midwestmama,

We chose the fiberglass door because of the extreme temps.
It was stained and we think it looks like wood. It is nice too not to have to worry about shrinking and expanding.

Here is a link that might be useful: entry door

Twotogo, that is very similar to what we are looking at, 2 panels on the bottom (though more raised panel, less shaker) and 6 panel lights on top instead of your 3, very similar look, that really helped, thanks. I am remembering how my dad's door was super easy to shut some times in the year, very difficult at others due to swelling... I hadn't thought of that.

One concern with a storm door is excessive heat build up in the warmer months if it doesn't have an operable panel that opens/screened in order to let the heat out. Fixed panel storm doors that, especially when facing the sun, are notorious for damaging wood doors unless they are well maintained often. Even then it's a risk. I cant speak for fiberglass in those conditions.

we have Thermatru fiberglass exterior front door and garage doors. you cannot tell that it is not wood at all!! I'm in the midwest as well and can't imagine the PITA it would be to have to restain every spring. It seems like all the real wood doors on the new homes in our neighborhood already need work. fiberglass all the way - especially with our temp changes and snow/ice.

here's a picture before completion - sorry don't have recent one, but you can get the idea!

here's a view from the inside

We've got a Thermatru due to extremes, sunlight. Esp. cold wood isn't as good an insulator as the new insulated FG doors). I stained it a mahogany (Zar oil based, not gel, just paint it on, feather out brush strokes and leave it, don't wipe) in Sept, 2 coats of Sikkens Door and Window clear satin as topcoat. Still have to see how it holds up. We have a 7 ft deep porch but faces west so get strong sun esp. at the bottom. I think it looks like wood from a distance, not so much close up.

{{gwi:1520029}}

Just after staining (forgive the tape) - I don't recall if I had topcoated yet. These are the only closeups I have

No topcoat, extreme closeup

I think that if you have a full glass storm door you will see faster deterioration of the finish (any finish) no matter what the surface, but fiberglas should hold up longer than wood. The key is to keep ahead of it, so you don't get down to the bare surface. Wood can be resurfaced (sanded) as long as it's not too far gone, but if you don't keep up the finish (something with UV inhibitors like the Sikkens) I'm not sure what you can do with the FG since you can't sand it. HTH

This string started out talking about Bayerbuilt but no comments address Bayer Built (BB). We are also looking at fiberglass in Thermatru (TT) and Peachtree (PT). Thermatru has a nice woodgrain but it is expensive. PT has nice features (swinging sidelight) but(PT) customer service is abysmal according to some blogs (although you never know who is writing the comment.) TT has a less-expensive model called Smooth Star. Does anyone have experience with that model. I welcome comments on PT, TT and BB. Thanks.

I did not research PT or BB for our fiberglass door but did TT. For what therma-tru offered, the cost was double that of Pella. For what we were wanting (Flemish glass, 3/4 lite, iron grate, fiberglass), TT did not offer a style choice of glass and size of glass. The iron grate was not on the exterior, but integrated between the two glass panels, on of which is granit glass. Yuck. We did not order our Pella through Pella. We ordered through Lowes. However, when we needed to contact cust. service with Pella (corporate, not local chain store-which is aweful)they were exceptional.

mairin-Is your garage door also by thermatru? It is gorgeous. Thanks for all the great information everyone..we are also choosing a front door and I think we've decided to go with Pella fiberglass.

Our builder uses a company that does custom mahogany doors. Most of the homes they have built have used these...and they seem to have held up well and look really beautiful. Ours is a double door, 3 ft wide each and 8' tall, with an arched transom on top. Each door has eight panes of seeded glass (they are about 3/4 glass with wood at the bottom.) Anyway...I hope they won't be too difficult to maintain!

nini804 - Do you have a picture of your door?