.jpg)
Many people wonder what is the point of a dutch door? In this article, we will go through the pros and cons of dutch doors.
Dutch Doors have been around for a long time. What is the point of a dutch door? People love them for a variety of reasons. As with all things, there are good and bad aspects of dutch doors. Before you decided on your type of door, let’s discuss the good, the bad, and the ugly of the dutch doors.
What is a Dutch Door?
According to Merriam Webster, a dutch door is : a door divided so that the lower part can be shut while the upper part remains open.
Dutch doors come in a variety of shapes and sizes include windows. Most homeowners can find a style that fits their tastes.
What is their purpose?
The dutch door was originally designed to keep kids inside and animals outside. Of course, with our modern life style (unless you live on a farm) we tend to keep the animals inside too. Another purpose of the dutch door was to allow fresh air to move through the home. Even though many of us rely on our A/C units, it’s still nice to have fresh air come though our homes once and awhile.
How much does a Dutch Door Cost?
In Orange County, California, the cost of a Dutch Door starts around $1,000 and goes up from there depending on style and materials which does not include paint or installation. In general, dutch doors cost a little more to install than a regular. Which is something homeowners may not realize. Installing a dutch door is a little tricker because of the trick aspect of having to line up the top and bottom portions of the door. That means higher labor costs for the home owner.
Can you turn a regular door into a Dutch door?
Why should you consider a Dutch Door?
Dutch Doors are great for those with small children and pets since you can keep them inside while enjoying fresh air. They are especially great if you live in the beach communities of California. There is nothing like the beach breezes coming of the ocean.
If you’re worried about bugs, there are special screens specially designed for dutch doors. The roll down from the top, attaching to the shelf portion of your door. Just keep in mind if you don't like the traditional dutch door shelf, you may not want to get the screen.
Why should you not get a Dutch Door?
As with anything dutch doors have cons.
If you are concerned with security, then a dutch door may not be the right fit for you. There is a weak point in the door near the split which makes it easier to kick in the door. This is especially true with double dutch doors.
Dutch doors are not energy efficient either. The extra gap in the middle causes problems with leakage. That means air from inside or outside can pass through. Since gases can leak through, dutch doors should never be installed between the garage and your home. Only use fire rated doors for that application.
There can be long term maintenance issues. Sometimes the top and bottom portions can weather at different rates. This would cause the doors to misalign over time. This may or may not happen in your case, but it is something to consider.
And don't forget about the bugs. It is much easier for bugs to get into you home with a dutch door, especially if you don't have the proper screen.
Sara is a blogger, bookkeeper, and fiction author who loves to bring helpful tips to the masses.
We hope you found our blog beneficial. Please subscribe to get more tips in the future and share with your friends. If you have a question or would like us to come to your home to give you a free estimate, please contact us, we would love to hear from you.