Which entries actually benefit from a storm door?

Mainly an exposed front door, a wood door whose finish you want to protect, or any entry where you'd like a screen in summer. It adds less over a door tucked deep under a porch, and a full-glass one over a door in strong sun can trap heat against it.

My storm door's glass panel cracked. Can just that panel be replaced?

Yes. Most storm doors have removable glass panels or glass held by a retaining strip, and either can be replaced with safety glass made to size. If yours takes interchangeable panels, a new panel may be simpler. A photo of the panel's edge shows the pro how it's held.

Are metal storm doors allowed on heritage homes in Markham?

The plans we've read don't ban them outright, but they encourage a simple wood screen or storm door, and Markham Village's guidelines prefer wood because metal conducts cold. Exterior changes in a district need heritage approval, so ask the City's heritage staff before ordering either kind.

What rules apply to a storm door's glass and style?

The one that applies everywhere is the glass: storm door glass has to be tempered or laminated, per the Ontario Building Code as written in 2012 and 2017. In the four heritage districts, a storm door is an exterior change, so its style may need approval. The pro confirms anything newer.

Why does a custom storm door cost more than a standard one?

A standard door comes in common sizes and is adjusted to fit; a custom one is built to your exact opening, often in wood, with matching inserts. Older and heritage entries often aren't a stock size, which is where custom comes in. Glass, hardware and finish move the price either way.

Storm doors

Storm doors that protect the entry and suit the house

A storm door puts a lighter second door in front of the entry: glass to keep wind and rain off the main door in winter, a screen for air in summer. When one misbehaves, it's usually hardware, and those are quick fixes. When it's time for a new one, the style should suit the home, and on a heritage house that usually means wood. We connect you with an independent local pro who repairs and hangs storm doors.

Closers, latches and sweeps fixed
Full-view or ventilating styles
Wood storm doors in heritage districts

Get a free quote 905-201-8120

A ventilating storm door set up for late spring, with the screen doing the work.

Hardware first

Closers, latches and sweeps

None of these needs a new door.

Slams, or won't close

The closer needs adjusting, or has lost pressure and is replaced. A wind chain stops gusts yanking the door open.

Won't latch

The door has sagged on its hinges or the latch has worn. Rehanging or a new handle set fixes it.

Gap at the bottom

The sweep has torn or slipped. It slides back down or is replaced.

Rattling glass or screen

Loose retainer clips or a worn panel gasket, both replaceable.

Why have one

What a storm door does for an entry

It shelters the main entry door from rain, snow and wind, which helps a painted or wood door keep its finish, and in warm weather it switches to a screen so the main door can stand open.

It isn't right for every entry. Over a door that takes strong afternoon sun, a full-glass storm door can trap heat against it; ask the pro about ventilating options there.

Styles

Full-view, ventilating and retractable-screen styles

Full-view

A single tall glass panel that keeps the front door on display, traded for a full screen when it's warm.

Ventilating

A glass panel that slides to open a screen, so there's no seasonal swap.

Retractable screen

The screen rolls into the door's frame when it's not needed. Patio and French door versions are under screen doors.

Wood storm door

A traditional frame with glass and screen inserts that change by season.

Glass and screens

Glass and screen panels: safety glass and swaps

Storm doors are one of the places the Ontario Building Code requires safety glass, tempered or laminated (2012/2017 text; the pro works to the current edition), so a new panel is made to size rather than cut from ordinary glass.

On many storm doors the glass and screen are separate panels that trade places with the season, so a broken glass panel is replaced on its own and a torn screen rescreened. For the main door or its sidelights, see door glass replacement.

Quote factors

What decides the price of a storm door

Repair or a new door, and which parts are worn
Style: full-view, ventilating or retractable screen
Material: aluminum, vinyl or wood
Standard size, or custom for an older or unusual opening
Glass type, frame colour and hardware finish

Measure inside the trim around the door (installers call it the brick mould) and include a picture. Expect the pro to re-measure before anything is ordered.

Get a storm door quote

Asking is free. The pro quotes you directly.

Heritage districts

Wood storm doors in heritage districts

Markham's district plans encourage a traditional, simple screen or storm door of wooden construction (Buttonville district plan), and Markham Village's guidelines prefer wooden storms whenever applicable because metal conducts cold (Markham Village plan). A new storm door in any of the four districts may need a heritage permit, so ask heritage staff first.

A wood storm door is usually made to the opening and painted to suit. For original sash, see wood window repair; the heritage guide covers the permit and grant.

Questions

Storm door questions

Explore your options

Pros we work with repair and hang storm doors across Markham, including Markham Village, Unionville, Thornhill, Buttonville and Milliken Mills.

Tell us the opening size and the style you want

Send the opening's width and height, a picture of the entry, and whether you want a repair or a new door. A local storm door pro quotes it.