As colder weather approaches, homeowners become aware of drafts and air leaks from outside. A potential culprit? Your old, outdated entry door. If you notice your entry doors are looking a little worse-for-wear, it might be time to upgrade them with modern entry doors from Window Nation. We offer fiberglass and steel entry doors to meet your home improvement needs. But which door is best for your home? Our home improvement experts explain:
Replacement Entry Doors & Curb Appeal
While energy efficiency is typically a big piece of the decision, when considering replacing your front door, looks are equally important.
Replacing your home's entry door accomplishes more than just creating a barrier from the unpredictable Indy weather. Your entry door is a big part of your home’s curb appeal. Not only does the entryway make an impression on you, but a good-looking front door can also do wonders for your home's resale value. It’s like the whipped cream on a sugar cream pie. But with so many door styles available, choosing a new entry door for your home can feel like a daunting decision.
What Material Should I Choose?
When it comes time to replace a door, most people turn to fiberglass and steel to safeguard their investment.
Fiberglass and steel are both more resistant to the elements, easier on maintenance requirements, better on energy efficiency, and often a less expensive option than wood. But how do they compare to each other? And what are the accompanying features?
For a long time, wood has been the material of choice for many homeowners, but, with advancements in science and fabrication, wood is no longer the most popular option. When it comes time to replace a door, most homeowners turn to fiberglass and steel to safeguard their investment.
Fiberglass and steel are both more resistant to the weather, giving your home an energy efficiency boost. They require less maintenance and are often less expensive than wood. But how do they compare to each other? Let’s break it down:
Steel Doors
If you're looking to have new doors installed on your home, you can't go wrong with steel. It is a versatile material that comes with a lot of options. Some may even surprise you!
- When you think of a steel door, do you picture an old rusting door on the back of a building that only gives access to an alleyway? While a reinforced steel door is excellent for rear door security, you can get a whole lot more style and elegance from steel than this. But, it is essential to note that when it comes to home security, steel might give a hair more protection than fiberglass.
- Steel doors can come with a woodgrain. It's true! At Window Nation, our exclusive accent finishing technique creates a finish that gives our steel doors the appearance of real wood if you want a door that looks like a fine oak door but has the durability and low cost of steel, no problem! While the wood finish on a steel door can't thoroughly compare to the same look with fiberglass, it is worth taking a look at, especially for the cost.
- Do you want windows in your new doors? There is a wide selection of glass options available for steel doors. You don't have to worry about fiberglass beating out steel in this department.
- While steel is strong and durable, it is more prone to scratching and denting than fiberglass. Though it is possible to fix dents with an auto-body repair kit, and cover scratches with putty and paint, this is something to consider when getting steel.
- Steel can become hot to the touch on a warm sunny day, but that heat isn't going to get through the insulation that comes with these doors easily. You're not going to lose any energy-saving benefits by choosing steel.
Fiberglass Doors
Some in the industry advertise that fiberglass comes with all the benefits of steel, without any of its limitations. This is only partly true. In almost every way, fiberglass doors are slightly better than steel. But, this material doesn’t exactly have a Colts-level defense. It will crack and break if it’s struck hard. Steel will not. Here are some other things you may want to know about fiberglass:
Some in the industry advertise that fiberglass comes with all the benefits of steel, without any of its limitations. This is only partly true.
In almost every way, fiberglass doors are slightly better than steel. But, this material will crack if struck hard. Steel will not.
Here are some other things you may want to know about fiberglass.
- There are many styles, colors, and grains to choose from when selecting fiberglass as the material for your new doors. If you're looking for doors that will closely approximate the look of real wood, this is the best option.
- With fiberglass, you don't even have to think about rust. While it is relatively easy to keep a steel door rust-free, some homeowners prefer not to have to worry about it. If that sounds like you, fiberglass is the way to go.
- Fiberglass isn't as heavy as steel, but that doesn't mean you'll have to sacrifice having that satisfying "thunk" sound when you close your fiberglass doors. At Window Nation, we manufacture the internal structure of these doors to simulate the same weight of wood. You'll be happy with the sturdy sound you'll get with this option.
- Exposure to heat over time can cause doors to crack, swell, and warp, which can harm the frame and seal of an entry door. While steel and fiberglass are more resistant to this than wood, fiberglass is slightly better. The material will hold up against extreme temperature fluctuations and keep its shape for a long, long time, but you'll have to pay a little more for this added durability.
Want to Learn More about Our Entry Doors?
When it comes to getting a new door for your Indianapolis home, you can't go wrong with either of these two materials. If your doors are outdated enough to be on an old-timey Fountain Square shop, let Window Nation help. Schedule your free, no-obligation in-home estimate today, and let's get started!
