Should I choose Steel or Fiberglass for my Entry Door?

There are many options available for residential and commercial properties when it comes to entry doors. The big two options that people vacillate between are fiberglass and steel. Both have a lot of benefits in comparison to typical wood entry doors, which are aesthetically pleasing but require a lot of maintenance and aren’t as durable nor as energy-efficient as the fiberglass or steel options.

With entry doors being a large contribution to the security of your home, you want to make sure you weigh the options when it comes to choosing which material to go with. You want something that is energy-efficient, beautiful, and above all else, provides ample security to protect your home or business. As fiberglass and steel are the two most popular choices for entry door material, we are going to compare the two, both positives and negatives so you can make an informed decision when purchasing a new door.

Fiberglass Entry Doors

Fiberglass entry doors give you the beautiful aesthetics of a wooden door with the added benefit of security as well as providing additional insulation to your home. The look of fiberglass doors is rather modern and finding a unique, contemporary fiberglass door won’t be too much of a chore due to becoming more and more popular in recent years. Before you go ahead and pick fiberglass as the material you choose for your entry door, let’s have a look at the advantages and disadvantages that accompany it.

Advantages of Fiberglass Entry Doors

Fiberglass entry doors have many added benefits, some purely aesthetic, others for practicality. Let’s have an in-depth look at all of the advantages that come with having a fiberglass entry door.

Durable

Fiberglass is a resilient material and because of this, it works well in just about any climate, from extreme cold or heat to damp or wet conditions. This also means that unlike wood, fiberglass will not crack, warp, or rot over time.

Versatile

You can find fiberglass doors in a variety of styles, sizes, and finishes. You can even have them built to fit your opening with a custom factory finish that matches the rest of your home making them great for customization and creativity.

Appearance

Fiberglass has the appearance of real wood but doesn’t require the same degree of maintenance. fiberglass doors will give a sophisticated look that will greatly increase your property’s curb appeal.

Insulation

Fiberglass doors decrease heat transfer which improves energy efficiency, saving you money on your energy bills in the process.

Security

Because they are so durable and resilient they improve security. Manufacturers fit them with secure locks so you can be assured that you will be safe within your home.

Warranty

Due to fiberglass doors being secure, resilient and durable, they will often come with warranties so you can have some peace of mind about your investment. The attached warranties are a big reason many choose to upgrade to fiberglass entry doors.

Disadvantages of Fiberglass Entry Doors

While there are many great benefits that come with fiberglass doors, there are also some disadvantages that you should be aware of before choosing to upgrade.

Costly

Although it isn’t the most expensive option, fiberglass can still be rather costly. In comparison to doors made of steel, vinyl or wood, fiberglass is one of the more pricey options for doors. Though this is counteracted with the long-life and easy maintenance.

Sizing

When your frame will not fit a particular fiberglass door, it is incredibly difficult to trim it down so it can properly fit. Most fiberglass doors will come in a standard size, and because it is costly for manufacturers to make a single door of an odd size, it would be difficult to upgrade to fiberglass if your frame isn’t the standard size.

Installation

While you could easily install a standard door yourself, fiberglass doors come as a full unit that you will need a professional to install.

Steel Entry Doors

Due to a misconception, many believe that you shouldn’t use steel entry doors for your home. This is because they aren’t typically used for residential buildings, leading many to not think of using one as their front door. However, steel doors can be used as an entry door for your home and they actually have many fantastic advantages over other options. If you are thinking about purchasing a steel front door, have a good look at all of the advantages and disadvantages that come with owning one.

Advantages of Steel Entry Doors

There are plenty of advantages that come with steel entry doors, they are incredibly durable and secure due to the material and also are very easy to maintain. Here are all of the added benefits of steel entry doors broken down.

Appearance

The sleek and clean look of a steel entry door improves the overall look of your home, increasing curb appeal and the sale price of your home in the process.

Versatile

The great thing about steel entry doors is that they are very customizable. You can find steel doors in a variety of different finishes and panel options. You can even find wood grain finished steel doors for that wood look without the disadvantages that accompany normal wood doors.

Durability

Steel is one of the strongest metals, making it a great choice of material for an entry door that will see a lot of foot traffic. The steel will also make the entry door last for a very long time with no chance of it warping, cracking or rotting.

Energy-Efficiency

Steel entry doors are foam filled using a computer-driven process that maximizes insulation. They are also constructed with thermal adhesives which increase both energy-efficiency and structural integrity. This makes steel entry doors incredibly energy-efficient.

Easily Maintained

Steel doors require little to no maintenance. Unlike other door options, you don’t need to spend any extra on repainting, staining or repairing your door every few years.

Cost-Effective

On top of the money you save from not having to maintain your steel door, you will also save on the purchasing of the door itself. Steel is much more cost-effective than wood or fiberglass doors.

Disadvantages of Steel Entry Doors

There are a few disadvantages that we will touch on here that should be noted before you go ahead and choose to purchase a steel entry door.

Difficult to Install

Steel is a very heavy metal, so attempting to install a steel entry door on your own can be a very difficult task that will require a little extra help.

Easily Dents and Scratches

Steel doors tend to acquire dents and scratches a little easier in comparison to fiberglass, which can in time lead to the development of rust.

Difficult to Repair

Although steel doors do not require any extra maintenance, they are hard to repair if they ever happen to scratch or dent. This is because they do not permit sanding or filling in any dents with wood putty.

Becomes Extremely Hot or Cold

Steel doors have a higher temperature conduction rate than most other options making it extremely hot or cold to the touch. If the door is positioned so it takes in a lot of sunlight the metal will absorb a lot of heat which could possibly damage the door.

Conclusion

There you have it, the advantages and disadvantages of both fiberglass entry doors and steel entry doors. But which one is the best choice? There is no definitive answer. It really breaks down to what you want out of your entry door. If you want something beautiful that will give your home a more luxurious look, a fiberglass entry door may be the better choice. If you want a door that is easy to maintain and prioritizes security above all else, then you should probably go with the steel entry door. There are many positives and negatives to both options and making the decision should come down to your own needs. Hopefully, this article assisted you in making an informed decision on which door is right for you.

If you’re in need of new a new fiberglass or steel entry door, Luma Windows and Doors has many different shapes, sizes and styles of doors to fit any home. Our energy-efficient doors are guaranteed to increase the thermal integrity of your home!

If you need help with finding the right door for your home, then we invite you to get in touch with our team today. You can call us at (905) 303-0560 to learn more about our entry doors and installation services.