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. 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

Consumers Reports magazine rated doors within the past year, comparing wood, steel, and fiberglass. If memory serves they concluded that fiberglass was the best for the long haul. However some brands of fiberglass doors have had warping problems. The fiberglass material itself is a combination of fibers and resins that when mixed together form a tough, weather resistent material. However, there are many different types of fiberglass, some of which don't hold up well to heat. If you have a storm door in front of most brands of fiberglass doors, you void the warranty because their fiberglass can not withstand the heat buildup between the main door and the storm door. However, some fiberglass doors have thicker skins and better composite material that easily withstand the heat and have warranties that welcome a storm door (Some Therma-Tru and all Pella I think both fall in this catagory). So if I were to get a fiberglass door, the #1 thing I would look for is one that has a decent warranty regarding storm doors; without that it's worthless (to me, at any rate). Secondly I would look for one that has the look and price that meets my requirements. They even are available with a mahogany woodgrain.

I want to get a new front door, half-window and made of fiberglass with fake grain. I would like to try a darkish green or blue paint on the exterior and brownish gel stain on the interior (to match the woodwork). Door faces east-southeast. Current door is steel painted dark brown (BM paint); it shows some fading after 10 years (probably faded earlier, but I just now questioned the color). Would the paint color fade? Would fading green be less objectionable than fading blue? If I don't like the paint can I apply stain over it? Which lasts longer: stain or paint? What do you do with the edges (top, bottom, and sides) of the door? Match the inside color or the outside? The trims on both the inside and outside are some sort of brown (stain and paint). Thanks for any help.

They both should be about the same at the end of the day. The fiberglass is nice from the standpoint that it does not dent if you bump into it whereas a steel panel door has that potential. You are probably going to get a bit better finish in a factory finished option, but there is no reason that you can't get a good finish on a primed door with a good painter (this is critical here). The residential paints out there are so good now that they hold up really well if properly applied over a prepped substrate. We wash out door occasionally (not in direct sunlight) and treat it with a kind of quick detailer spray to help protect the paint.