Doors are important – and we use them every day. The doors in your home become tired and battered quickly, they may start to sag and need to be re hung, or they may be damaged by pets scratching and children’s toys.

New doors can also be a great way to improve and upgrade the appearance of your home, especially exterior doors. A good Portland remodeling contractor can replace one or more of your doors easily, quickly, and with no hassle. Choose a contractor known for quick work, punctuality and leaving the site clean – door replacement can significantly disrupt your life.

Choosing a new door can be challenging. In some areas, storm doors are key to protecting you and your belongings during hurricane season. Wooden exterior doors give a traditional look and match well to older buildings. Steel doors are good if you are on a budget, but can be less durable than wood or fiberglass. However, both steel and fiberglass offer better insulation than wood, and may thus save you money on your heating and cooling bills. Fiberglass doors can be bought to look like more expensive wood. However, they can crack under severe impact. Wood is still the best – but the most expensive. You should consider your needs, budget, and the amount of “hammer” your doors take from weather, etc.

Although you can certainly install a same size exterior door yourself, it does require a certain amount of carpentry skill. You should consider hiring a contractor. If you are installing a larger door or adding sidelights, you should definitely hire a professional. It may also be best to hire a professional to install replacement sliding doors, as if they are not installed properly they can come loose very quickly.

Interior doors are, of course, a vital part of your home’s look. Replacement doors can provide an awesome upgrade to change the look of a room. Consider the size of the room when choosing doors. Ornate doors will make a room look smaller. French doors can make it look larger and add light. Hollow core doors are cheaper but offer less soundproofing than solid core. Wooden interior doors are, of course, more expensive – and solid wood should not be used for a bathroom or sauna as the change in temperatures and humidity can warp it.

If all of this seems overwhelming, then getting the advice of an experienced contractor who also handles design issues can reduce your stress and hassle. And while you can hang interior doors yourself, especially if you are buying several, it might be easier to have them installed. A professional installer is not going to damage the frame – and if the frame is already damaged and has to be replaced, you should definitely call a professional.

Replacing one or more doors can upgrade your home. Replacing a damaged door will help in many ways – with insulation if on the outside and soundproofing for interior doors. Contact a remodeling contractor and find out what difference a new door can make.