Asked on May 18, 2016

What to do about sun on the front door

Aryeh Kaufman
by Aryeh Kaufman
My front door and living room windows face eastwards and so from sunrise till a little after noon gets direct sunlight. The door is made of metal, with a fake wood layer which is peeling because of the heat...

The door itself heats up from the inside and can be very hot to the touch. Is there anything I can do to the door to reflect the light/heat?

I thought of coating it with aluminum foil, though that would be unpleasant for people walking in the street, not to mention that it wouldn't look so good...

Any ideas? Thanks!
  9 answers
  • MN Mom MN Mom on May 18, 2016
    You could apply a shade film to the exterior door which would reduce the amount of sunlight shining through. It's a product similar to window tinting used on car windows.
  • Cheryl Pepper Cheryl Pepper on May 18, 2016
    Maybe consider a tree or a sunscreen as a focal point near front of door if at all possible.
  • Janet Pizaro Janet Pizaro on May 18, 2016
    You can purchase window film. There are many choices available. Research Home Depot.com.
  • Linda Smale Linda Smale on May 18, 2016
    You could replace the door with an insulated one or you can buy a heat resistant paint that would reflect the heat.
  • Anna Anna on May 19, 2016
    My front door faces east also. It is an insulated steel door. No heat is transferred to the inside of the house even when it is 115 degrees in July.
  • Cyndi Moore Tippett Cyndi Moore Tippett on May 19, 2016
    I have the same issue. I painted the door a semi gloss white. If you have any color on the door it will retain heat. My door is not hot anymore. It does get warm but not hit. Sand, prim with a good primer and paint. If you could afford an put up an awning... It might help.
  • Annie Doherty Annie Doherty on Apr 04, 2017

    An awning would help tremendously or you could consider putting up a lightweight bead type curtain which hangs outside the door. Very popular in Europe as they keep the doors cool, also they help keeping out insects. Or as previously suggested a shade film which works in windows and doors. Good luck :-)

  • Sue Sanders Sue Sanders on Apr 05, 2017

    When you buy a steel door you need to paint it. Find out what kind of paint from the company where you purchased it.

  • I would certainly replace the door and also find other solutions to shade the entrance to keep it a bit cooler. It will also reduce your a/c cost in summer. Plant a tree, add an awning or sunshade, anything.