What Material Should You Choose for Entry Doors?
What Material Should You Choose for Entry Doors?
They say windows are portals into the soul of your home and doors are the practical way to get inside. Doors typically don't get as much attention during home remodels, as many people tend to focus on flashy renovations like granite countertops or hardwood flooring. Durable, high-quality, and aesthetically pleasing entry doors not only enhance your curb appeal but act as an important security feature of your home.
When it comes to shopping for new entry doors, there are primarily three different materials to choose from, each with its own set of pros and cons:
Steel is one of the most durable, weather-resistant materials on the market, making steel entrance systems a great fit for any home. An investment in any high-quality door is more cost effective in the long run for both maintenance, heating, and cooling costs.
Premium steel entry systems from a reliable company such as Centennial Windows & Doors are extremely low maintenance and are designed to resist warping and rotting. The extra thick steel makes them highly durable, and galvanization provides added resistance to rust, cracks, and bowing.
Steel doors are both energy efficient and aesthetically pleasing with a smooth finish and a wooden frame. Steel doors have a sleek and modern look and are also customizable - their panels can be either smooth or embossed to add character and a personal touch to your door.
Steel doors are the most affordable door option and can suit a variety of budgets that you can then customize with paint and hardware.
Steel doors can be weakened by salt and rain, so this is an important consideration if your entryway is constantly exposed to the elements.
As a primary entryway to the home, a lower quality steel door can show signs of wear and tear and can be easily scratched, dented, or rusted easier than other materials.
The average lifespan of lower-end steel doors is about 5-7 years. For longer lifespans, always choose premium door manufacturers when installing replacement doors.
Fibreglass doors are great insulators and require minimum maintenance, being difficult to scratch, warp, or dent.
They offer beauty and style as well as energy efficiency and strength all in one product. These entry doors most closely resemble the defined texture, look, and feel of authentic wood.
Unlike wood and steel doors, they don't rot or rust and the coating colour will not bubble or peel.
Fibreglass doors are completely customizable to get the exact look you want, whether that is a rustic wood style door or a modern door with decorative glass.
While durable, fibreglass can crack under force. The "wooden style" is not real, authentic wood.
The appeal of a solid, heavy wood entry door is undeniable. It is the preferred choice of material for high-end, luxurious home renovations and can greatly enhance the curb appeal of your house.
Wooden doors can give a stunning finish and owners can accentuate the grain for a beautiful finish.
They can also be stained or painted to a different finish and can be updated to give a tired door a new lease on life.
Wood doors are the most expensive of all three door materials. A solid wood entry door can be quite steep on your budget - though they also offer the best increase to your home's curb appeal.
Wooden doors do require a certain amount of upkeep. They can be easily damaged and generally need to be painted or refinished every 1-2 years to protect against warping and splitting.
It can be quite overwhelming to decide which door suits your home best, but selecting a professional door supplier and installer can help with this task.
