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10 Benefits of Storm Doors

Lowe's Editorial Team

By Lowe's Editorial Team
Published July 18, 2024

A storm door protects your home from the weather while allowing for ventilation and a good view. Learn more about storm door advantages to decide if your home needs one.

Why is a Storm Door Necessary?

The purpose of a storm door is to provide protection to your home and your front door. It acts as a barrier against extreme weather and offers insulation for your home. They can have interchangeable or retractable screens that roll out of the way. This allows for fresh air and keeps the bugs out. A storm door might be necessary if your front door is old or provides poor insulation. 

Benefits of Storm Doors

There are numerous storm door advantages over and above enhancing your home’s curb appeal. Here are a few benefits of installing a storm door. 

Reduced Energy Use

Storm doors provide insulation by keeping hot and cold air from escaping your home. Low-E glass, also called low-emissivity glass, is a type of windowpane that consists of a transparent coating meant to reflect heat while allowing light to pass through. It’s a type of invisible insulation for your windows. ​This can reduce energy use and utility bill costs. The weatherstripping feature of storm doors might prove useful for preventing air leaks. It’s available in various forms like felt, foam or brush that fills the gaps between the door and the frame. This creates a tight seal preventing outside air from seeping in and conditioned air from escaping.

More Natural Light

Another benefit of storm doors is its ability to let in ample natural light when the weather is good. Features like a retractable screen or a self-storing screen can also help with this.

Retractable Screen

The retractable screen attached to a storm door allows for a great view of the outdoors while keeping insects out.  

Interchangeable Screen

The glass in the storm door and the screen are interchangeable. You can replace the glass panels with a mesh screen to enjoy the sunlight.​ Blinds between the glass panes can control the amount of light you want to let in.

Self Storing Screen

This screen type has a screen window on the outside and a pane of glass on the inside. You can slide the safety glass open or close to let in natural light and air flow.

Extra Winter Protection

In the winter, cold air can seep in through your doors and windows. The advantage of a storm door is that it can keep the cold air out. This will maintain the warmer temperature in your home. Added​​ weatherstripping will protect the door against harsh weather. It does this by sealing out rain, snow, wind and dust. Without this feature, these elements can cause water damage, drafts and bring in unwanted debris through small cracks between the door and frame. 

Less Front Door Maintenance

A storm door could be a good investment to protect the front door from rain or snow. Low-E glass installed on the storm door can prevent paint and other finishes from fading due to UV rays.

Added Security

Storm doors are heavy duty and sturdy and can act as a barrier between your home and the outside world. Installing tempered glass onto your storm door can make it more secure and give the illusion of your front door being open. Their advanced locking systems are an additional benefit of storm doors.  Their multi-point locking systems make them harder to pry open, providing enhanced security. They are also difficult to break through or pick, deterring potential intruders.

Decreased Outside Noise

One of the benefits of storm doors is its ability to reduce unwanted noise. This includes traffic sounds, construction sounds and the​ barking of dogs. The thicker the glass used in storm doors, the more noise it can block.

Make Your Home Attractive

While the main purpose of a storm door might be to protect your home, they can also add character to your entrance. Incorporate features like ​bevelled glass panes, decorative glass inserts, or clear glass to elevate your entryway. Handle finishes, such as a brushed nickel or polished brass ​offer an exquisite touch. Materials like wood, metal, or glass can create vastly different looks depending on the style you prefer. Make it stand out or blend in by selecting a color that resonates with you. Whether you select a full view, mid view or high view storm door, ​​it’s bound to add to your curb appeal.

Keep Insects Out

Storm doors are great to keep insects out of your home. You can relax with your front door open without worrying about insects creeping into your home. With a properly sealed storm door, these pests won’t be able to squeeze through the gaps in the door.

Seasonal Ventilation

A benefit of installing storm doors is the freedom to let the front door open and enjoy the breeze through the retractable screens.

Pet Friendly

Storm doors might be useful to keep your pets safe in the house. But they also allow for pets to feel welcome with a built-in pet door. With this, your pet can enter and exit your home on their own. When the weather is bad and you want to make sure your pet doesn’t go anywhere, just keep the front door locked.

Storm Door Styles to Fit Every Need

If you think that a storm door might be necessary after considering the various storm door advantages, take a look at these storm door styles. Some might be better than others based on the purpose of your storm door.

Full view Door

A full view storm door allows for a complete look of the outside while allowing you to display your front door as well. It is entirely made of glass. This can be tempered glass for security, decorative glass for appeal or single pane glass for affordability.

Midview Door

A midview storm door offers a good view but its glass does not fill the entire frame. It includes a bottom panel or kick plate designed for more foot traffic. It might be more ideal for a back entrance that gets a lot of use.

Highview Door

Highview storm doors have the largest bottom panel and a glass panel on the top half. The glass panel can be lifted to show the screen. These might be good for adding a pet door due to the large bottom panel.