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Exterior front door: wood or fiberglass

13 years ago

Please help me decide whether to purchase a mahogany color front door made of wood or fiberglass.

What are pros/cons of each one? Price range?

Least amount of maintenance would be desirable.

Thank you so much!

Featured Answer

nancyk

13 years ago

We recently replaced 3 exterior wooden doors with ThermaTru fiberglass doors. The wooden doors had cracks in them(you could see light through them) and did not look the best. We opted for ThermaTru Classic Craft fiberglass(they have a woodgrain look), then we stained and sealed them ourselves, which was a job. We got them to open out, with security hinges, so the doors cannot be kicked in. Tho now we probably cannot install screen doors, which is one downside of opening out doors. Overall we are pleased with the doors, tho the frames are wood and can cause some ill-fittings at times when the frames shrink/swell.

Nancy

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Comments (8)

vhehn
13 years ago
unless it is a high end home and you are trying to make a statement get your self a factory stained fiberglass door. they are no maintence and will last longer and are insulated.
lucik77
Original Author
13 years ago
Thank you for your advice! What price range should I plan for if I want good quality but don't care about the brand name. Generally, where will I be able to get better prices online or in a local store? I'm in NYC/NJ area.
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crazySN thanks for asking this...I've been trying to find a good fiberglass 8'0" door that is 42" wide, and I can't find one in the style I am looking for. Actually, the designer had drawn in a 48" door, but I can't find anything that wide. I was starting to look at custom wood doors, but had the same concerns about energy efficiency and maintenance. I was looking online and came across Borano...their quote wasn't as high as I was expecting for a solid mahogany door and they had a style I liked, but it's still wood. I'd be interested to hear from folks with wood doors, or if anyone knows of a manufacturer that will make a custom fiberglass door.
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Didn't your sales rep recommend the factory finish? Or did you buy it at a box store? Anyway, finishing fiberglass doors is much different than wood because it's not porous. We use a base coat (not primer) followed by two topcoats. I can't share the brand with you because it is a proprietary finsihing product available through authorized finishers only. The product we use requires drying at 100 degrees for 24 hours. Pella should have a finishing instruction sheet with the door. If not, call Therma-Tru or Perma Door. The door may be made by one of them and then labeled Pella. Michael
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do not try to install any door into an existing frame. you will be sorry. if the door is rotted, the frame can't be too good. When you buy a door, 99% come with a frame. Pull your interior trim off and the exterior brickmold. Then use a sawzall to cut any nails or screws holding the frame to the studs. The door should now easily be removed. When you get a new door be sure to specify whether you have 2x4 or 2x6 walls. By a door with a "frame saver" or other product to insure the door frame does not rot out. If you have hot, humid or damp condtions I would definitly not get a wooden door. There are some nice fiberglass doors that look really good in wood grain. You will pay more for a fir grain look than a dated oak grain look but it is worth it. Go to a lumber yard and ask about a Thermatru, or other professional product.
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lucik77
Original Author
13 years ago
Having done some research on this forum, other sites, and my friends, I have settled on getting a ThermaTru or a Jeld Wen fiberglass door.
nancyk, most of my friends with wooden doors experienced your exact problem - in a few years the doors started to get cracks. Thank you for your feedback!
My next question is how to comparison shop for these doors? Is it better to buy in a local store / Home Depot / or online?

Thank you!
kittenkat_2002
13 years ago
We purchased a ThermaTru fiberglass door and purchased it at a local lumber store. It wasn't cheap at close to 1k. It hasn't been stained yet so I don't have any photos.

Here is a link that might be useful: Firberglass door
mag77
13 years ago
Fiberglass doors are hard to beat. Tough, won't warp, won't split, hold stain and paint well. The last one I bought was a smooth skin half/glass ThermaTru for $600. It pays to shop around. Check prices at several vendors.

John
Sue Brunette (formerly known as hockeychik)
13 years ago
Check out as many options as you can. We are looking for an exterior door for our kitchen remodel. Since it goes to the back yard and deck we want a full lite door with shades between the glass. Not an easy thing to find. Of course we checked Pella-big bucks. For us, there are actually two different options-exterior door with full lite or single french style patio door. The more I look, the more options I come up with.

Check lumber yards, window and door stores and the big box stores. We are also planning to have the exterior trim clad in aluminum so that we don't have the maintainance of wood with a fiberglass door. From what I have heard, it is probably worth the extra charge to have the door factory finished as well, especially if it is fiberglass with a wood look. Haven't ordered anything yet but I think we are getting close to making a decision.
eal51
13 years ago
We had a Therma-Tru in our old house and when we moved 5+ years ago, we had a Therma-Tru installed in our new house. They don;t warp or crack, are insulated and take paint or stain very well.

But they are not cheap at all. We purchased our present entry door at Wicke's Lumber in CT. With the 2 side lights, fancy 3/4 glass and all it was about $3,000.00. But it was worth every penny! If I move again, I'll definitely install another one.

Enjoy the journey.
eal51 in western CT

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