How much can you save with well-insulated entry doors?

Did you know that in addition to windows, entry doors are one of the biggest culprits for the heat loss of your home? Below you can read about the benefits of well-insulated entry doors. You will also find some tips for choosing the right door for your home.

Did you know that in addition to windows entry doors are one of the biggest culprits for the heat loss of your home? Below you can read about the benefits of well-insulated entry doors. You will also find some tips for choosing the right door for your home.

1. How important is thermal door insulation?

In addition to their high level of safety and durability, modern and high-quality doors are also energy-efficient. Reduction of heat losses contributes to lower heating costs and thus to long-term savings. Thermal insulation therefore includes not only the facade and good windows, but also the entry door.

2. Why is energy saving important?

Good thermal insulation of entry doors and windows should be a central part of the design process for both the renovation of an old building and a new construction. Thus, insulation of walls, ceilings and roofs only is not sufficient for the overall energy efficiency of the building. Attention should also be paid to entry doors.

Good insulation of your home, in addition to cost savings, also reduces greenhouse gas emissions, thus contributing to environmental protection.

In Slovenia, we are not paying enough attention to insulation, since we still spend the most energy on space heating. Due to poor insulation, especially of older buildings, and consequently increased heating, we are also increasing CO₂ emissions and thus harming the environment.

In buildings with old and worn-out entry doors and windows, heating costs tend to skyrocket in the winter months. Due to poor insulation and sealing, energy loss through windows and doors can be greater than that through an uninsulated facade. Replacing your entry doors can reduce the heating cost by up to 7%.

3. What are the factors that affect the thermal insulation of doors?

When deciding which material to choose for energy efficient entry doors, consider several factors that affect the thermal insulation of doors.

Factors you should not overlook:

• frame thickness,
• door leaf thickness,
• built-in insulation materials in the door leaf,
• thermal transmittance factor of the selected door,
• number of seals and sealing at the doorstep, between the leaf and the frame, and
• glass insulation.

4. How important is the quality of installation regarding the protection from external influences?

Remember that your entry door must be installed under the manufacturer's instructions, in accordance with the energy efficiency guidelines. Failing this, even with the highest quality and despite the good technical characteristics of the door, it will not meet the expectations in terms of functionality and heat losses.

Energy-efficient entry doors, which are of high quality and correctly installed, will definitely protect your home from the following external influences:

• water and wind intrusion,
• the onset of cold,
• heat,
• moisture, and
• severe storms.

The PIRNAR entry doors are some of the few that have successfully passed the Florida "Hurricane test" and, with accessories, provide protection in the event of severe storms.

5. Entry Door Insulation - Recommended Values

In addition to the built-in materials, the amount of glass and the dimensions of the door also have an impact on the thermal permeability of the door. The glass surfaces should contain multi-layer thermopane glass which has very good insulating properties.

Thermal transmittance is measured by the thermal conductivity factor. The thermal conductivity factor tells us how much energy the material transfers per square meter if the temperature drops by one degree Celsius. The lower the parameter, the better the thermal insulation of the door.

The recommended value of thermal conductivity for entry doors is U = 1.2 W/m²K (Watt per meter Kelvin).

6. How important is the choice of entry door material for insulation?

Do you know how much insulation provide the most commonly used materials in the production of entry doors? In the article below, we will present a few different options.

There are many different materials on the market that make it difficult for the buyer to choose and put them in a dilemma.

It is important that you choose functional and well-insulated doors when renovating or building your home, as they will serve you for decades to come. The following are the guidelines that you need to pay attention to when choosing the material if you want well-insulated entry doors.

Wood or aluminum

The following materials are most commonly used for quality entry doors:

• aluminum,
• wood,
• a combination of aluminum and wood.

The materials differ in both their functional properties and appearance. They also vary in different degrees of insulation.

Eco-conscious customers give high priority to:

• sustainable materials,
• environmentally friendly materials,
• long-term maintenance,
• useful life of the material,
• long-term maintenance,
• durability of the entry doors,
• resistance to different weather influences,
• high levels of stability and insulation.

Exterior doors are exposed to very large temperature differences between the inside and the outside. The choice of quality materials and their processing are therefore very important factors in ensuring a high level of stability and insulation.

To summarize the important factors that affect the insulation properties of entry doors:

• quality workmanship,
• functionality of the entry doors,
• energy-efficient material in the door construction,
• proper installation that affects the stability of the door.

If the door structure contains an energy-efficient material but is not stable, or the door is not properly installed, the door may sag or bend at significant changes in the temperature. This will make it difficult to close the door and, at the same time, the door will not seal properly. In any case, poor sealing will also be reflected in the heat loss and an increase in heating costs.

7. Are aluminum entry doors an energy-efficient and environmentally friendly solution?

Currently, the most common choice of buyers in Slovenia are aluminum entry doors.

The main advantages of aluminum entry doors are:

• durability,
• structural stability,
• exceptional sound and thermal insulation,
• high level of security,
• achieving the best insulating properties.

Cross-section of the PREMIUM CARBON LEVEL aluminum entry doors,
suitable for both renovation and passive construction (Ud = 0.67 W/m²K).

Aluminum is one of the most durable materials. Due to its insulating properties, the PIRNAR doors meet all the criteria of both adaptations and passive constructions. They achieve an exceptional thermal transmittance factor of 0.67 W/m²K for glass-free doors in the panel. Let's mention a few additional benefits of aluminum:

• it's easy to maintain,
• it has a long useful life,
• it's an eco-efficient material (industrial residues are completely recycled/ recovered).

Choose your dream entry doors

Wooden entry doors

Wood is one of the most natural materials and a wonderful product of nature. It is chosen by those who are particularly aware of the importance of maintaining the environment and a healthy and enjoyable lifestyle. Wood is a friendly material to both humans and the environment. We encounter it everywhere; be it an entry door, a piece of furniture, or a simple pencil.

Advantages of wooden entry doors:

• they have the most favorable ecological profile,
• they are made of permanently renewable natural material,
• they have excellent insulating properties,
• they can be part of a low-energy or passive construction,
• they are particularly effective in combination with other energy-efficient materials.

A very good insulation of wooden entry doors can be achieved with a special insulation core in the leaf. Wood is a natural, vibrant material that is affected by many external influences, so the quality workmanship and the right choice of wood is extremely important in the functionality, insulation and useful life of the door.

With PIRNAR, you can choose among wooden doors made of the following materials:

• larch,
• oak,
• spruce.

However, all wood lovers are aware that wooden doors require a little more maintenance than aluminum doors.

Choose your wooden entry doors

What about PVC entry doors?

Compared to other materials or types of joinery, the PVC entry doors from polyvinyl chloride are often the cheapest option. Since entry doors are bought to last for a few decades, you should also consider their disadvantages before purchasing them.

The disadvantages of PVC entry doors are mainly the following:

• this is not the most environmentally friendly option,
• this is a synthetic material which bends at high temperatures, resulting in curvature and poorer sealing,
• it is necessary to check if the PVC profiles used are UV resistant,
• they can turn yellow or even crack when exposed to direct sunlight.

8. What about the sound insulation of your entry doors?

Sound insulation is just as important as thermal insulation. Well-insulated doors must also protect us from the noise. The modern sound environment has changed significantly over the years. The environment surrounds us by a plethora of noises and sounds. These are disturbing, unwanted sounds. Our living comfort also depends on the protection from the noise, safety and privacy. Prolonged exposure to noise significantly affects also the quality of life, health and well-being.

Sounds find it the easiest to pass through windows, but you should not neglect your entry door, either.

What does the sound insulation of a door depend on?

• It depends on the built-in material in the door,
• the door thickness,
• the quality of workmanship, and
• the sealing of the surfaces.

Sound insulation between 30 and 40 db is recommended for entry doors.

9. For a perfect result, insulated doors require proper and quality installation.

The smooth operation of the entry doors will be ensured only by a quality and professional installation. At the same time, installation is of key importance in ensuring the functionality and energy efficiency. Remember that your door will adorn your home for several decades. We recommend that you let the experienced professionals install your entry doors.

Classic installation

How does a classic entry door installation take place?

• The frame is fixed with screws and anchors,
• and the gap between the frame and the wall is filled with polyurethane foam or some other insulating material.

Installation of doors according to RAL guidelines

RAL installation means installation of entry doors according to RAL guidelines. It ensures proper operation and prevents the formation of thermal bridges by protecting the insulation layer from moisture by a special tape. It connects the door with the wall so that it retains its function despite the thermal expansion of the foam.

It is very important that we choose certified products for RAL installation. Proper RAL installation of your entry doors will definitely pay off in the long run, although it is a bit more time-consuming.

Today, more and more customers are opting for installation under the RAL guidelines, as it is more energy efficient. We at PIRNAR recommend it as well.

Learn more about the entry door installation

10. Choose an isolated entry door

Entry doors are bought to last for a few decades. It is a long-term investment in the quality of your lifestyle.

Doors that are well-insulated are essential for a quality lifestyle, so even if the purchase is not the most cost-effective, investment into the quality really pays off.

It is advised that you take the time and carefully consider the choice of entry doors. If you need an advice, contact our experienced consultants, they will answer your questions.

Contact an experienced consultant

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