Steel vs Fiberglass Entry Doors: Which is Better?
There are a variety of entry doors options available on the market. Usually, entry doors are made from wood, fiberglass, steel, and aluminum. These materials can be accented to fit various designs and styles. So, how do you identify or choose the right entry door for your home?
For your entry door, you want something secure, durable, looks good, easy-to-maintain, and energy-efficient. Traditionally, wooden doors were popular for their classic sheer beauty and their durability. However, wooden entry doors require frequent maintenance to ensure that they last for years.
This has led to the rise of steel and fiberglass entry doors – which out beat the wooden doors from their strength, durability, and less-to-no maintenance. One commonly asked question is: which is better, steel or fiberglass?
In this article, we are going to explore the difference between steel doors and fiberglass and help you choose the ideal entry door for your home.
Let’s begin with looking at the most important features and factors that you should consider when choosing your entry door.
Factors and Features to Consider for Your Entry Door
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Durability
You want your entry door to serve you for a long time. Entry doors encounter the most wear and tear compared to the other doors in your home. You want your door to be durable. Frequent damages and repairs can be costly compared to installing a high-quality and durable door for your home.
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Security
How secure is the entry door? How safe do you feel when you are inside your home? Are you at peace and comfort when you are not around your home? Are you sure of your property’s security? You want the entry door to give you the comfort that you deserve at your home. You don’t need to worry anymore about break-ins from strangers.
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Energy Efficiency
You want an entry door that is energy efficient. This will prevent the outside weather from entering your home. This may force you to rely on the heaters and coolers in your home. An energy-efficient entry door will save up on the high utility bills that you pay. You don’t have to crank your heaters and coolers anymore.
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Home Style
Does the entry door complement your home style? You don’t want an entry door that looks out of place when compared to your home. You want an entry door that complements your home style and adds value to your home.
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Customization
Can your door be customized to fit your personal preference, style, and designs? Entry doors can be customized with a range of designs, colors, and finishes to boost the appeal of your door. You don’t want your door to look plain and unattractive. The designs of the entry door should be on a current trend or have a look that will work for the future.
Now let’s look at the pros and cons of steel and fiberglass doors to identify which material is the right choice for your entry door.
Steel Entry Doors
Steel entry doors have stood out the test of time as the doors have been in use for more than 100 years now. The entry doors are made of a layer of steel which makes up the exterior of the door.
Pros of Steel Entry Doors
- Steel entry doors are durable. They will last for years without warping, cracking, or rotting. They are made of galvanized metal that contributes to their strength and durability. The metal is responsible for withstanding harsh weather conditions.
- Steel entry doors are energy efficient. They are made of insulating foams and thermal adhesives that help with energy conservation in your home.
- Steel entry doors are secure. The steel used in the exterior of your entry door is a strong material and a hard one to be broken into by intruders.
- Steel entry doors are easy to maintain. They do not warp, crack or rot, and this makes them an easy to maintain option. The only maintenance that you need for steel entry doors is wiping off the dust to keep them clean. You don’t have to spend your money and time repainting and repairing your door after every season.
- Steel entry doors can be customized. You can make your steel door to fit your design, style, and any other personal preference. Steel entry doors can be painted to suit your color, added a window for extra flair and wood grain topping.
Cons of Steel Entry Doors
- steel entry doors are difficult to damage. However, when a scratch occurs, the door can easily rust. When steel is exposed to moisture it easily rusts.
- Steel doors are difficult to repair since the outer shell of a steel entry door does not allow sanding or wood putty filling in case of scratches or dents.
- Steel entry doors are difficult to DIY due to their weight. They require professionals to install the door so that they can also add any cut-outs that you need. Making cut-outs on a steel entry door by yourself is difficult.
Fiberglass Entry Door
Fiberglass entry doors are the newest entry door option in the market. They were invented in the 1980s, and manufacturers are improving them to meet the required standards. Fiberglass entry doors are made of molten glass and certain resin materials.
Pros of Fiberglass Entry Doors
- Fiberglass entry doors are easy to install. The entry doors come pre-finished. This means that there is no other work left to do than to install them. This saves on time you would have used repainting or any other work not done.
- Fiberglass entry doors are energy efficient. They are made up of foam that acts as a barrier and preserves energy in your home. This saves up on the cost of utility bills.
- Fiberglass entry doors are easy to maintain. These doors do not require repainting, sanding and they neither rot, rust, or warp over time.
- Fiberglass entry doors come in a variety of colors, designs, and finishes compared to alternative materials.
Cons of Fiberglass Entry Doors
- Fiberglass entry doors are hard to customize. Other than the specifications offered, customizing the fiberglass entry doors beyond is hard and not cost-effective.
- Fiberglass entry doors are difficult to repair. Despite being durable, fiberglass entry doors are difficult to repair when damaged. In case of a damaged door, you might have to replace the entire door.
- Fiberglass entry doors are an expensive option in the market. However, it depends on the quality of the entry door.
Verdict: Which Entry Door is Good for Your Home – Steel Entry Door VS. Fiberglass Entry Door
Steel and fiberglass entry doors offer a variety of benefits as well as drawbacks. However, nothing beats steel entry doors. From the high-quality, durability to the easy-to-maintain feature. Get your steel door from a good manufacturer and be sure to leap its benefits for long.
Sydney Steel windows and doors are created with great workmanship to give your home an unforgettable first impression. They will customize your doors and windows to fit your needs and desires. They pay attention to detail to ensure they create perfect doors and windows for your home.
Get your doors and windows from Sydney Steel Windows.