When it comes to choosing an exterior door for your home, there are a few options to consider. Wood, steel and fiberglass are all popular materials for exterior doors, but each has its own advantages and disadvantages. To help you make the best decision for your home, let's take a look at the pros and cons of each material. Wooden doors are a classic choice that can add character and style to your home. They are available in a variety of styles and finishes, so you can find one that fits your home's aesthetic.
Wooden doors are also relatively easy to install and can be customized to fit any door frame. However, wooden doors require more maintenance than other materials and can be prone to warping or rotting over time. Steel doors are less expensive than wooden doors, although there are low-end wooden doors that are comparably priced. But they are also of lower quality and may not last as long as high-end doors with better construction. According to Consumer Reports, steel doors tend to be more energy efficient than wooden doors because they have higher insulation values, so they are better for keeping the air conditioner inside the house and the outside air outside.
To save costs, steel doors are hard to beat. A basic steel door is very affordable and is generally the most affordable door material compared to wood and fiberglass. Steel also offers homeowners a return on investment of around 90%. The cost of a steel door will generally be more expensive than the cost of a wooden door. Steel doors will be more durable and will last longer, but the initial investment will be greater. Fiberglass exterior doors offer homeowners a great combination of durability and style.
They are available in a variety of colors and finishes, so you can find one that fits your home's aesthetic. Fiberglass is also resistant to warping or rotting over time, making it a great choice for humid climates where mold can grow quickly on untreated wooden doors. The average lifespan of a fiberglass door is 18 years. You get what you pay for. Steel is the way to go if you're looking for a door that will last a lifetime.
It will take up less space and won't warp or rot like wooden doors do over time. Steel doors can also be easier to install if you have an interior frame; they come with pre-drilled holes for easy installation. If you do not have an inner frame, the installation may require some modification of the frame before installation. Wooden doors are more difficult to install because they often need to be trimmed to fit the door frames correctly. To give you a starting point when making your decision, here's a detailed analysis of how fiberglass doors compare to steel doors: Steel exterior doors are a great choice for any home that just needs a simple and durable exterior door.
Fibreglass exterior doors are made of two large molded sides that are filled in the center with a polyurethane foam core that insulates the door against extreme temperatures. The average lifespan of a steel door is 18 years, while the average lifespan of a wooden door is 15 years. And unlike a wooden door that can be cut with an ax or other heavy tool, a steel door would need special equipment, such as an acetylene torch or an electric welding machine, to get through it. If your exterior doors look drab, lack special features that would be convenient for you, are damaged, or don't match the current style of your home, it's time to consider replacing them. For example, a typical steel door can be up to 3 inches thick, while most wooden doors are about 1 inch thick. The inner core of the door can be made of wood, but you can also find even stronger steel doors with a steel core. But the most important security feature for an entrance door, no matter what material you choose, is a quality lock.
Steel doors are available with a wood grain pattern engraved on the surface and typically have a paneled design that mimics the styles of wooden doors. If you're looking for a simple and brief answer, we recommend that you choose fiberglass for greater durability, choose a wooden exterior door for character and style, and choose a steel or metal exterior door for an economical option.
