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.

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.

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.

My front entry door is from Pella. Looks like wood but isn't. My front also faces west. I have no sun damage at all and the door looks great. https://www.pellabranch.com/windows-doors/doors/entry-doors/fiberglass-entry/