Therma-Tru announced last month that it is offering a variety of new products and services to help make exterior home upgrades easier and more affordable for home owners and professional remodelers.

Today’s home owners are focused less on high-end discretionary spending and more on exterior replacements and systems, as well as equipment upgrades and replacements, according to research by the Remodeling Futures Program at Harvard University’s Joint Center for Housing Studies.

Spending on energy-related projects, such as improving insulation and replacing windows and entry doors, has also accounted for a larger share of remodeling expenditures in recent years, thanks in part to government stimulus programs and expanded tax credits, according to remodeling researchers at the Joint Center.

Therma-Tru said that most styles of its doors qualify for the up to $1,500 federal tax credit that was extended through the end of this year by the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009. The program enables home owners to receive a 30% tax credit on qualifying products used for energy-efficient home improvements. (To read more about the tax credit in this issue of NBN, click here.)

“Even if a major home remodeling project is out of reach, home owners will find that a few well-chosen exterior upgrades — from the type of entry door they select to the quality of the glass that is used — can make a big difference in their home’s functionality, energy usage and curb appeal,” said Shannon Sims, channel manager for Therma-Tru.

“Therma-Tru is committed to providing the products and services home owners need to simplify the process and get the most impact for their dollar,” Sims said.

To make the process of selecting a door easier, Therma-Tru has introduced “My Saved Doors,” a new interactive tool that includes social media features to bring friends and family into the selection process. Consumers simply create a profile at www.thermatru.com/MySavedDoors, browse the online catalog to select doors they like and make side-by-side comparisons of various features.

After saving their selected doors, users can print, download and share them with whomever they wish via e-mail, Facebook, Twitter and social networking websites. Friends and family can assist in the decision by ranking the chosen doors and making comments while comparing styles and features.

For home owners who want to create a dramatic but affordable home entrance, Therma-Tru offers several options to meet two current design trends — darker finishes throughout the home and the growing popularity of Craftsman architecture.

To address the demand for darker finishes, Therma-Tru’s Fiber Classic Mahogany Collection includes several styles perfect for homes with Craftsman, bungalow, Arts and Crafts, mission and cottage motifs, as well as Victorian and traditional architecture, among others. The doors offer the high style, rich look and warmth of mahogany hardwood, but at a value price compared with premium wood doors. Beyond the traditional 6’8” height, the collection is also available in an 8’0” height to complement the growing popularity of higher ceilings and grand entryways.

Both classic and modern Therma-Tru Smooth-Star craftsman doors are another option to complement the clean, straightforward lines of Craftsman architecture. The Smooth-Star crafttsman style door echoes the simplicity, understated and straightforward style found in bungalow homes of the early 1900s.

Both door collections are constructed of durable fiberglass and will not rot, spit or crack like wood doors or rust, dent or ding like steel doors. All Therma-Tru fiberglass doors offer up to four times the insulation of wood due to their polyurethane core. This essentially creates an energy-efficient barrier in the door, stabilizing the interior temperature and decreasing energy costs.

Designed to add character and brighten up the entry, Maple Park (formerly Falling Water) glass features a gentle arch design embedded within a rectangular geometric pattern, adding both a fluid touch and a sense of balance to the entry.

Recognizing that choosing the right glass also plays an important role in keeping a home as energy-efficient as possible, Therma-Tru has made energy-efficient Low-E glass standard on a large selection of its glass applications. The company’s Classic-Craft fiberglass entry doors feature Low-E glass as a standard feature on all non-decorative glass applications. In addition, Therma-Tru Fiber-Classic and Smooth-Star doors feature Low-E glass as an available option in most non-decorative glass sizes.

Nearly all Therma-Tru fiberglass and steel entry door systems meet the strictest new Energy Star criteria that became effective this year for products in the door, window and skylight category.

For a list of Therma-Tru Energy Star-qualified products, visit www.thermatru.com/energystar.

Connect with Therma-Tru on Facebook at www.facebook.com/thermatru and follow Therma-Tru on Twitter at http://twitter.com/thermatru

Headquartered in Maumee, Ohio, Therma-Tru is a member of the National Council of the Housing Industry — The Leading Suppliers of NAHB.

This feature is solely for educational and informational purposes. Nothing on this page should be construed as policy, an endorsement, warranty or guaranty by the National Association of Home Builders of the featured product or the product manufacturer. The National Association of Home Builders expressly disclaims any responsibility for any damages arising from the use, application or reliance on any information contained on this page.