Tag Archive for: entry door

How a MultiPoint Door Lock System Keeps Your Home Safe & Comfortable

Most people don’t think about our door locks very often. Typically, at night you might turn the knob or door level, flip the deadbolt system, and head to bed. You sleep soundly, expecting a standard door to keep your family safe.

But is your current locking system really keeping your house safe and secure? Here’s what you should know about the peace of mind a multipoint door lock system can bring.

A beautiful woodgrain entry door features two frosted sidelights and a decorative glass pane in the middle. The brown door is at the center of a walkway on a stone brick and wooden home.

A Question of Home Security

Of course, a break-in and home invasion are nothing any of us like to worry about, but safety is an essential consideration in any entry door. Doors exist to protect us in our homes, to keep out bad weather, intruders, and anything else the outside world throws our way.

Now, here in Southeastern Wisconsin, we enjoy the relative safety of a mid-sized city like Milwaukee. Most of us feel secure in our homes, but most of us also prefer an extra layer of protection from the outside world. The truth is that crime can happen anywhere, and it’s always better to be safe than sorry.

Whether it’s your front door or a side entry door, you need to know your locks are working and your door lock system will keep you, your family, and the contents of your home secure.

If you’re considering an update to your exterior doors, here’s why you shouldn’t settle for any other lock system. The exclusive Multipoint Locking System or MPLS from Weather Tight keeps your home safe and provides a surprising additional benefit so you can relax and feel safe in your home.

Exploring the Anatomy of a Multipoint Door Lock System

The idea behind the multipoint door lock system is simple but effective. We’ve all seen doors with several unsightly locks running up the side—a traditional deadbolt, a chain lock, the lock built into the handle. While all those extra locking points may make a homeowner feel secure, the problem is they all lock in one spot—the center of the door. With pressure or blunt force at the top or bottom of the door, a standard locking system will give way.

With the multipoint locks, there is one activation for three different points, creating an added layer of security. You don’t need to lock your door two or three separate times to know it’s safe and tightly secured. With one easy turn of the lock, you’ve secured your entry door on the top, the bottom, and the middle of the door frame.

The difference of a multipoint lock configuration is that it’s extremely difficult to force the locked door open, even when applying pressure to the top or bottom. A multipoint lock system ensures your home’s security and your peace of mind.


To understand more about how a multi-point locking system works, watch this demonstration video from Home Improvement Tips with Tod & Todd:

 


Energy Efficiency: The Surprising Benefit of Multipoint Locking Systems

It’s easy to see how the multipoint lock system adds additional security to your home. But there’s an added benefit of extra locks. On top of the increased level of security, multipoint locks offer increased comfort. One of the most surprising benefits of the multipoint locking system is an improvement in the energy efficiency of your entry door.

While most homeowners think of the standard deadbolt locks as a safety measure, multi-point lock systems do more—they also help keep your doors closed extra tight to keep out drafts along the full length of the door. Here in southeastern Wisconsin, when the Milwaukee wind blows off Lake Michigan, you’ll appreciate the extra weather-tightness of additional locking points.

With the three locking points along the edge of the door, your exterior door is held air-tight to the frame against the weather stripping.  When you put the door in a closed position, the secure seal prevents air infiltration.

Even with the most secure single-point locks, the top and bottom of an entry door often lose small amounts of air. A three-point lock creates a tighter seal to keep the cold air out and the warm air in (and in the summer, it ensures you aren’t cooling the entire outdoors).

The other surprise is that the multipoint door locks are a free upgrade we offer on many of our entry doors. It’s important to note that multipoint locking systems are not available on some types of doors, like patio doors, steel doors, and fire doors with a cement core. Some garage doors aren’t compatible with the three-point door lock system.

But in most cases, this upgrade is available on any beautiful Weather Tight exterior door. We’ll help you ensure you’ve selected the best door lock for your situation, comfort, and the protection of your family.

At Weather Tight, we offer an array of gorgeous exterior doors designed to fit the look, style, and feel of your home. We have many customizable options and styles, including French doors in a wide variety of colors, glass options, door hardware, and more.

Fiberglass provides the look and beauty of wood with woodgrain detail but with more durability and moisture resistance. You won’t need to paint these maintenance-free doors. They retain their original beauty for years and years with virtually no upkeep at all.

If you’re ready to upgrade your home’s look while ensuring your family’s safety, security, and comfort, a new entry door is a great place to start. With locks at three critical points to enhance security, the multipoint locking system from Weather Tight is one more great reason to consider a new door today.

Give us a call for a free estimate. Our sales representatives will walk you through your options and help you choose a door you’ll love.

What You Need to Know About Entry Door Replacement

There’s no denying an entry door replacement instantly upgrades the look of your entire house. Front and center, your entry door is the focal point of your home. When friends, family, and visitors come by, it’s the first thing they see—and it makes a big statement.

Plus, your entry, side, or back door protects you and your family. Doors offer security and safety from outside weather and potential intruders.

So, when it’s time for entry, side, or back door replacement, consider all your options and review all aspects of the process. Choose a door to add to the value, look, and comfort of your house for years to come. Here’s what you need to know about the door replacement process.

Image shows the exterior of a home with a maroon door and shutters

How to Know When it’s Time for a New Entry, Side, or Back Door

There are several visible signs it’s time for a door replacement. The most significant indication is the look of the door itself. If your door’s style looks like it belongs in the last century, chances are it’s time to replace it.

Because doors are such a prominent feature of a home, they’re often one of the first areas to look dated. They’re also one of the first spots in your home that will show wear and tear. Cracked or peeling paint, warping, or staining are significant signs your door needs replacing.

Aside from cosmetic concerns, an older door presents a lot of challenges to the comfort and temperature control of your home as well. You may experience air leaks and drafts with an older door. People even see frost accumulate on the inside hardware of their doors in the winter. Indoor ice is a sure sign your door isn’t doing its job.

Some draft sources are obvious, but rest assured there are easy tests to reveal hidden air leakage around your door. One of our favorites is the dollar bill test. Take a dollar bill and slide it underneath your door. If the bill moves freely, it’s sure sign air is getting through.


How do you know it’s time to replace your entry door? Tod & Todd have some tips and handy tests you can try in this Tod & Todd’s Home Improvement Tips Video!

 

 


Another way to test your door is by taking a small flashlight and running it around your door. Ask a friend to stand inside your home. If they see the light seeping in around the door, you’re getting air loss. In the summer months, hold a fan up to the door and ask someone to stand on the other side with a wet hand. They’ll feel the cold air, indicating if and where you’re getting a draft.

Another big indication that a door replacement may be needed are concerns about the locking mechanisms or the hardware on your door. Securing your door should never be a challenge. If your door doesn’t lock properly (or is difficult to open or close), consider a door replacement soon.

 

What to Look for in a Replacement Entry, Side, or Back Door

The first place you’ll notice the impact of a new door is on your energy bill. There are many components built into modern replacement doors to help you save on energy.

At Weather Tight, we install beautiful Therma-Tru doors, which feature a sill and bottom sweep with a tight seal to protect against air and moisture infiltration. When combined with the recommended sill pan, the floor, and subfloor will withstand moisture and rot. The composite material of the sill stands up to weather, heat, and humidity.

With weather-stripping and corner seal pads, Therma-Tru doors ensure your home stays comfortable all year long. You’ll save on heating in the winter and cooling in the summer, thanks to the precise seals that protect against air and moisture infiltration.

Choose from a wide selection of beautiful materials for your door as well. Wood is a classic option, but modern fiberglass features woodgrain and offers five times the insulation value of wood. Our doors don’t scratch, dent, warp, or twist. Plus, we offer an incredible array of customization options, including a variety of colors, glass designs, styles, and hardware. Choose a door to match and compliment the look and style of your home. Choose additional features like kickplates, mail slots, and peep sites, as well as surrounding features like a transom window or sidelights to let in light and give your home that extra designer flair.

It’s also important to consider the locking system of your door. Weather Tight offers a multi-point lock system for extra security. Our multi-point locking system locks in three spots on the door and is a great option to help you rest easy, knowing your home is safe.

Check out the handy custom door designer to see all the ways you can change your home with a replacement door. Print out your design and share it with your Weather Tight representative to ensure you get the door of your dreams.

 

What to Expect During Your Weather Tight Visit

Image shows an entry before and after a replacement

If you’re considering a door replacement, give Weather Tight a call to set up a consultation with one of our trusted experts. Our expert will come to your home and assess your door needs. During the visit, he or she will look at your door opening, take measurements, and go through the options to ensure your door perfectly fits the style of your home while offering suggestions that fit with your wants and needs.

We go over all possible looks and provide real before and after pictures of customers who have replaced their doors. We also discuss your needs and what you’re looking for in terms of seals and efficiency. Thanks to the weather here in the Midwest, most of us need to consider the impact of the winter months—especially cold and moisture—on our doors. Wood doors tend to expand and shrink with the weather, whereas fiberglass doors hold up to the harshest conditions.

Your Weather Tight representative will also go over the door replacement process and timeline with you. We usually see an uptick in replacement entry doors in the spring, but summer, fall, and even winter are perfect times to consider a door replacement, so don’t wait! Weather Tight takes steps to ensure your home stays comfortable during construction and installation.

If you’re ready to improve the curb appeal, security, and comfort of your home, a replacement door is the right investment. Give Weather Tight a call today and we’ll discuss the many options for a door you’ll love!

6 Signs it is Time to Replace your Entry Door

An entry door on our home acts as the first line of defense for safety, privacy, security, efficiency & curb appeal! But just how efficient is the current entry door on our home? If you have ever found yourself uncertain about ‘if’ & ‘when’ you should replace it, look no further! Not knowing what signs to look for can be a costly oversight for a homeowner. There are many important factors to consider when looking to replace our old entry door with a new one.