BIGGEST EYESORES ON THE BLOCK PREPARE FOR
A BEAUTIFUL NEW LOOK AND A BOOST OF CURB APPEAL
Therma-Tru ® Uncovers America’s Ugliest Doors in Iowa and Texas
MAUMEE, Ohio (July 9, 2007) ― Rarely does being “ugly” pay off, but for two lucky homeowners it has. Following a nationwide search for America’s ugliest doors, Therma-Tru® Doors is pleased to announce that it has uncovered two of the country’s biggest entryway eyesores.
For the third year in a row, Therma-Tru Doors invited homeowners to submit a photo of their entry or patio door and a brief essay declaring why they believe their door is the Ugliest Door in America. Judges sifted through more than 200 entries, but in the end it was a warped wood door that hardly held on to its hinges and a drab double door with mismatched hardware that claimed the prize. The door to Merle and Marsha Hall’s (Granger, Iowa) craftsman-style home was named the grand prize winner while Janis Boulware’s (Montgomery, Texas) faded double doors received the runner-up prize.
“There were a lot of sick-looking doors in need of a great door doctor,” said HGTV host and designer Krista Watterworth. “But the Hall’s door needed a miracle cure. This door’s cough could be heard across the continent! And, the runner-up door delivers a double-dose of inefficiency which is never welcome, especially in the Texas heat.”
Watterworth is among the six expert judges who have an eye on the home improvement industry. The judges include Morris Carey and James Carey of the “On the House” radio show; Chaya Chang, managing editor of Qualified Remodeler; Kevin Gundry of Custom Exteriors; and Carolyn Weber, senior building editor of Home magazine.
The winners will receive Therma-Tru entry door systems worth approximately $3,500 to $5,000 and the before and after photos of their door makeover will be posted online at
www.myuglydoor.com.
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Charming 1929 Home Seeks Welcoming New Entry
Merle and Marsha Hall love their charming 1929 craftsman-style home, but they aren’t feeling the love for their entry door. They’ve updated nearly every room in their 78-year-old home, but the front door has always evaded them.
“Over the years, we’ve looked into replacing our warped wood door with a fiberglass door and knew we wanted to go with Therma-Tru,” said Marsha Hall. “We’ve had our eye on the Classic-Craft® American Style door because it fits the architectural style of our house which is very important to us. We’re absolutely thrilled that we won.”
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Drab Doors Desire Lively New Look
Janis Boulware enjoys the Texas sun, but not when it’s pouring through the
cracks of her entry door. “The Texas summers have warped, split and
eroded our wood doors,” said Janis. “Our doors are so inefficient that
we can feel the heat coming through the cracks all year round.”
Inefficiency isn’t this entry’s only ugly trait. A drab, faded finish
and mismatched hardware makes this door one of America’s ugliest and in
desperate need of a makeover.
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“We can’t wait to see the dramatic difference a Therma-Tru Door system will make to the curb appeal and energy efficiency of these homes,” said Sara Theis, senior public relations manager, Therma-Tru Doors. “We believe a home’s exterior can make or break a visitor’s first impression, so we design door styles and decorative glass to complement a home’s architectural style, increase its efficiency and make a lasting impression.”
In the coming months, Therma-Tru will work with the homeowners to replace their ugly doors with low-maintenance fiberglass entry door systems. The new fiberglass doors won’t rot, swell or peel like their current wood doors and will increase the curb appeal of the home. What’s more, Therma-Tru’s fiberglass doors offer five times the insulation of a wood door and are ENERGY STAR compliant providing excellent thermal protection. The winning homeowners will enjoy beautiful new doors that welcome, not frighten their guests.
About Therma-Tru
Therma-Tru Doors is the nation’s leading manufacturer and most preferred brand of fiberglass and steel exterior door systems. Founded in 1962, Therma-Tru pioneered the fiberglass entry door industry, and today offers a complete portfolio of entry and patio door system solutions, including decorative glass doorlites, sidelites and transoms, and door components. Therma-Tru, headquartered in Maumee, Ohio, is part of leading consumer brands company Fortune Brands Inc. (NYSE: FO). For more information on Therma-Tru Doors, visit www.thermatru.com or call (800) 537-8827.
CONTACT: Therma-Tru, Sara Theis, 419-891-7400 ext. 7426.