One look at the dour door and Cat Eidsness curled her lower lip and shook her head as if to say, “It’s gotta go.”

Sure, the Auburn woman would prefer a full-house makeover, but such things take considerable time and money. This project, however, can’t wait much longer.

A careful pull of the screen door will tell you why.

“We’ll start with the door … it’s not fun to come home to,” she said while examining the battle-scarred, 36-by-80-inch wooden front portal that belongs to her West Hill home. “Maybe it will spur us on (to other remodeling).

The kid-tested and tattered door might be an eyesore for now, but it’s the focal point and a popular item on the Web. The door has picked up enough votes across the country to become one of five photo finalists in The Ugliest Door In America Contest.

The Auburn door submission survived the challenge from about 200 other entries, Eisdness estimates.

The online polls closed Aug. 1. Judges will decide a winner in the photo and video categories later this month.

So far, Cat and Scott Eidsness’ reviled and revered door won the popular vote. The contest’s Web page reports a 14 percent win for the Auburn couple, according to the “ugly meter” – which tallied each door’s vote.

Eidsness, a preschool teacher and mother of three, is surprised by how far her dilapidated door has gone and remains hopeful she has secured enough support to collect the grand prize – a complete $5,000 entryway makeover, courtesy of contest sponsor Therma-Tru doors.

Her campaign is strong and spirited, as suggested by some online commentary:

• “When you get a new door, consider selling the old one on eBay as a HURRICANE READY FRONT DOOR. SPRAY PAINT NOT INCLUDED.

• “Can I have the old door?”

• “Halloween may never be the same … “

• “That is a sad, sad door. Good luck!”

• “That door is not only ugly, it’s dysfunctional!”

Eidsness came across the contest by accident. She was dabbling on the Internet one night and spotted www.uglgydoor.com. So, on a whim, she entered at the last minute

and beat the July 1 entry deadline.

As a contest requirement, she submitted a 100-word essay explaining her desire to knock on a new door. The now-legendary door photo was attached.

“My husband was not as excited as I am,” Eidsness said. “But what do you have to lose?”

The Eidsness have tried to repair their front door before. The door, which they believe was the original one when the house was built in 1963, exposed a crack that they filed and shaved to close.

A few years ago, the couple began to refinish the door when Scott was diagnosed with leukemia (he now is in remission), and the project was put off.

The entryway continued to withstand the wrath of heavy traffic. Windows surrounding the door were broken by flying car keys and shoes. The screen door dangled.

Now it is time for a transformation.

Eidsness will not be sorry to see the old door go.

“The kids have all left their marks and the neighborhood kids have had a role in the door,” she said. “But I am not sentimentally attached.”

Mark Klaas can be reached at 253-833-0218, ext. 5050, or

mklaas@reporternewspapers.com