An entry door to home have a variety of different purposes:
- It’s the main source of entry into your home
- It’s the initial entry point where you invited in guests and family members
- It plays a huge part in the aesthetics of your home
Figuring out what entry door you’re going to get installed is something that you’ll want to a lot of thought into. A good, solid entry door isn’t cheap, and because of that, you’ll want to carefully select one that you won’t get sick of. It helps to look into the variety of different options available before you decide to jump the gun and purchase one.
What Are Some Common Entry Doors?
Entry doors are manufactured out of a variety of different materials. Some of the most commonly used materials for entry doors are:
- Steel
- Fiberglass
- Wood
All three materials have their own set of benefits and downsides, just like everything else in life. In the end, the end result that people choose usually depends on personal preference.
Every customer looking for a door has their personal tastes in what they think looks good and doesn’t look good, and that’s what makes the world such an interesting place to live in. One person will thoroughly enjoy the look of steel entry doors, while another person might find them repulsive to even glance at. It helps to look at a little bit of information on some of the entry doors out there.
Steel Entry Doors
Steel entry doors are a popular choice among many homeowners. Steel material isn’t only used for just entry doors. You’ll commonly see steel material being used for doors for:
- Garage entrances
- Back doors
- Porches
- Sheds
People like steel entry doors because they are very low maintenance. You can paint the surface if you get tired of how your steel door looks and it’s very durable and sturdy. The price of steel doors also isn’t astronomically high.
Fiberglass Entry Doors
Fiberglass entry doors are another type of door that people get for their homes. Fiberglass doors are:
- Durable
- Low maintenance
- Customizable
- Strong
Fiberglass doors don’t dent as much as steel doors and if you want to change how it looks, you can easily just stain it. Some people like to get a wood grain texture for their fiberglass entry doors to make their homes feel a little more traditional.
Wood Entry Doors
Wood entry doors are perfect for those wanting to make a statement for anyone entering their homes. There are a variety of different options you can choose from, and there aren’t many other products on the market that will make a home feel warmer than real, genuine wood entry doors.
Comparison Between Steel And Fiberglass Doors
Steel doors are very smooth and can be painted to easily change how they appear. With fiberglass doors, you can get either a smooth finish or wood grain for them. You also have the option of staining a fiberglass door to have the appearance of a wood entry door. Doing this will make your door appear to have a little better quality while still requiring very little maintenance.
Maintenance Of Each
Both steel and fiberglass doors both require little maintenance to keep them looking good. More people tend to go with fiberglass doors because of the sheer number of options available for them. They are also known to be a little more resistant to dents.
Cost Of Each
Steel entry doors are typically a little cheaper than fiberglass doors. Each entry door option will increase the energy efficiency in your home while also increasing the aesthetic appeal. if you’re wanting a solid entry door that is durable and smooth, steel doors might be the one to go with.
Comparison of Fiberglass and Wood Doors
If you do it right, you can turn a fiberglass door into looking much like a wood one without the same amount of maintenance, but it’s hard to compete with the traditional, warm feel that wood doors provide to your home.
Maintenance
The maintenance required for wood entry doors is more than fiberglass doors. Depending on what type of weather conditions your door is subject to, you’ll have to refinish it every now and then. With fiberglass doors, you won’t have to be worrying about this as much.
Cost
The warranty package on wood doors is different from some of the other entry doors on the market. If you’re not going to be getting a professional to refinish your wood doors, they might end up costing more in the long run.
Fiberglass and wood doors are both suitable options to go with, and it really boils down to personal preference. If you want a door that doesn’t require much maintenance, then going with a fiberglass one might be the wiser option. If you’re wanting a door that can be customized a little more, then you might be better off with wood doors.
Final Thoughts
It always helps to visit a showroom and do as much research as you possibly can prior to purchasing an entry door. Doing so will lower the chances of you experiencing buyer’s regret later down the road if you don’t end up liking the look of your door. Sometimes people change their opinion on what door to go with after viewing a door in person, so see how they look before blindly purchasing one.