new back doors/doggie doors
I need to replace the back door on my house — nothing fancy, but i do want a regular door as well as a storm door. I got an estimate from Lowes, and attempted to get one from Bay Ridge Doors and Windows (they never called me back afte r coming out to look). Does…
I need to replace the back door on my house — nothing fancy, but i do want a regular door as well as a storm door. I got an estimate from Lowes, and attempted to get one from Bay Ridge Doors and Windows (they never called me back afte r coming out to look). Does anyone have any recommendations? Does 2000$ sound high for a back door and storm door? The frame needs to be worked on, but not completely replaced.
Also, does anyone with dogs have any doggie door recommendations? Are they worth it? Do they lose a lot of heat?
I, like the above poster, have a doggie door and have never had any problems. Most dog people I know have them, too and I’ve never heard a bad story (security). I agree, if the dog is small – n one is going to fit through the door…but if the door is large, it means the dog is really big and will stop any intruder. I also found the doors with a plexi door studier than those with a soft vinyl door.
I live in Park Slope and couldn’t live without my doggie door. I know of dozens of people who have them – and I have never heard of any security problem.
What type depends on what kind of dog you have. I have friends who have larger dogs, and installed a round type that has many flaps that overlap (like a pie cut). As it needs to be a larger opening, they found less cold air leaks in with this type on windy winter days. I have a 30 pound 20″ high dog, and have the traditional door hinged at the top. It is weighted at the bottom, and is a hard plexiglass door so it doesn’t stay open, and the wind doesn’t blow it open. I ordered it through Gundog.com, and had a handyman install it in my storm door. Another neighbor bought a storm door from Lowe’s that had the doggie door already installed. Remember, the door needn’t be as tall as the dog – they will bend and scoot through. Most dog door sites will give you formulas. Again: the reality is that the 60 pound skinny midget burglar that might get through would be frightened off by the dog 🙂
I wouldn’t do a doggie door in the city. My concern would be safety, not heat loss. I know someone who had one in LA. She had window and door alarms but an open doggie door. A very small, skinny burglar broker in and stole all her jewelry, cash, silver, etc.