Properly installed thermal insulation reduces heat loss and minimizes heating demand. The reduction in your electricity bills should be enough to convince you to properly insulate the front door, especially if it's wooden. According to various sources, 15 to 20% of heat loss can be avoided by properly insulating the wooden front door, windows and the entire envelope of your home. There are different types of waterproofing materials you can choose from.
This includes foam, felt and rubber. Foam is relatively easier to install, while rubber can be a bit difficult. However, rubber is the most durable option of all. For many years, steel doors were the door you chose if you wanted high security.
As with any other steel product, exterior steel doors can eventually rust and require maintenance. Traditionally, steel doors are filled with foam and have a higher R-value than wood or glass. For many, the limited design options available on steel doors, along with maintenance requirements, make steel a poor choice for exterior doors. The most important step in insulating your wooden door is weather stripping.
This is rubber or other flexible material that borders the door frame. Often, this material loses effectiveness over time or was not properly installed in the first place. In addition to insulating wooden exterior doors against heat loss, it's a good idea to think about soundproofing them against outside noise. An automatic plinth or a door sweeper with a brush on the base are accessories to consider if you want to get even more insulation for your wooden front door.
The insulation of your wooden exterior doors should be a priority to review and improve, especially if it hasn't been monitored for more than a year. Wooden doors are prone to warping, which causes airtightness problems and can make them less effective in insulating. Check if water enters certain areas and, if so, take the time to replace the weather strips or apply a caulking product to insulate exterior wooden doors. Fiberglass also has an insulating quality, making fiberglass doors exceed the insulating properties of steel doors.
