The Benefits of Using Temporary Door Protection During Construction
The front door of a home is a prominent and important feature and can add significant value to the home. Doors can cost anywhere from a few hundred to a few thousand dollars and are often made from pricey, high quality wood. Damage caused to expensive doors during construction can also cost residential builders precious time for replacement or repair. Temporary door protection is a smart and cost-effective way for builders to decrease construction costs and ensure timely completion of a project. Without the need to waste time fixing damage that could have been prevented by using protection, builders can make a positive lasting impression on customers and increase referrals. The use of temporary door protection is a win-win for the customer as well as the builder.
Commercial building projects also benefit from using temporary door protection. Metal doors used in many commercial projects are dent-prone and scratch easily. The costs for a carpenter to repair a dented door with bondo or install a temporary hollow door add up quickly. Commercial projects often use hundreds if not thousands of doors making door protection extremely valuable. Doors in commercial and multi-family buildings often have automatic closing hardware that prevents many door protection devices from working; however there are several attachments that are both easy to use and effective.
Door protection is most often comprised of fluted cardboard that attaches via tape, Velcro or elastic bands. Tape is the least expensive method of holding protection to the door; however, it often sticks to the door and leaves an adhesive residue which then must be cleaned. Tape attachments should never be used on doors made of wood as the risk of adhesive residue is greater and adhesive removal products damage wood. Velcro attachment methods such as those used for the Door Shield are the most expensive method to hold protection to the door and have a reputation for slipping significantly when the door is used. The thick, Velcro straps can also interfere with the function of the door by making door closure impossible. Rubber band attachments such as that used on DoorGuard hold the door protection to the door in the most secure fashion. The low profile of the bands also allows full function of the door. The one caveat of elastic bands is occasional breakage when stretched too far during the installation process.
Construction companies that build green or LEED-certified buildings also benefit since the majority of the door protection devices on the market are made from recycled materials and are completely reusable. Both the DoorGuard and Door Shield are made from 97-100% recycled cardboard and can be reused for several jobs. They can also be recycled themselves.
To learn more about the different types of temporary door protection and to determine which is best for your construction project, contact your local temporary surface protection supplier.
