The bang of the storm door is a classic sound of summer.
It evokes freedom, as kids dash outside to run under the sprinkler, ride their bikes to the park or race to the ice cream truck.

A storm door is recommended for any exterior door not opening to a covered porch, to help protect the front door from the elements. A storm door also helps insulate interior space around the front door. A storm door with screens offers ventilation in warm weather.

Homeowners who have invested thousands of dollars in a gorgeous front door or have carefully decorated their front door to be an attractive accent don't want to detract from it. That's why storm doors are getting much needed aesthetic attention today.

Storm door manufacturers offer doors that have glass and screen openings as large as possible, known as full view. Doors also come in a variety of colors. Those colors range from basic white to cranberry and brown.

The glass in a storm door can also be decorated, which can dress up a plain front door. Manufacturers offer etching, caning, tinting, beveling and stained glass.

A homeowner should take into consideration where the door is, though. If a door faces direct sunlight for more than four hours a day, the heat caused by sunlight coming through the glass could warp or damage the main entry door.

Decorative glass isn't the only way storm doors have changed. In older storm doors, there was one way to get ventilation - remove the glass and attach a screen. That's still an option, but manufacturers are also offering adjustable screen and glass systems. Larson's Screen Away has a retractable screen in a small case at the top of the glass opening. Pull the screen down, and the glass goes down to make room for the screen. The top and bottom of the opening can be ventilated, with glass in the middle.

Storm doors are also sturdier than in the past. We recommend vinyl doors to customers with children, because they resist dents. Some doors have a layer of vinyl or aluminum over wood. Andersen's UltraCore doors are made of a solid composite material that has color all the way through to hide scratches. Some aluminum and vinyl doors have a foam insulation core.

Many storm doors have their own keyed entry and deadbolt locks for security. landlords often prefer storm doors with metal bars across the opening for security.

When shopping for a storm door, know what size you need. The standard size for a front door is 36 inches. Prices for a standard door start around $100 and can go over $300, and that's before decorative glass treatments.