Is a Storm Door Worth It on a Houston Home?

On most Houston homes, a storm door on the front entry is not worth it, especially if that door faces south or west and gets a few hours of direct sun. The glass traps heat in the gap between the two doors, and in Houston that heat can warp the entry door, crack its finish and, with some manufacturers, void its warranty. On a shaded door under a deep porch, a vented storm door can still earn its keep for airflow, pets or security.

We get this question from sellers getting ready to list and from buyers who grew up somewhere colder, where a storm door was standard on every house. Houston is a different climate, and the door behind the glass pays for it.

The Heat Problem Is the Whole Story

A glass storm door works like a small greenhouse. Sun comes through the glass, the air in the gap has nowhere to go, and the entry door behind it bakes. The U.S. Department of Energy’s long-standing Energy Saver advice has been not to add a glass storm door where the entry door gets more than a few hours of direct sun a day, for exactly that reason.

Door manufacturers agree. One entry door maker’s published warranty lists installing any storm door as a circumstance that voids its coverage, and warns about extreme heat buildup and trapped moisture. Not every brand words it that strongly, but enough do that it is worth checking before you spend the money.

When a Storm Door Does Make Sense

There are good reasons to want one. They just depend on which way the door faces.

• A shaded door. North-facing, or tucked under a deep covered porch, the heat problem mostly goes away.
• Airflow. A screen insert lets you open the front door on a mild spring or fall day.
• Pets. Some models come with a built-in pet door, or let you keep the main door open while the dog stays in.
• Security. A locking security storm door adds a layer at a back or side entry.
• An older door. In front of a worn, uninsulated door, a storm door can cut drafts while you plan a replacement.

If you go ahead, pick one with vents, low-E glass or a full screen panel, and read your entry door’s warranty first.

It Is Not Hurricane Protection

This one surprises people. A standard storm door is not an impact-rated product. It is not designed to stop debris in a hurricane, and it will not do what impact doors, impact windows or storm shutters do. Our piece on impact windows and storm shutters for Houston homes covers what actually holds up in a storm and what to ask an installer.

What We Tell Sellers

Buyers rarely pay more because a house has a storm door. A tired, scratched one with a bent closer can actually make the front of a house look older in listing photos. If you are getting ready to sell and the storm door has seen better days, taking it off and refinishing the entry door is often the cheaper, better-looking fix.

Peter worked in construction before real estate, and his rule is simple: protect the door you already paid for. In Houston, that usually means shade, a good finish and fresh weatherstripping, not another layer of glass. Our home maintenance calendar has the rest of the seasonal list.

The Move Live Love TX Team™ is a husband-and-wife real estate team with CB&A, Realtors, serving Houston and the surrounding areas.

Frequently Asked Questions

Are storm doors a good idea in Houston?

On a front door that gets hours of direct sun, usually not. In Houston heat, the glass in a storm door can trap heat against the entry door behind it, which can warp it, crack the finish and, with some manufacturers, void the door's warranty. On a shaded door, one can still make sense.

Does a storm door void my front door warranty?

It can. Some entry door makers say outright that installing a storm door voids their warranty, because of trapped heat and moisture. Others allow it with conditions such as ventilation. Read the warranty for your exact door before you buy a storm door.

Will a storm door protect my house in a hurricane?

No. A standard storm door is not an impact-rated product and is not built to stop windborne debris. If hurricane protection is the goal, look at impact-rated doors, windows or storm shutters instead.

Does a storm door save energy in Houston?

Not much on a newer insulated door. The U.S. Department of Energy has long said a storm door adds little energy savings in front of a modern insulated entry door. The bigger savings in Houston usually come from weatherstripping and sealing gaps.