Question 1

Do I really need a storm door?

Accepted Answer

Not always — but if your front door faces west or south, gets direct rain or sun, or you want a screen for shoulder-season air, a storm door pays back fast. It cuts UV fade on the main door, blocks wind-driven rain, and on a 90° afternoon the porch stops feeling like a furnace. If your front door is fully under a deep covered porch, you probably don’t need one.

Question 2

Full-view, mid-view, or retractable screen — which is right?

Accepted Answer

Full-view is best when you want maximum light and a clean look year-round. Mid-view (kick-panel + half-glass top) is what we install on houses with kids or big dogs that lean on the bottom of the door. Retractable screen is the most-installed by a wide margin — full glass when you want light, full screen when you want a breeze, both clean-looking either way.

Question 3

Does a storm door actually save energy?

Accepted Answer

A little. The bigger value is what it does for the main door — it stops UV from cooking the finish, blocks driven rain off the threshold, and on cold days creates an insulating air pocket that smooths out drafts. Expect a few dollars a month in heating savings, plus a much longer life on your front door’s paint or stain.

Question 4

Won’t the heat between the storm door and the main door damage the main door?

Accepted Answer

It can — on south-facing doors with full-view glass and a dark-painted main door, summer cavity temps can hit 160°F and warp wood or blister paint. We solve it two ways: vented storm doors (or retractable-screen models) that let the air move, and avoiding very dark colors on west and south exposures. We’ll flag this at the measure if it applies.

Question 5

Which storm-door brands do you install?

Accepted Answer

Mostly Larson and Andersen. Larson’s Platinum and Tradewinds lines are our default — heavy-gauge frame, hidden retractable screen, color choices that match most front-door palettes. Andersen we install when the homeowner wants the matching set with an Andersen front door. Both are made in the U.S. and both warrant the closer for life.

Question 6

Can you install a storm door on a French-door pair?

Accepted Answer

Yes, but it’s a custom order — you need a French-style storm pair to match, not two single storm doors. We’ve done it on Webster Groves and Clayton historic homes. Lead time runs about 6 weeks vs. 5–7 days for a stock single, and price is roughly 2.5× a single storm-door install.

Question 7

How long does a storm-door install take?

Accepted Answer

A single morning, usually under 3 hours. We confirm the measure, predrill the hinge side, mount the storm door square to your existing brick mold, set the closer and chain at the right tension, and check the latch alignment. We can usually be at your door 5–7 days after the quote.

A storm door — installed before lunch.

What a storm-door morning looks like.

Certified by the brands you already trust.

Three storm-door styles cover 90% of installs.

Larson vs. Andersen, side by side.

What we install — and how we do it.

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What we do — and what we won't.

Clayton, Ladue, Webster Groves, Central West End, St. Charles, St. Peters, Wentzville, and the rest of metro STL.

Storm-door questions, answered straight.

Storm-door terms, in plain English.