We often get phone calls from homeowners in Kansas City asking if we can replace their doors and keep their existing frame in place. While the simple answer is, yes we can, we really don’t recommend going with this option. It may seem like a logical and money savvy decision at first, but it’s really in your best interest to install a new door with the frame it comes with. Here’s why we highly recommend this path.

It Can Cause Delays

While it is technically possible for us to replace your door while working with an existing frame, it can end up being more hassle than it’s worth. This is true for both time and money. Having to work around and with your existing frame without damaging it can cause delays in the job completion. It causes inefficiencies in the process, which can also end up costing you more of your time and money.

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It’s Not Good for Your Energy Bills

Another reason we don’t suggest replacing your door without also replacing your door frame is because the new door you choose won’t necessarily fit perfectly into your existing door frame. It can make your door less efficient at guarding your home from the elements, leaving it drafty and not very energy efficient. Not only will this leave your home less comfortable, but it will also make it more difficult for your home’s heating and cooling system to operate efficiently. This will likely end up costing you on your monthly energy bills.

If there’s a specific reason for keeping your existing door frame, like maybe you prefer its style, we can work with you on recreating it within your new door and frame. We can customize your door frames so you can have the exact look you want without sacrificing the functionality of your new door.

Call All-Weather Window, Doors & Siding at 913-262-4380 to talk about your door replacement options today.

Your exterior doors are like the entrance gates into your castle. Since you are the ruler, you get to make the final decisions about what is right for your castle. All-Weather can help you make those tough decisions by arming you with all your options, and guiding you towards the best fit for you and your home. Here’s an outline of all the points you should consider when replacing any exterior door.

Decide on Performance Features

One of the most important things to look at when replacing an exterior door in your Kansas City area home is the performance features. A great way to assess this is to ask yourself what problem you are trying to fix by replacing your door in the first place? From there you’ll be better able to pinpoint the types of doors that will be the best fit. If your old door was drafty, you’ll want to look at doors with good thermal retainment properties. If you’re afraid of intruders, you should look at doors that have stronger locking systems and frames.

Pick a Style & Material That Mesh With Your Home

The next most important decision is picking the right style for your home. Would a rustic door mesh well with the rest of your home, or would a more traditional door bring harmony to the aesthetics of your home? Once you have the style down, then you can choose the material. Many rustic doors are wood, but traditional and modern doors come in a larger selection of material options. There’s wood, steel, and fiberglass. But just because your door isn’t wood doesn’t mean it will look like a prison door. Many of the fiberglass and steel doors are beautifully crafted and can be designed to look like real wood, but with more durability and security.

Decide on a Color or Finish

After you have the most important aspects of your door buying decision, the fun begins. Your door can be an understated beauty that blends in beautifully with the rest of your home, or you can make it a focal point. One way to do either is to pick the right color or finish. For an understated door go for more natural wood finishes, or muted paint colors, like greys, warm browns, and beiges. For doors that stand out, use vibrant wood finishes or colors like red, blue, yellow or green.

Finish It Off With the Right Door Accessories

Lastly, pick out the door accessories you want. Your door hardware and handles can have a big impact on the style. With many handle shapes and finishes, your options are extensive . Also decide if you want a door sweep to help keep debris and dirt from entering your home. Another addition to think about is a door stop. These are most commonly installed on storm and patio doors. It ensures that a closing door doesn’t close too hard, or open beyond the angle its hinges will allow.

For a more detailed outline of how to replace each specific type of exterior door in your home (or castle), download our complete All-Weather Guide to Replacing Any Exterior Door in Your Home.  

Do you have a beautiful entry door that you’d like to be able to open up for fresh air but don’t want to ruin its aesthetic appeal with a clunky screen door? All-Weather Window, Doors, and Siding has a solution – Phantom Screens. Phantom Screens are there when you need them and gone when you don’t.

Benefits of Adding Phantom Retractable Screen Doors

Phantom screen doors offer a host of benefits that you will come to enjoy. Besides being durable and beautiful, you’ll appreciate these advantages as well:

• Breathe fresh air without the bugs
• Enjoy uninterrupted views of the beautiful outdoors
• Reduce the harsh glare of the sun
• Lower energy costs-turn the air conditioner off and let the cool night air in when the sun goes down.
• Expand your living space – turn a covered patio or porch into an extension of your home with retractable screens.

Get Peace of Mind with a Limited Lifetime Warranty

The biggest concern most customers have about these screens is durability. Most of their products are designed and manufactured in their North American facility. To allow them to deliver customization and quality, their retractable screens are built primarily by hand. From extruded aluminum housing and tracks to corrosion resistant finishes and components, these quality screens are designed to last a lifetime. That’s why they’re covered by a lifetime warranty, so you can buy with confidence.

What Type of Doors Will Phantom Screens Fit?

Phantom screen doors will fit just about any kind of door. They are available for out-swinging doors and as a double door for French style patio doors. These disappearing screen doors are gaining popularity because today’s entry doors are so efficient, there really is no need for a storm door in the winter. Phantom screens are the perfect solution when you need ventilation during the pleasant times of the year like spring and fall. Plus, these screens blend with any architectural style. They are perfect for both new and existing homes.

If you’re ready to let the fresh air in and keep the bugs out, give the Phantom screen experts at All-Weather Window, Doors, and Siding a call. We can answer any questions you have and give you a quote for your home. Call us at (913) 210-8810 or (816) 673-2480.

At All-Weather Window, Doors, and Siding, we know security is always a priority for our window and door customers. Windows and doors are the weakest part of your home when it comes to safety. The typical front door can be broken through in less than 45 seconds with three or four good kicks from an average sized man. The problem is that the deadbolt device depends on wood for support and wood is not the strongest material. It will split and give if enough force is used. So what can you do to make your front door safer? Meet Jamb Brace the Door Reinforcer®.

We’ve Been Jamb Brace Fans for Almost Two Decades

All-Weather Window & Doors has promoted Jamb Brace since its inception in 1997. We get called by insurance agencies for entry door replacement after home break-ins, so we see a lot of these instances and no matter how strong your door is, it’s only as strong as the wooden frame that surrounds it. Jamb Brace is the only product that makes your door secure.

What Is Jamb Brace?

Jamb Brace is a heavy-duty aluminum insert that is added to your door’s weakest part – the frame. It is completely concealed within the door trim. You can’t tell it’s there just by looking. Developed by veteran homebuilders and supported by law enforcement agencies and insurance companies, the Jamb Brace was designed specifically for homeowners.

Jamb Brace Was Created Right Here in Kansas City

In 1996, a series of home invasions ending in sexual assaults in Overland Park caught the interest of Overland Park police because the assailant kicked in the front doors. Overland Park policeman, Mike Betten, who worked in the crime prevention unit, saw the results firsthand. Betten had no idea how to secure a door with sidelites and received permission from the city council to go to the private sector to enlist some help. Mike approached the HBA and was put in contact with one of the board of directors, Tom O’Malley, who also owned Locks and Pulls. Tom was working on a door project with homebuilder, Ron Olberding, so he approached Ron and his business partner, David Allen, co-creators of the Jamb Brace, to test ways to make exterior doors stronger and more resistant to break-ins. “People spend thousands of dollars on alarm systems and locks, then a burglar kicks in their front door,” Olberding explained. “We knew that securing the frame, door edge and a quality dead bolt were the keys to keeping thieves out.”

The Police Department Was Extremely Impressed

Olberding and Allen worked closely with the Overland Park Police Department, to test the Jamb Brace against dozens of other theft-deterrent systems. The results were so convincing that the police department helped revise city building codes making it mandatory that new homes are fitted with a reinforced doorframe.

Homes Are Now Safer in Kansas City Neighborhoods

Once Overland Park adopted the new building ordinance, many neighboring cities followed suit. Now, Overland Park, Leawood, Shawnee, Lenexa, Olathe, DeSoto, Lee’s Summit, Grain Valley, Kansas City, MO and Oak Grove all require new construction single family and multi-family homes to meet minimum security standards. Jamb Brace is the preferred product to satisfy this ordinance. Also, new replacement doors in older homes must meet the same security standards for which the Jamb Brace is the preferred product as well. Jamb Brace is manufactured right here in Overland Park by Edward Wayne Inc.

Choose Any Door to Install with Jamb Brace

The nice thing about Jamb Brace is that it doesn’t impact the kind of door you buy. The only thing it changes is the door jamb itself so homeowners are free to choose any front door style they like. Security is always a consideration when choosing a front door. All-Weather can retrofit existing doors with Jamb Brace for added security. Or we can install a new door with Jamb Brace.

Take Advantage of Our February Free Jamb Brace Special

Give us a call and take advantage of our February Jamb Brace special. Anyone who purchases a new door in February and mentions this blog post will get a Jamb Brace installed for free. Call us for a free in-home estimate for front door installation including the Jamb Brace at (913) 210-8810 or (816) 673-2480.

Show your holiday spirit this year. It doesn’t matter what holiday, if any, that you celebrate. You can display your cheer right on your front door this year, and we mean literally. All-Weather Window, Doors & Siding walks you through an easy tutorial on how to make your own holiday wreath.

What You’ll Need:

• A Styrofoam wreath, straw wreath (still in plastic wrapping), wire wreath, or wet foam wreath
• Big & small ornaments
• Fresh or fake pine or other winter greens/brush
• Accent pieces (berries, pinecones, etc.)
• Glue gun, double sided tape, floral wire
• Wire cutters
• Festive ribbon

Get Crafty With Ornaments

How you execute this craft will depend on the type of wreath you want to display. One colorful, and non-traditional approach is an ornament wreath. You can use old ornaments you already have, or buy some colorful round ornaments of varying sizes from your local grocery or craft store that are fairly inexpensive. You can also choose from an array of wreath bases, depending on what you prefer to work with.

Start by tying your ribbon around the top of your wreath. This will be used to hang the wreath from your door.

Next, start hot-gluing your larger ornaments to your wreath. Make sure you get in the insides and outsides too, but leave the back untouched. Then start filling in the gaps and spaces with the smaller ornaments.

Create a Traditional Beauty

You can also go traditional with this wreath, and use pine tree snippings, or other wintergreens of your choice. The fake pine will last you forever, but the real stuff will probably just last this season.

It’s easier to use the wire wreath ring for this one. Take a bunch of snippings (3-4 pieces) and wrap the floral wire around, and twist it to secure the greens to the ring. Make sure to layer the next bunch of snippings slightly over the last. Do this all the way around. Use your cutters to clip any pieces that seem too long.

Lastly add any accents to your wreath. We love pinecones, cranberries, and burlap bows as accent additions to traditional wreaths.

We always suggest using an official door wreath hanger rather than pounding a nail into your door, which could permanently damage your door. A wreath hanger comfortably attaches over the top of your door, and has an adequately sized hook to hold your wreath in place. You can pick these up at most grocery stores and craft stores.

Call us today at (913) 210-8810 or (816) 673-2480 to install your new All-Weather Front Door before the Holidays.

The leaves are falling, and the air is getting crisper in Kansas City, which means fall is finally here! It’s the perfect time of the year to enjoy your front porch, and the last time you’ll have the ability to make some changes before winter sets in. Fall in love with your porch this fall with these simple design ideas that can take a so-so porch to a spectacular place you’ll want to sip your coffee and read the paper every morning.

The Right Lighting Fixtures

Having the right type of lighting fixtures is key to creating your ideal porch. Lighting can set a mood with the type of fixtures you choose, as well as the type of lighting. Rustic lighting fixtures are very popular for front porches almost every season of the year. They are pretty classic, and tend to evoke a feel of an old country farmhouse. Bronzed or black iron wall sconces with glass are a great choice for both sides of your front door. It creates a more inviting look and feel. We also suggest overhead lights if you plan to enjoy your porch at night. Use soft lighting to create a relaxing feel.

New Front Door

A new front door can make all the difference in your front porch. It’s the first thing people see when they come to your home, and is one of the main features of the front of your home and your porch. Simple, black, white, or wood doors are classic, or you could get a door with a nice punch of color, like red or blue. Right now we love farmhouse entry doors in conjunction with transoms and sidelights. These features together add character to the front of your home.

Check out our Andersen and Therma Tru entry Doors at All-Weather Window, Doors & Siding.

Comfortable & Cute Seating

The whole point of a front porch is to sit and enjoy it. So make sure you have comfortable seating. Enjoy your time on your porch with a nice rocking chair or a porch swing. And don’t forget a nice little coffee table so you can entertain. Bonus points for a nice woolen blanket to keep you warm when the sun starts to set.

Call All-Weather today to help you create the perfect porch this fall with a front door you’ll love walking through every day.