizes and moldings. They also can come with different options like knockers, letterboxes, peepholes, and windows.

Fiberglass Skin Composite Doors:

Fiberglass composite doors are also available and provide a bit more rigidity and avoid the expansion and contraction of the summer and winters. Fiberglass doors are constructed using fiberglass and resin and are also available in a variety of shapes and sizes. The skin is molded from a resin in a liquid form which chemically hardens during the manufacturing process. This allows for a finer grain definition. Fiberglass doors tend to also last a very long time and are very versatile but they are not as sound proof. Speak to your local door and window store representative to find out which door is best for you.

The Window Depot offers top-quality products from leading manufacturers, including:

To beautify your home and protect your family, schedule your free consultation today.

The Benefits of Vinyl Siding

Posted on January 3, 2013October 19, 2023

If you still have wood siding on your home now is a great time to consider replacing it with vinyl. There are many reasons homeowners switch to vinyl siding instead of wood. Some of these reason include better protection, more style choices, cost, and less maintenance.

One benefit of vinyl siding versus wood siding is the fact that it will never be eaten by termites or any other wood destroying organisms. Vinyl relative to other siding materials is pretty resistant to deterioration. Tampa, Pinellas County along with the rest of Central Florida is an especially humid environment coupled with long periods of high precipitation keeping the exterior of your home constantly moist. Wood will eventually swell and begin to rot even if it is sealed, protected and re-protected against the elements.

‘Vinyl siding comes in an array of styles and colors and will most likely come in some type of color that matches or compliments your home. The integrated baked-on paint or stain finishes won’t fade saving you from repainting old siding or the original exterior of your home. All the time and money of painting adds up over the years.

Another reason homeowners prefer vinyl siding is the fact that it costs less than traditional wood siding. Not only is the initial cost of installing the vinyl siding cheaper than wood siding but the cost of maintenance will be cheaper over the long run. You home will look great year after year without you having to break out the ladder and paint over and over.
Vinyl siding is a lot more stress free as you will not have to worry about the many flaws that are inherent with wood siding. As mentioned before, no insects will eat vinyl siding. The weather wont rot, warp or cause vinyl to deteriorate. There isn’t any paint to chip or peel off.

Not all siding is the same. Our products are designed specifically for Florida’s zone 9 and 10 subtropical climates. Premium siding from The Window Depot siding resists rotting, warping, cracking, hurricane-force winds, salt air, and insects. It’s even non-combustible, flame- and melt-resistant, and approved for fire-rated construction.

Save Some Green by Making Your Home Green

Posted on December 26, 2012

There are many ways to improve the energy-efficiency of your home. Taking steps to improve energy efficiency will help reduce the costs associated with maintaining your home and those costs related to your utilities. Reducing the carbon footprint of your home is great for the planet and makes your home’s value increase. There are products that you can use as part of your home as well as within your home to help achieve this goal. Making your home green can involve other products or activities you may not have considered. One important aspect of going green is reducing your carbon footprint by using less energy in multiple aspects of your house. One of the best ways to reduce energy usage is to ensure your home is adequately insulated. You can take it one step further by using eco-friendly insulation made out of materials like cotton, wool, recycled fabrics like denim and even soybeans. While you’re poking around the walls, evaluate your outdoor siding. If your home is older and in need of a facelift, consider green products like fiber-cement siding or insulated vinyl siding. Both will last for many, many years and require virtually no maintenance. Replacing older appliances is one of the easiest ways to reduce energy consumption in your home. The upfront cost of replacing older appliances may deter individuals from considering this option but depending on the appliance you are replacing you can easily recoup that cost in the long run. Your washer and dryer, refrigerator, range, hot water heater and ac unit are some of the top consumers of electricity within your home. You can look to see if these appliances still have the energy star label on them. If hey do have the labels you can jot down the information and take it with you to the store to compare how much a newer appliance will reduce your energy consumption. This can help tell you how long it will take to offset the cost of replacing the actual appliance with newer one thus guiding you budget decision When cooling or heating your home most of the energy is lost through doors, windows, and older less efficient insulation. You can easily upgrade the appearance, security, and efficiency of your home by simply upgrading your windows and doors to newer more energy efficient doors and windows. Triple-paned or double-paned windows are your best option in regards to improving the efficiency of your home. Other added benefits of a triple-paned window or door would include protection from debris during a hurricane or severe weather event. It also would be more difficult for an intruder to enter through the glass. Lastly these windows and doors will help reduce the sound and ambient noise entering your home from the surrounding environment. As you can see there are many added benefits to new windows and doors besides the reduction in heating and cooling costs. As you can see there are many ways to reduce the toxicity and energy consumption of your home. From using L.E.E.D. Certified materials, upgrading to new, more energy efficient appliances and replacing your windows and doors with more efficient materials. Taking these steps will save you money in the long run and help keep your family healthier. Lastly you will pump up the value of your home with your new improvements. These are great options to consider for your home especially if you plan on staying there longer than 40 years.