The front door of a house is a prominent and important feature and can add significant value to the house. Doors can cost anywhere from a few hundred to a few thousand dollars and are often made of high-quality, expensive wood. Damage done to expensive doors during construction can also cost residential builders precious time to replace or repair them. Temporary door protection is a smart and cost-effective way for builders to reduce construction costs and ensure timely completion of a project. Without the need to spend time repairing damage that could have been prevented by the use of protection, builders can make a positive and lasting impression on clients and increase referrals. The use of temporary door protection is beneficial to both the client and the builder.

Commercial building projects also benefit from the use of temporary door protection. Metal doors used in many commercial projects are prone to dents 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 self-closing hardware that prevents many door protection devices from working; however, there are several accessories that are easy to use and effective.

Door protection is usually made up of corrugated cardboard that is attached with tape, velcro, or elastic bands. Tape is the least expensive method of attaching the guard to the door; however, it often sticks to the door and leaves an adhesive residue that needs to be cleaned up later. Tape accessories should never be used on wooden doors, as the risk of adhesive residue is greater and adhesive removal products damage the wood. Velcro fastening methods, such as those used for the door guard, are the most expensive method of maintaining the guard on the door and have a reputation for significant slippage when the door is in use. Thick Velcro straps can also interfere with the door’s function by making it impossible to close the door. Elastic band accessories like those used on DoorGuard hold the door guard to the door in the most secure way. The low profile of the risers also allows full operation of the door. The only caveat with rubber bands is that they break occasionally when stretched too far during the installation process.

Construction companies that build green or LEED-certified buildings also benefit, since most 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 multiple jobs. They can also be recycled themselves.

To learn more about the different types of temporary door protection and determine which is best for your construction project, contact your local temporary surface protection provider.