Wood
Your front door is much more than just a functional part of the home. It is also an important addition to your home’s curb appeal, protects against weather, provides energy efficiency, and is one of your first lines of defense for the safety and security of your home. This makes not only the design of the door important but the materials of the doors as well. Which Front Door Material is Best? There are many different materials that may be used to manufacture a front door. For instance, steel is often considered the least expensive front door, while solid wood doors are considered the highest-end in regard to beauty and durability. Below, we’ll discuss the most popular materials for a front door and the pros and cons of each.
Steel Front Doors
Steel doors are often a popular choice for front doors because of their durability. However, with a smaller price-tag comes a compromise in quality. While steel doors are strong and effective against weather or intruders, steel can often have a shorter lifespan than wood or fiberglass doors. One of the main reasons for this short lifespan is because dents and scratches in the door are difficult to repair. When a dent or scratch in a steel door goes unrepaired, it can often result in rusting which will diminish the look and durability of the door.
Steel Door Pros:
- Durable
- Inexpensive
- Insulating value
- Security & durability
- Won’t crack or warp
Steel Door Cons:
- Shorter Lifespan
- Difficult to repair dents or scratches
- Dents and scratches may rust
Wood Front Doors
Wood doors are one of the most popular entry door choices for homeowners because of the doors’ beauty, longevity, and customizability. Wood front doors may be made from a variety of woods (**link to front door materials article*), each with its strengths and weaknesses. However, on a whole, wood is traditionally considered the best material for entry doors. One of the factors that make wood doors such a popular choice among homeowners is because they are the best at resisting wear and tear. They are the least likely to dent among all the most common door materials, and scratches are easy to repair. Solid wood doors are heavy and strong, making them able to withstand weather and provide security. Many wood species used for wood doors also tend to be energy-efficient, especially when they’re well-manufactured and fit well within the door frame. Wood doors are beautiful and versatile, with natural wood grain and colors that most other entry door materials can only try to imitate. Wood doors are also often easy to customize, making them a perfect option for doorways with unique shapes or sizes. However, wood doors also require the most maintenance out of any of the other popular door materials, needing paint or varnishing every year or two to protect them from warping and splitting.
Wood Door Pros:
- Beautiful and versatile
- Strong and solid
- Durable
- Energy-efficient
- Scratches are easy to repair
Wood Door Cons:
- Require more maintenance
- More costly
- Some types of wood may need replacement more frequently in humid or environments with extreme weather
Fiberglass Front Doors
Fiberglass is quickly becoming the most popular choice for front entry doors. This is because of its durability, longevity, and more moderate price tag. Fiberglass doors used to be seen as generally plain or aesthetically unappealing, but this is no longer the case. Fiberglass doors can now mimic many of the most popular wood door designs, with an attenti on to detail and style that makes the aesthetic difference between fiberglass and solid wood often more difficult to detect. With a high-quality fiberglass front door, a homeowner can expect a long, reliable life of the door as well as exceptional beauty.
Fiberglass Door Pros:
- Mid-priced
- Dent-resistant
- Insulating
- Maintenance-free
Fiberglass Door Cons:
- Can crack under severe impact
Glass Front Doors
Glass front doors are most usually impact-resistant glass inset in wood or wrought-iron frames. These can be exceptionally beautiful doors, and may include wrought iron designs that add to the design element. As a manufacturing material, glass is not typically as strong as wood or steel against weather or impact. However, many high-quality wrought-iron glass doors are impact-rated.
Glass Door Pros:
- Beautiful
- Natural light
- Can be impact-rated
Glass Door Cons:
- Not as strong as solid wood
- Expensive
- Not as energy-efficient as other front door materials
Aluminum Front Doors
Aluminum front doors are often an insulated core covered by metal skin. Because of its thermal conductivity, aluminum doors are often less energy-efficient than other doors though energy-efficiency can increase based on the material of the insulating core.
Pros of Aluminum Doors:
- Fairly inexpensive
- Durable even in cold weather
Cons of Aluminum Doors
- Can weaken in hotter weather
- Not very attractive
- May not be energy efficient
How Can We Help?
Not sure which front door material is best for you? Let us help! Our door experts are available to answer any of your questions about the right entry door for your needs. Contact us or click the chat icon to speak with a door expert today.
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