Storm Doors in Federal Way

What a storm door does for your home

A storm door is the second door that sits outside your main entry door. It takes the weather so your entry door doesn't have to. It also lets in light or a breeze through a glass or screen panel, and adds a lock between your front step and the inside of your home.

It's the right call when your entry door is in decent shape but takes a beating from wind and rain, or when you want fresh air without leaving the front door wide open. If the entry door itself is rotted, warped or won't lock, a storm door just covers up the problem. We'll tell you that straight, and our Entry Doors page covers replacing it.

Safety comes first on every install. That means tempered glass, a closer adjusted to the people who use the door, and a work area kept clear while we're there.

What's included in a storm door install

Measuring the opening, not the old door

We measure the opening in several spots, top, middle and bottom, because older frames are rarely square. That tells us if a standard size fits or the frame needs shimming. A door hung in an out-of-square opening drags and won't latch.

Tempered safety glass

We use doors with tempered glass. If it breaks, it crumbles into small pebbles instead of long sharp shards. That matters on a door kids push open with their hands.

Closer and wind chain set for you

We adjust the closer so the door shuts firmly without banging. Where the door catches wind, we add or check a wind chain so a gust can't throw it back against the house and bend the hinge side.

Locks and latch hardware

We install the handle set and, where the door supports it, a keyed deadbolt. We test the latch from inside and out so nobody gets locked out on the step.

Sealing and drip cap

We caulk the mounting flange and set the drip cap so rain runs off the top instead of behind the frame. The bottom sweep is set to meet the threshold without dragging.

Haul-away and cleanup

We take the old door with us. Then we pick up screws and glass bits and run a magnet over the step for stray nails.

Signs it's time for a new storm door

• It slams or hangs open

  A worn closer either lets the door bang shut or leaves it standing open. Both are a pinch hazard, and the banging slowly loosens the frame.

• The frame is bent

  Once wind has thrown a door back hard, the frame often racks out of square. After that it won't seal or latch, and adjusting rarely fixes it.

• Cracked or plain glass

  Some older storm doors have ordinary glass, not tempered. A crack in that kind of glass is a real cut risk, especially at kid height.

• Rain gets past it

  Through our long wet fall and winter, water should shed off the door, not pool on the threshold. Gaps at the sweep or a missing drip cap let rain soak the entry door behind it.

• The latch won't catch

  If you have to lift or shove the door to make it latch, it isn't keeping anyone out. It also tends to blow open on a windy day.

How install day goes

1. 1

   Free quote and a look at the opening

   Give us a call and we'll set a time to come out. We measure, talk through glass and screen options, and give you a written price. There's no pressure to decide that day.

2. 2

   Setting up a safe work area

   We lay down drop cloths and block off the step. We ask that kids and pets stay inside or away from the door while we work. On older homes with painted trim, we keep dust contained and cleaned up as we go.

3. 3

   Removing the old door

   We take the old door off, check the trim for rot, and shim the opening so the new frame hangs plumb. If we find damage, we show you before going further.

4. 4

   Hanging, adjusting and testing

   We mount the frame, hang the door, and set the closer and chain. Then we open and shut it many times, lock and unlock it, and check the sweep against the threshold.

5. 5

   Walkthrough and cleanup

   We show you how to adjust the closer speed and swap the glass and screen panels. Most installs are finished in a single day, and we leave the step clean.

What moves the price of a storm door

Every storm door quote comes down to your opening and the door you pick. We put it in writing and explain each line before work starts. If something changes once the old door is off, we show you and talk it through first. Flexible payment options are available if you'd like to spread the cost out.

Door style and glass

A full-view glass door, a mid-view door and a door with a built-in retractable screen are priced differently. Heavier frames cost more but hold up better to wind.

Opening size and frame condition

Standard openings are simplest. Odd sizes, out-of-square frames or rotted trim take extra parts and time.

Hardware

A keyed deadbolt, a heavier closer or a specific handle finish each add to the total. We'll tell you which ones are worth it for your door.

Sun exposure

A door that faces strong afternoon sun can trap heat against your entry door. That may steer you toward a vented style, which changes the options and the price.