We recently replaced our mudroom door. It’s hands down one of the BEST home projects we’ve done yet. Which we weren’t expecting at all!
If you are looking to transform a room or even the front of your house, consider updating your door. It’s unbelievable what a difference it makes without doing anything else.
Since we’ve replaced our door with Next Door & Window, we’ve had numerous friends tell us…
- “even your kitchen feels so much brighter!”
- “wow! It looks like a whole new room!”
- “I absolutely LOVE it!”
And as a special treat, if you mention Cedar & Rush when you book an appointment with Next Door and Window, you get $100 off your order!
It’s made such a profound impact to our home’s aesthetic and functionality I’m breaking down my experience into two blog posts as follows:
- An interview with Justin Bartley, the owner of Next Door & Window: Why you should consider updating your door and what to look for in hiring a company.
- The process of replacing our door and the final reveal! Includes Before + Afters.
So backing up, I had no clue how much goes into a door. I thought it was as simple as taking down the old one and slapping up the new one. Nope! There’s casing, waterproofing, insulation, design, material, sizing, matching paint trim that should all be taken into consideration.
We used Next Door & Window because they are the best of the best in the Chicagoland area! They have multiple showrooms, do the majority of the work in their warehouse (so your home stays clean!) and they use the top materials and vendors. Which means your door will stay in exceptional shape for ages.
If you live in the area, they’re having an Open House Saturday, August 24th at all 3 locations! 100% worth going if you’re in the market for new doors and windows.
As a special treat, the owner of Next Door & Window, Justin Bartley, is sharing tips for replacing a door and how it can increase the value of your home. I met him in person at their Burr Ridge location. Here he shares some SOLID advice and took me behind the scenes. I believe what he told me is SO important for ALL homeowners, so take notes.
Scroll below to get Justin’s expert advice and what to consider when deciding on hiring a door company!
- Justin, before we jump into doors and windows, tell us a little bit about yourself and how Next Door & Window came to be! I love home improvement and helping people create their dream homes. I started working in my family’s garage door company when I was 10 and always knew this is what I wanted to do. As I learned about all of the amazing innovation in windows, entry doors, and glass, I gravitated to this industry and started Next Door & Window with my dad in 2002.
- What would you say is the biggest misconception people make when it comes to doors and windows? Pricing is definitely the biggest misconception in door replacement. There are so many different ads and misleading pricing information in the marketplace. Which can be very confusing for homeowners to navigate. Most homeowners do not know that there are many different replacement options, some of which may be the wrong solution for their home. Many companies only carry vinyl doors, so homeowners are unaware of how many different replacement options, colors, and material types exist. Homeowners should thoroughly research wood clad, fiberglass, and vinyl to find the best product for their particular home and application type. Each material type and installation application has a different price point, so it is best to talk to professionals that carry various door materials and offer both full frame and insert installation.
- It can be difficult to compare apples to apples when obtaining quotes for any home improvement. What types of questions should people ask if they are hiring a door/window company to ensure they are getting top quality materials and services? First, always do thorough research on the reputation of the company you are dealing with. Check their rating online with Google reviews, BBB, and Angie’s List. Also ask for jobs they have done in your neighborhood.Next check the reputation of the door manufacturer.Second, ask about the labor warranty period. And since most installers do not manufacture their own doors, check the reputation of the window and door manufacturer too. Carefully look at the model/ make/ and material of the windows and doors to compare.For example, you must go beyond price to compare a vinyl door to a fiberglass door. They have distinct benefits to you. It’s important to understand the big difference in the quality of these materials so you can compare apples to apples.
Another example, doors can be installed with full frame, or insert type. Insert type get installed directly into your old frames. So know which of these two methods are right for you. A qualified installer, like Next Door & Window, can explain both options and recommend the best one for your situation.
- What’s your favorite door feature that most people wouldn’t think of? Definitely our wood grain fiberglass doors stained with a 10 year finish warranty. For people in the Midwest that want a “wood looking” front door, fiberglass is the best bet for a long-lasting, durable door that will withstand our harsh weather here in Chicago. Some of our doors have a 10 year finish warranty on them, meaning they are extremely low maintenance. A really great tool we have is our door visualizer, so we can take a picture of your home and allow you to build any new door design with different styles, glass, or color options and see exactly how each door looks on your home before you buy it!
- Are you seeing any trends this year? Definitely fiberglass. It’s been the biggest trend due to their strength and durability. The dark bronze and black exteriors for windows and doors have also been the big trend. Fiberglass is a great option to withstand the heat and fade that can happen with dark colors.
- If people were to invest in either doors or windows first, what would you suggest? Front Doors will give you the biggest curb appeal. Therma Tru did a study that showed a new front door can add up to $18K in perceived value to your home.However, if you notice any windows leaking air or water, you should start there. You may be losing considerable energy through your windows with air leaks or inefficient glass. Water leaks should be the number 1 reason you are buying new windows and doors as water can damage walls and create much more damage to your home.We always encourage homeowners to walk around the interior and exterior of each window and door annually and look for signs of water damage or rotting. Or call an expert like Next Door & Window and we will do a full evaluation of your windows and doors.
Thank you so much Justin! Talk about helpful right?
I can’t wait to show you our entire process with Next Door & Window plus the full BEFORE & AFTERS next week. You are going to DIE at how much a difference it makes.
If you have any specific questions, leave them below and I will include my answers in the final reveal! In the mean time, book your appointment with Next Door & Window today! And don’t forget to mention Cedar & Rush to get $100 off your order!
Photos by Wonder & Awe
A huge thanks to Next Door & Window for collaborating on this post! Opinions are 100% my own!
