Are you looking to get a new storm door installed but aren’t sure where to start? Measuring your doorway is a great place to begin. You can use your measurements to get an estimate from your door company more quickly and easily compare prices between different vendors and installers. But first, you need to learn how to measure for a storm door!
But with doorways coming in many shapes and sizes, it can be difficult to know exactly what measurements will help you choose the right storm door. In this post, we’ll give you a step-by-step guide on how to measure for a storm door, explain how to tell if your doorway can accommodate a storm door, and discuss how a storm door differs from a traditional screen door.
Before you Begin Measuring
First, you’ll need a few tools to help you gather accurate measurements:
- Tape measure
- Pencil or chalk for marking
- Level
- A way to record your measurements.
It’s essential that you take your time to gather the most accurate measurements possible. An ill-fitting door can result in gaps that may let moisture, wind, and insects into your building. These gaps can also cause poor insulation and leaks.
How to Measure for a Storm Door: Step-By-Step
Follow these 5 steps to get accurate measurements and ensure your doorway can accommodate a storm door.
1. Measure the Doorway Width
You’ll need to take 3 width measurements: the bottom width, middle width, and top width.
The bottom width is the width of your doorway along the bottom of it, the middle width is along the midpoint of your door frame, and the top width is along the top. These measurements are usually all the same, but we are looking for any discrepancies.
If there are differences in these measurements, they may need to be accounted for in your door choice and installation process. Be sure to let your door company know so they can ensure a proper fit.
2. Measure the Doorway Height
You’ll also need to take 3 measurements here: the left height, right height, and center height.
Similar to measuring width, you’ll measure the left height from top to bottom on the left side of the door frame, the right height on the right side of the door frame, and the center height on the vertical center of the door frame.
These measurements should also be the same. If they are different, this will need to be accounted for in your door choice and installation, so be sure to let your door company know of this as well.
3. Check if Your Door is Level
Use a level to ensure your door frame is level and the sides are upright. If they aren’t, your door company may need to do work to correct your door frame before installing your new storm door.
4. Account for Hardware and Clearance
Your door frame must have space for the additional hardware and space your storm door will require. Ensure your door frame is wide enough to accommodate a new storm door and keep in mind how much space the hardware on your existing door will need to function correctly.
Your commercial door technician will also be able to help you with this step.
5. Check for Potential Obstructions
Usually, a storm door will swing opposite the direction of the door it sits in front of (but the handing of your door can differ!). Because of this, you’ll need to make sure there are no obstructions on the exterior of your building that could stop the door from swinging fluidly.
Check for any debris such as rocks or cracks in the ground that could hit your new storm door. You should also ensure that the ground is level so that your storm door won’t scrape against it when you open and close it. If you have any obstructions in the way of your door, your commercial door technician may be able to solve the problem for you.
The Difference Between Screen Doors and Storm Doors
Screen doors and storm doors are quite similar, but they have distinct features and functions that set them apart. These differences can help you decide which one is more appropriate for your commercial space. Here are a few key differences between the two.
Material and Construction
Storm doors are generally made from sturdy, heavy-duty metals like aluminum, steel, composite materials, etc. that are capable of withstanding harsh weather conditions. They can also come with a layer of insulation inside of them and energy-efficient glass windows to provide a better barrier on your doorway.
Screen doors tend to be made from lighter aluminum or wood and are designed to allow ventilation while keeping bugs and outside dust out. They have large mesh screens usually made of plastic, fiberglass, or lightweight metal fibers. They can help protect your door and doorway, but they are not designed to withstand severe weather.
Functionality
A storm door’s primary function is to protect your door and building against severe weather like heavy rain, high winds, and hail. They also come with interchangeable or retractable glass and screen panels. In the winter, glass can be used to help with insulation, while a screen panel can help with ventilation in warmer months and keep dust and bugs out of your building.
Screen doors are mostly for ventilation purposes. They are meant to let fresh air into your building and keep bugs and dust out. They usually aren’t much help when it comes to insulation or weather protection for your primary door.
Cost
Storm doors are generally more expensive than screen doors because of their multi-functional design and sturdier materials. Screen doors are usually less expensive than storm doors because they are less durable and functional.
For both, you’ll also need to factor in the cost of installation if you choose to have a screen or storm door installed by a professional.
Conclusion
Accurate measurements are important for a successful storm door installation. By measuring your door area properly for a storm door, you can get a better estimate from a commercial door company. This can also give you a better idea of what your door frame needs for a storm door installation.
We hope this post helped you learn how to measure your door frame for a new storm door and understand the differences between storm doors and screen doors. If you have any questions, feel free to ask us on our contact page for more information. And if you’re thinking about getting storm doors installed on your building, give us a call at Commercial Door. We’re your experts when it comes to storm door installation, repairs, and maintenance.
