For Poland home, glass adds class

The homeowners are glad they got professional installation.
By REBECCA SLOAN
VINDICATOR CORRESPONDENT
When Mary Ann Helbley and her husband, Bill, of Poland, decided it was time for a new front door, they knew one thing for sure: They wanted a door with lots of beveled glass.
"I had seen doors with decorative glass on other people's houses, and it was a look I really wanted on our own home," Mary Ann said.
The Helbleys' entry door has beveled glass sidelights, a beveled glass transom and beveled glass on the door itself, but despite all of that glass, Mary Ann said privacy isn't a problem.
Had been a concern
"My only concern about buying an entry door with lots of glass was that people would be able to see into our home, but although the entry way is bright and filled with light, you can't really see in. The glass is not the same as it would be if it were just a big window -- maybe because it is beveled glass and some of the glass also has a frosted finish," she said.
The Helbleys bought their door from Pella Window and Door Company in Canfield.
Mary Ann said a new door was in order after the wooden trim around the old door started to rot.
The Helbleys left the installation up to the professionals, something Mary Ann said worked out for the best.
"We had to have the old trim replaced as well as the trim around the sidelights. Everything had to be redone. It turned out to be a lot of work and a major process," she said.
No easy job
There was also a bit of trouble in getting the new door to fit, but Mary Ann said Pella fixed the problem.
"I can see how people who try to install doors on their own might not get it right the first time. Even the professionals had to measure a few times," she said.
Although the Helbleys didn't try to install their new door on their own, Mary Ann did decide to paint the new entry door on her own.
"I wanted to paint it cream to match the trim on our house," she said.