As a storm doors dealer, you need to consider storm door information that’s vital to your business. Consider offering custom storm doors for sale as well as wood storm doors, aluminum storm doors and sliding storm doors. You might even want to allow your customers to buy storm doors online.

Take advantage of a storm doors industry overview to obtain knowledge to help you expand your storm door business. Use these tips to get started.

1. Find leaders in the storm door industry.

2. Investigate smaller companies with a great reputation.

3. Learn from other storm doors dealers through associations.

Action Steps
The best contacts and resources to help you get it done

Find industry associations for storm door dealers

Industry associations and home building groups can help you keep up with the door hardware industry. Make plans to attend local and national meetings to network with other members of these associations.

I recommend: The International Door Association offers valuable storm door information to dealers. Become a member to take advantage of their special programs and to find out the latest about their regional conference and national expo. Join the Window & Door Manufacturers Association with a Professional Membership and attend an upcoming meeting to meet other storm door dealers.

Rely on the services and products offered by industry leading storm door manufacturers

Search for custom storm doors, aluminum storm doors, wood storm doors and sliding storm doors from a well-known storm door manufacturer to ensure you and your customers receive a high quality product. When looking at smaller storm door suppliers, you can do a storm door comparison with these leading companies to make sure the products are a good deal.

I recommend: One of the top selling storm door suppliers in America is Larson. Their product line includes a wide range of storm doors with and without screens. A leader in windows and storm doors, Andersen offers hundreds of storm door options to retailers nationwide.

Locate small storm door suppliers that produce high-quality products

You don't have to be one of the largest companies in the nation to be one of the best. Some suppliers of storm doors are small, but their reputations pack a big punch.

I recommend: Harvey Industries offers quality products for building and remodeling professionals, including storm doors. Gorell Windows & Doors has storm doors in a variety of sizes, and they even custom make storm doors and windows.

Tips & Tactics

Helpful advice for making the most of this Guide

• •  There are custom storm doors available that can withstand a hurricane or tornado. If your business is in tornado alley or along the coast where hurricanes can happen, this might be a good option to offer your customers.

In warmer climes, a screen door suffices as an outer entrance to a home or apartment. For most parts of the country, storm doors provide needed insulation from the winter cold. This is a feature tenants find attractive, especially if their lease calls for utility payments. In neighborhoods where danger is a factor, storm doors provide additional security to apartments or homes. Such doors come in a variety of styles, some quite decorative.

The installation of most storm doors is fairly straightforward and need not be contracted out. Most doors come with a complete set of installation instructions, although steps may vary according to model. As with any project, follow the directions and diagrams that come with the particular door model you've selected, especially custom storm doors.

Among items to consider before purchasing storm doors are:

1. Door finish;
2. Weather stripping on the door;
3. Hardware quality;
4. Corner joints (strong and airtight).

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Find calm in storm door manufacturers

For an existing real estate property, consider replacing the storm door. The fit and insulation factor is better with modern doors compared to older ones. In terms of storm door comparison, an insulated metal or fiberglass door is a better investment than wood storm doors because of durability, lower maintenance in terms of repainting, and better seal because wood tends to warp. Metal or fiberglass doors also are a greater deterrent to break-ins.

I recommend: Several storm door manufacturers exist, but Larson Storm Doors offers security doors and a variety of screen patterns. Gerkin Storm Doors focuses on styles popular with customers, but allows you to design your own custom storm doors.

Open the door to online possibilities

Rather than limit yourself to the selection at the local hardware store, look for storm doors for sale online. Compare prices and selections through search engines or try do-it-yourself sites for sponsored links by storm door manufacturers.

I recommend: Do a storm door comparison for prices at NexTag. Go to BizRate to find storm doors for sale from online stores.

Select an installer for your storm doors

Your staff may have neither the time nor the technical skills to install storm doors, though it is not beyond the skills of the average homeowner. If necessary, storm door suppliers may connect you with an installer. However, you may choose to find an installer through an online service.

I recommend: Home Blue will connect you with a contractor in your area. Angie’s List provides contact information for contractors in larger metropolitan areas.

Tips & Tactics

Helpful advice for making the most of this Guide

• •  Before replacing the storm door, inspect the wood jamb and trim around the door opening to ensure it is secure and will support the weight of the new door.
• •  If using screens in storm doors, check with the dealer about the compatibility of the screen with the door. Combining aluminum storm doors with other types of metals, for example, can hasten corrosion.

When looking for storm doors, there’s a lot of information to consider. There are differences between aluminum storm doors, wood storm doors and sliding storm doors. Your specific needs, and reputable storm door suppliers, will help determine which one is appropriate for you.

When looking for storm door information for your business, it’s important to look at a variety of storm door suppliers. To find the right options for your business, consider using storm doors in these areas:

1. Using storm doors to let the light in or keep the cold out.

2. Buy storm doors online that you can use indoors or outdoors.

3. Ask suppliers of storm doors about the benefits of pairing your storm door with another door.

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Use storm doors appropriate for your location

In certain areas of the country, mild weather allows you to let the outdoors inside your business. You can keep your storm door closed and open the screen to let the outdoor air mingle with your indoor air. However, your need for a storm door in a colder climate is completely different. You need a door that keeps the cold air out, but still lets light and heat come into your office.

I recommend: Loxcreen has a wide selection of storm doors that you can use with or without a screen. Click on the “Doors” category to view their online catalog. You can also find a great selection of Pella storm doors at stores nationwide.

Find storm doors for sale to use inside and outside your business

Storm doors are a great addition on the outside of your business, but you can also use them inside. If you have a room that's noisy, but you still need to see inside that room, install a storm door get rid of the noise while still maintain the open feel you want.

I recommend: Add a Victorian feel to your business with a storm door from Victoriana East. Kaufmann Window & Door has a more contemporary selection of storm doors that you can use anywhere in your business.

Use a storm door with another door for extra energy efficiency

If your existing door is older, adding a storm door could mean extra energy efficiency that could add up to some significant savings. However, if the storm door would receive direct sunlight for more than three hours every day, it might not be worth it. Heat can trap itself between the storm door and your entry door, possibly causing damage to your entry door and adding unwanted heat to your entryway. Your storm door suppliers can assess your situation to see if the energy efficiency savings add up for you.

I recommend: An energy efficient storm door by ProVia Door could help boost the energy savings in your home if you use their storm door with your existing entry door. If your storm door would receive too much sunlight, check The U.S. Department of Energy website to see if a low-emissivity coating on the storm door glass would prevent your entryway from becoming a heat trap.

Tips & Tactics

Helpful advice for making the most of this Guide

• •  Custom storm doors, like a hurricane proof storm door, might be a good option for your business. Ask your storm door manufacturer for air, moisture and wind resistant options as part of your storm door package.

Storm doors are the secondary doors placed outside an entry door to add style, but more important, they serve as protection from the outdoor elements. Storm doors come in many designs made of many different types of materials. Learn what types of window options, installation choices and screen versions are available. Understanding the basic terms associated with storm doors, their windows and protection capabilities can help contractors and consumers decide which door best suits their needs.

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Ventilating

Ventilating storm doors are doors with basic air ventilation capabilities. They are usually simple one- or two-window storm doors with glass and screen combinations that can be opened or closed to allow air in or out at the user's discretion.

I recommend: Ventilating storm doors are defined and sold at Larson,a leading manufacturer of storm and entry-door systems as well as quality windows.

Weatherstripping

When it comes to protecting against the outside elements, a door is only as good as its weatherstripping. Storm doors are installed to form a barrier between the outdoors and indoors, but the weatherstripping must be secure and in good shape. Weatherstripping can be foam, plastic or metal. It is placed around the parameters of the door to fill air gaps and prevent air from passing.

I recommend: Read about weatherstripping at DoItYourself.com. The section defines weatherstripping and explains how to install it properly.

Tempered glass

Tempered glass is a special glass that is heat-treated to create a stronger break-and-shatter resistance. Glass that is tempered will also shatter into smaller pieces, making it safer if it is broken

I recommend: Read the definition of tempered glass in the glossary at Gorell, manufacturer of windows and doors.

Low-e glass

Low-e glass is short for low emission glass. Low-e glass is made to insulate better than regular glass. The special insulating glass reflects thermal energy and keeps warm air out during summer months and in during colder months. Low-e glass is often used in windows and can be installed into storm doors for additional benefits.

I recommend: Read the definition of low-e glass at Capitol Window And Door.

Self-storing

Self-storing refers to the type of screen/window system in a storm door. A self-storing system has a screen with a window that can be completely opened, thus stored in the door. The glass window can also be closed tightly with the screen still intact to protect against winter elements.

I recommend: Pella, a manufacturer of windows and doors, explains the self-storing door on its product page.

Pre-hung

The term 'pre-hung' refers to how the door is manufactured. Storm doors that come pre-hung can save the installer a lot of hard work and time because they are already in the frame. A pre-hung door is sold as a frame-and-door unit that is installed in a door opening that's the correct size.

I recommend: The pre-hung door is explained at RemodelGuide.com. A complete storm door buyer's guide is also included.