For an exterior door, steel gives the most security, fiberglass handles weather best and wood looks warmest but needs the most upkeep. Aluminum, vinyl and glass suit narrower jobs.
Start with where the door sits and how much sun and weather it takes. Fade-resistant mats are in door mat for full sun. The material follows from that.
Wood
West Shore Home, an installer, says wood has natural beauty and can be customized with species, paint, varnish or stain. It also needs the most upkeep of the common door materials.
Moisture, humidity and temperature swings make it expand, contract or rot. Ferguson adds that wood insulates well against weather but is heavier, and clad versions are lined in aluminum or vinyl.
Steel versus fiberglass
These two cover most front doors. HomeAdvisor puts installed entry doors at about $150 to $1,400 for steel and $150 to $2,000 for fiberglass, with steel usually the cheaper.
Fiberglass is generally more energy efficient, since steel can heat up in direct sun. The installer adds that insulated-core steel still outperforms wood.
Care differs. Steel needs oiling and should not be hosed often, because it can rust. Fiberglass can be wiped or rinsed on a low pressure setting, since a high setting can dent it.
The installer says steel dents are hard to repair and steel can rust if the finish is damaged, especially in humid or coastal areas. Fiberglass can fade in direct sun and crack under severe impact.
Aluminum, vinyl and glass
Ferguson calls aluminum light and durable, though its paint can stain or dent. Vinyl has the lowest price point and is easy to clean, but it can warp or crack in extreme temperature swings.
Glass doors let in a lot of light. HomeAdvisor says they give limited privacy, are not very secure and insulate poorly unless double or triple paned.
Pick by where the door sits
A door in full afternoon sun is a different job from one under a deep porch roof. Fiberglass can fade in direct sun and steel heats up, so shade and finish matter more than the material name.
On a humid or coastal site, steel needs an unbroken finish. For a busy family door, the installer calls fiberglass durable enough for kids and pets.
What I would choose · George Anderson
I would pick steel when security and price lead, and fiberglass when the door takes weather and sun. I would choose wood only if you will keep up the finish every few years.
Before you buy
- Note how much sun and rain the door gets.
- Ask for the insulated core type and the energy ratings.
- Ask how the finish is repaired if it chips.
- Plan the upkeep you will really do.
- Get quotes for the same size in two materials.
To compare the two most common choices in detail, read fiberglass versus steel front doors. For a sunny entry, fiberglass versus wood front doors for full sun is the closer match.
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