ServicesStorm Doors
Storm Doors in Kirkland
A storm door protects your entry door, lets in light and air, and keeps rain off the threshold. We help you choose the right style, then fit it square to your opening so it closes softly, latches every time and stays sealed for years.
A storm door is only as good as its fit
Most storm doors come as a kit: an aluminum frame, a door panel, a mounting bar and a closer. The parts are fairly similar from brand to brand. What separates a door that lasts from one that sags, rattles or whistles in the wind is how it is hung. Entry openings are rarely square, and a storm door forced into a crooked opening will bind at one corner and gap at another.
We measure your opening at several points, check the brick molding for rot or soft spots, and shim the frame until it is plumb before a single screw goes in. Then we adjust the closer and sweep so the door shuts gently and seals at the bottom. It is small work, but it is the work that decides how long the door serves you.
If your entry door itself is worn out, a storm door will not fix that. In that case we will tell you so and talk through our entry doors service instead.
Every storm door we hang comes with this
- 01
Help choosing the door and glass
We lay out the differences between full-view, ventilating and retractable-screen doors so you can balance daylight, airflow and security. For an entry that bakes in afternoon sun, we talk about low-E glass or a venting design, since heat building up between the two doors can ruin the finish on your main door.
- 02
A close look at the opening first
Before anything is mounted, we check the jamb and brick molding for soft or split wood. Damaged trim gets repaired or pointed out to you, because the frame can only hold as well as the wood behind its screws.
- 03
Hinge bar set plumb
The hinge-side bar is mounted first and set truly vertical, shimmed wherever the opening wanders. Then the latch side and head go on, and we check the even gap around the door before final tightening.
- 04
Sealing that lets water out
The head and both sides are sealed to the trim, while the bottom stays open so any water that sneaks behind the frame can drain away. A drip cap at the top turns rain off before it reaches the door.
- 05
Closer, chain and sweep adjusted
We dial in the pneumatic closer speed, add a wind chain when the door includes one, and set the sweep to brush the sill lightly. Let go of the handle and the door should ease shut and latch on its own.
- 06
A clean entry and a quick lesson
Packaging and your old storm door leave with us, and the glass gets wiped down. Before we go, we show you how to swap screens, adjust the closer and use the lock.
Questions about Storm Doors?
Call(425) 648-3709Signs it is time for a new storm door
It slams or will not latch
A worn closer or a frame that has shifted out of square makes the door bang shut or bounce open. Sometimes a new closer fixes it; often the frame has sagged and the door needs replacing.
Light shows around the edges
Gaps at the corners or along the latch side let in drafts and rain. That usually means the frame was never shimmed or the weatherstripping has shrunk.
Bent frame or torn screen
A door caught by wind can bend at the hinge bar. Once aluminum is kinked, it rarely closes true again.
Your entry door is weathering
Peeling finish or a swelling bottom rail on the main door is a sign it needs more shelter from wet winters. A well-fitted storm door adds that layer.
You want light and air without bugs
If you prop the front door open on mild days, a full-view door with a retractable or interchangeable screen gives you the breeze without the insects.
How a storm door install day runs
- 1
Consultation and measuring
We visit, look at your entry, measure the opening in several places and show you door options. You get a written quote with the door, hardware and any trim repair listed separately.
- 2
Ordering the right size
We order a door matched to your measurements and the swing direction you choose. When it arrives, we schedule a time that suits you.
- 3
Removal and prep
We protect your porch and entry floor, take down any old storm door and clean up the trim surface. Any repairs to the brick molding happen now.
- 4
Hanging and adjusting
We mount the frame plumb, hang the door, seal the head and sides, and tune the closer, latch and sweep. Most storm doors are finished in a few hours, well within a single day.
- 5
Final check with you
We open and close the door with you, show you the screen and lock, and leave the area clean.
What shapes the price of your storm door
The biggest influences on your total are the model you choose and the condition of the trim it will be mounted to. Your written quote breaks out the door, the hardware and any repair work line by line, so you can see where each part of the cost comes from. If paying over time would help, we offer flexible payment options.
- Frame weight and style
- A basic ventilating door with a lighter frame sits at the lower end. Full-view doors with heavier frames cost more, and retractable-screen models carry an extra mechanism that adds to the price.
- The glass in the panel
- Plain tempered glass is the starting point. Choosing a low-E coating, a decorative pattern or reinforced security glass raises the cost.
- Handles, locks and color
- A keyed deadbolt, an upgraded handle set, a heavier-duty closer or a custom finish color each add a line to the total.
- What the trim looks like underneath
- Rotted brick molding or an opening that is well out of square means repair work and extra shimming before the door goes up. That labor appears on the quote as its own item.
- Odd-sized entries
- Older homes sometimes have openings with unusual widths or heights. Those may call for a special-order door or a mounting extension to close the gap.
Storm door questions we hear often
Can I put a storm door over any entry door?
Most hinged entry doors can take one, provided there is enough trim around the opening to mount the frame and the entry door handle clears the storm door glass. We check that clearance during the consultation. Sliding patio doors are a different situation, and our patio doors service covers those.
Will a storm door trap heat and damage my front door?
It can if your entry door gets direct afternoon sun and the storm door is all glass. Heat builds up in the gap and can bubble paint or warp vinyl trim. We recommend low-E glass or a ventilating style for sunny exposures.
Should the bottom of the storm door be caulked?
No. We seal the top and sides but leave the bottom of the frame open so water can drain out. Sealing all four sides traps moisture against the threshold and your entry door.
How long does installation take?
A typical storm door goes up in a few hours. If the trim needs repair first, it may take longer, but it is still usually finished the same day.
Which way should the door swing?
Generally it should hinge on the same side as your entry door so both open the same direction. Sometimes a porch railing, a light fixture or a prevailing wind makes the opposite swing more practical, and we talk that through on site.
Ready for a storm door that closes quietly
Tell us about your entry and we will come take a look, measure carefully and give you honest options. We serve Kirkland along with Redmond, Bothell, Bellevue and nearby towns.