Choosing The Material That Best Meets Your Residential Door Replacement Needs

Your home's front entry door not only serves as protection for your home but is also the focal point of most architectural designs. Consequently, you will want to take the time to really ensure you are choosing the right material and design when replacing your entry door. In most cases, this decision will begin by choosing between three basic options. These options are wood, fiberglass, and steel. Below you can learn more about the advantages and disadvantages associated with each of these options so that you can choose the one that best meets your residential door replacement needs. 

Wood Entry Doors

The Advantages

  • Universal Appeal - The appearance of natural wood grains is perhaps the most popular option on the market. This is because not only are these doors easy to customize in order to appeal to the personal style of most homeowners, they also complement virtually all architectural styles.
  • Insulation - Wood does not transfer heat and therefore provides excellent insulation for your home. Wood can also provide a barrier against sound.

The Disadvantages

  • High Maintenance - Wood needs to be sealed every few years to protect against moisture damage. These doors will also need to be treated to protect against termite damage. 
  • High Cost - High-quality wood entry doors are often the most expensive option that homeowners will have available to them. 

Fiberglass Entry Doors

The Advantages

  • Mimics Wood - Fiberglass replacement doors offer finishes that very closely mimic the appearance of wood doors without the hefty price tag and other disadvantages associated with natural wood.
  • Low Maintenance - While many fiberglass entry doors may look a lot like wood, these doors will require far less maintenance. In fact, a simple wipe down with warm water and dish soap will often be all these doors need in the way of cleaning and upkeep. 

The Disadvantages

  • Color Fades - The color of fiberglass doors will often fade rather quickly if exposed to direct sunlight for long periods of time. This can be a serious problem in some cases since fiberglass doors cannot be easily repainted or stained like wood can. 
  • Lightweight - When compared to wood and steel doors, fiberglass doors are extremely lightweight. Some homeowners feel this feature makes these doors less secure and more prone to damage. 

Steel Entry Doors

The Advantages

  • Security - Steel entry doors are often considered the superior option when it comes to security. This is especially true of higher-end steel doors which make use of low gauge steel. 
  • Affordable - The most affordable residential replacement doors you can find will almost always be made from steel. However, it is important to note that steel doors are available in quite a wide price range so not all doors will come with a low price tag simply because they are made from steel. 

The Disadvantages

  • Insulation - Steel naturally conducts heat and is therefore a poor insulator. While insulation can be added to the interior of these doors, this will result in a higher price tag. 
  • Heavy - A high-quality steel door can be quite heavy. In fact, some steel doors will require the installation of reinforcements on your door frame in order to adequately support the extra weight. 

The Bottom Line

Wood, fiberglass, and steel entry doors all offer their own unique blend of advantages and disadvantages. Consequently, there is no one-size-fits-all approach to choosing a replacement door for your home. To learn more about any of the options discussed above or to view some of the different door designs available in each of these options, be sure to contact a residential door replacement service in your local area.   

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