Hurricane season has brought with it destruction and devastation to many parts of the United States. Most recently, Hurricane Laura left wreckage in its wake, with home and store owners trying to figure out their next steps. Business owners are already reeling from the COVID-19 crisis and now they have to face more questions. How much will it cost to rebuild my brick-and-mortar business? What does my insurance cover? On a more itemized level, how much will it cost to replace the storefront door?
Here is a look at the basic criteria to consider when getting that new door.
Material
Usually your choice is between steel, wood, glass, fiberglass or a combination of these materials. CDF Distributors offers steel doors in a variety of sizes and thicknesses and the expertise to explain the differences between your options. According to their website, commercial steel doors are the preferable choice, as they are more likely to withstand the test of time (not to mention vandals) than wooden doors.
You can get a door made of hollow metal or stainless steel. You can choose between doors with vision lights or those that offer energy efficiency. Hollow metal doors are available in various security (penetration test) ratings and even in blast-and-bullet-resistant versions. They also score very high on fire resistance, says Science Direct. No door will give you more security and more durability than a heavy-duty steel one, although it's true that you get more style with a wooden or fiberglass door. With wood you can have the door crafted to match just the look and style you are after. In choosing wood you will also have to decide on what grain you want and whether the wood should be solid, hollow or solid core. The fancier you get, the more the door is likely to cost. A fiberglass door is likely to be less expensive than wood and last a long time, but the cheaper ones can be prone to cracking.
Space And Installation
How large a space the door will occupy is naturally a huge factor in its price. Business entrances vary greatly in size, and the local building codes have set maximum and minimum heights and widths for commercial doors. As this is a replacement door, you will already know the size and space you're looking for, unless you plan on remodeling the entrance. As a result, the door will have to be built to meet certain specifications.
You'll also want to think about whether you want this door to be different than the previous one in terms of ventilation at the top or a mailbox slot. These are optional features that can be easily incorporated into most doors. Will the store where you bought the door install it at low or minimum charge or do you expect to install it yourself? These are all things to consider as you figure out which door is the best for you and your specific situation. Try reaching out to some professionals like CDF Distributors for answers to your questions about custom steel doors, standard sizes and easy installation processes.
Design And Color
Nothing makes for a more impressive entrance than an ornately carved or a beautifully painted wooden door. With wood, both ornate and simple can be beautiful. Color and craftsmanship are like eye-candy to a visitor or potential customer. When it comes to style, steel and fiberglass simply cannot compete, although some fiberglass and wood combinations can be rather captivating.
This is not to to say that a steel door is without aesthetic appeal. The shape and color can have an appeal on their own.
In a search of best front doors on the web the wooden ones will catch your eye like works of art. You'll want to think of the statement your front door is making about your business, especially since it's the first thing a customer will see upon entering your space.
While there will be standards that have to be met in replacing your storefront door, it will really be up to you on how much you want to spend and how you strike a balance between efficiency, design, and low-cost.
