If you're a regular reader, then you'll know I've been talking about doors a bit recently - fixing sliding doors and drooling over frameless glass doors, and all this got me to thinking about replacing any of the entry doors to your home - both the front and garage doors - and what kind of Return on Investment (ROI) you can expect from taking on a project like this.
I'm not going to kid you - all the best data suggests that on average there are no remodeling projects that turn an instant profit - in fact any time they immediately increase your resale value by more than 70% of their cost, you're doing well. Of course, this assumes you pay a contractor to do all the work - DIY projects have a much better ROI (except when they go wrong and you have to bring in a contractor to fix it up).
For 2014 both garage and entry door replacements had the biggest gain in ROI year over year*, and the best returns in total. Therefore it seems quite likely that these will produce a positive return if you're able to do the work yourself. (* source: Handlewood's 2014 Cost Vs Value Report)
Replacing the Entry Door
This was an absolute stand-out performer with possible returns of a little more than 96% - clearly this would provide an instant profit if you do it yourself. But, and yes there nearly always is a 'but' with home improvement projects, not all entry doors are created equal when it comes to increases in home value.
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Steel Doors
When you replace with a steel door you generally get the best value improvement. This is primarily due to their purchase price being about half that of your typical composite door - and on average they returned over 96% to homeowners.
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Fiberglass / Composite Doors
Pictured above - these are usually referred to as composite doors in the U.K., and fiberglass doors in the U.S. They may not be as profitable as their steel counterparts but they still had impressive ROI growth this year, and had an average return of nearly 71%. Although they cost more to buy, they have other advantages such as better insulation, smaller gap above the threshold, and usually come in a wider range of colors and designs.
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Wood Doors
These didn't have sufficient ROI to make it into the top value list. I'm not saying you shouldn't go down this path, but use them because you love the way they look, not because you think you're going to make a profit by installing one.
Replacing the Garage Door
According to the report, this was also one of the top projects you could undertake with a return of nearly 84% - as a DIY project this should show an immediate profit in terms of the increase in resale value of your home compared to the cost of installation.
The indications are that it's probably best to go for a traditional garage door with remote access for opening and closing, but if you want to have fun you could also get a cool skin like these, but it probably won't do much to help relations with your neighbors, let alone your resale value :)
You might also like to read:
• 5 Wooden Front Door Designs for Your Home
• Hanging A New Door And Recycling An Old One
• The Versatility of Frameless Glass Sliding Doors
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