|
|
|
|
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
|
|||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|
|
And chances are you've given it little thought since the day your real estate agent pushed the key into the lock and let you inside for a tour. Think again. A new doorway -- be it wood, fiberglass, steel or stained glass -- will garner more than mere kudos from the Joneses, it'll considerably boost value of your abode. A revamped entryway, in fact, can tack as much as 6 percent onto a home's perceived value, according to a recent study commissioned by Therma-Tru, an Ohio-based door manufacturer. "It's certainly part of the curb appeal package that's extremely important, " said Rick Turley, who manages Coldwell Banker's Lakeside Village-St. Francis Wood office in San Francisco. The study, believed to be the first attempting to place a dollar value on so-called "curb appeal," asked more than 2,400 consumers across the nation if investing in their home's exterior really paid off when it came time to sell. The answer was an overwhelming "yes". On a $280,000 residence, for instance, a new door added $18,900 to its perceived value, according to the survey which was conducted by an independent research group. Likewise, installing a new front entrance added nearly $25,000 to a house originally worth $403,000. True, the way into a dwelling is merely one element in its overall facade. There's also the quality of a paint job, building material, landscaping and the ever-important location, location, location to consider among other factors. Still, many real estate experts agree that a doorway's condition and appearance is key. As proof, Turley offered up a simple reminder for would-be home sellers: A large number of calls to the company's four San Francisco branches are those from prospective buyers inquiring about a house they spied while walking or driving down a street, and not from the real estate listings. "How important is the porch, the doorway and the threshold?" he asked. "Let me put it this way: When a client steps inside a house, they're only confirming what they did or didn't like on the outside. They've often made up their mind on a property and are just going through (the interior) to confirm." Whether you're thinking of putting your home on the market or putting it in your will, the exorbitant cost of energy in California should be enough to revamp our door or at least dress it up. "People are taking more control of their living space and doing what they can to cut down on energy expenses," said Rod Tactaquin, chief of operations at Smart Windows and Doors in Dublin. "Those who have older homes are fixing them up -- taking advantage of, say, a split door to install a nicer, more energy-efficient door." Materials and price vary drastically but fiberglass doors in particular have grown in popularity since they were introduced in the 1980s. The synthetic material offers the look and feel of wood but without the headaches often associated with its natural counterpart such as splitting, cracking and warping. Fiberglass likewise is rendering once-popular steel doors obsolete, according to Therma-Tru officials. Aesthetics is one reason, cost is another. Steel doors can dent and rust, while fiberglass doors tend to maintain their "just-installed" look long after the warrantee has run out. They also cost less and help conserve energy, providing five times the insulation of standard wood doors. Be it from the independent door maker down the street or from a corporate manufacturer such as Therma-Tru, Anderson, Larson or Pella -- putting in a new entry also can give you peace of mind by providing the added safety of a new lock and stronger door materials. When Judith Cohen and Malcolm Gissen decided to replace their old door at their Lower Pacific Heights address, they trekked up and down the streets of San Francisco peering at doorways for inspiration. But swapping the door of a 106-year-old Victorian presented a bit of a quandary. "Inside the house is quite modern. Outside is very Victorian. So we wanted the door to help visitors transition from the historical to the modern. And we wanted to do it in an understated way," Cohen said. The couple also wanted the first thing visitors saw when approaching their house to reflect the occupants' love for all things art. "We are art collectors. Everything in our house, from furniture to the clothes we wear is made by craftspeople," Gissen said. "So when it came time to determine what kind of door we wanted we obviously looked to artists." So they scoured the California coast for builders, designers and artisans who understood their vision. They unearthed Los Angeles artists Alisha Volotzky and Rhonda Cap who created the leaded glass panels and light fixture that would eventually be fitted into and above the pine door. They ran across Kevin Loughran of Santa Barbara who designed and made an Asian-inspired doorbell for them. They hit upon Cirecast, a hardware reproduction company in South of Market, which provided knob and hinge replicas. The couple then hauled the various pieces to Golden Gate Doors & Windows where owner Mike Scafani had his craftsmen put together a puzzle fitting for Gissen and Cohen's quaint Victorian. When it came time to choose a color for the doorway, Cohen looked to the warm hues given off by the slate steps in the front of the house. She considered some 30 paint samples but eventually settled on aubergine. Last week, a fresh coat of the eggplant color was put on the door. "We're very happy with it," Cohen said of the finished product. "We think it adds a lot to the house." Doing up your door: How to appeal to the curb. BELLS. Install a new doorbell, knocker or ringer. They wake up a tired door and add a bit of chime to your foyer. MATS. Buy a doormat. They come in all shapes, sizes and
materials. They're also a fast and affordable means to spruce
up a threshold and keep your floors clean. PUSHPLATES OR FINGERPLATES. Install a push plate or a
fingerplate in the middle of your door. Whether it's an antique
or a modern piece, they make a main entrance stand out. DOORSTOPS. Set down a heavy doorstop. They're practical
and a simple means to add to your figurine collection. FANLIGHTS AND SIDELIGHTS. Put in clear or stained glass
windows above or alongside a door. They let in the sun and add
a touch of panache. HINGES. Replace bent and rusted hinges with burnished
new ones. Brass, metal or another material, they add Old World
charm and cut down on annoying creaks. KEYSTONE. Mounting moldings? Consider adding a keystone
above a fanlight or a door's transom; they're a stroke of stateliness.
KICK PLATE. Drill or nail a kick plate. A brass or copper
kick plate (say 4 to 12 inches in height) secured to a door's
bottom rail adds elegance and veils scuff marks, chips and dimples.
KNOB. Install a shiny new doorknob or handle. Made of
glimmering metal, they can do wonders for a door (not to mention
your safety). PORCH LIGHT. Install a light fixture outside your door. Make
sure it matches the architectural style and period of your home,
and it'll add elegance, while helping you see when you're riffling
for your keys. MAIL SLOT. Put in a mail drop. It's very UK. Consider
having yours professionally installed as they require precise
measuring and cutting. MOLDING. Finish the exterior with molding. Raised molding
around or above a doorway, makes an entrance appear grand without
the grand cost. PAINT. Slap on a fresh coat. No matter the material, an
entryway can always use a fresh splash of color. PLANTS. Use your green thumb. Place a potted plant or two alongside your front door. It makes a home instantly warm and inviting. top
|
|||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
 |
|||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
 |
|
|
|
 |
|||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|
|||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
