The front door is the gateway into the home. This is also the door that strangers may approach when selling door-to-door or when needing assistance. Friends and family members may use this door, too, but, often, familiar acquaintances might enter from a side door or another area.

While a front door might include a peep hole to see who is knocking or ringing the doorbell, sometimes homeowners have no way to check. Installing an energy-efficient storm door on the front door or the back door can add an extra layer of protection and help reduce energy costs, too.

What is a Storm Door?

A storm door is a lighter door that has a glass panel or a screened panel. These doors are often made from lightweight material like aluminum. An energy-efficient storm door often includes foam insulation or even a special coating or glass that helps improve energy efficiency.

While the U.S. The Department of Energy explains that a storm door—especially a model that offers energy-saving features—could help reduce the energy waste of an older front door; homeowners who have an energy-efficient front door (or back door) might not benefit from installing a storm door.

Some homeowners also don’t like the look of a storm door and prefer to upgrade their door to an energy-efficient design. Energy-efficient doors include a steel outer shell and a better interior insulation (foam).

The Benefits of a Storm Door Beyond Extra Insulation

Storm doors—or screen doors—can help add insulation for an older door and improve energy efficiency. However, some homeowners like these doors as they also add an extra layer of protection and another barrier between a homeowner and someone at the door.

These doors feature glass and/or a screen that enables a homeowner to hear or converse with someone without opening the door. While these doors aren’t a perfect solution, they can offer another barrier.

As their name suggests, these doors also can help protect a more expensive door from storms and the elements. If there is a hail storm, the storm door will take the beating.

Can Homeowners Install a Storm Door?

Like many home improvement projects, some homeowners may want to save money and install their own storm door. Is installing a home door an easy project or is this a project that is only for the pros?

The site DIY with Christine offers the pros and cons of storm doors. For example, they can help keep out pests, they can protect against the weather and help with energy efficiency, too. Some of the negative aspects of the storm door, according to the site, are that they will get damaged, they can be expensive and they also might take away from a nice front door.

While installing a storm door can be a DIY project, not everyone might want to tackle it. However, the site provides a link to a video tutorial for those who are ready to install their door.

How Much Do Storm Doors Cost?

Before homeowners decide to add another door in front of their front or back door, they might wonder how much that new door will cost them. According to HomeAdvisor, a new storm door will cost between $181 and $586 to install.

However, the site explains that the cost could soar beyond $1,000 in some cases. This is the high end of the range, and the total cost of the project can depend on the type of door the homeowner chooses and the price of installation.

Is a Storm Door the Best Option?

Homeowners who already have invested in an energy-efficient exterior door might not benefit from adding a storm door. However, a storm door could still provide an additional barrier that allows homeowners to feel a bit more secure or safe.

Older front doors, though, might benefit from storm doors with energy-efficient features. Homeowners could install a storm door to help add another layer of insulation and to improve the energy efficiency of their older door.

While homeowners can install these doors as a DIY project, some might prefer to hire a pro. When shopping for energy-efficient storm doors, homeowners can look for features like foam insulation and coated glass or energy-efficient glass. Homeowners who are interested in adding a storm door can research the best options for their home; some homeowners might focus on simpler designs to ensure that the storm door doesn’t detract from the front door design. Others might focus on the price of the door; this project will vary in price depending on the door choice and installation costs, too.