Investing in a few upgrades to your home can pay off in energy savings and increased value for years to come. Your windows and front door are major components of your home’s envelope, so both their aesthetics and their energy efficiency matter. Let’s walk through a front door material comparison to find the best fit for your needs.
Exterior Door Material Comparison
Wooden doors enjoyed their centuries in the sun (fading and warping as time went on), but fiberglass door material and vinyl door material now eclipse the classic wooden slab. While they can be beautiful, wooden doors present a number of disadvantages. Wood is vulnerable to rain and ambient moisture, which can cause it to swell, stick, warp, and crack over time unless regularly maintained. Wood can mold, as well as harbor insects, such as termites.
Newer veneers and finishes reduce some of the challenges associated with wooden exterior doors, but composite door materials like fiberglass and vinyl solve those problems with little to no maintenance required.
When you’re doing a composite door comparison, it’s best to start with which features composite doors share.
Whether you choose a fiberglass door or a vinyl door, you’ll improve your home’s energy efficiency over a wood front door. Fiberglass and vinyl doors are made to provide an airtight seal. The materials minimize heat and cold transfer too.
Fiberglass and vinyl doors are both much more durable than wood and far lower maintenance. In general, all you’ll need to do to take care of your composite door is wipe it down once in a while with a damp cloth and standard household cleaning products. Since these composite door materials are weatherproof, you won’t have to worry about refinishing or sanding down edges if they swell due to moisture.
Fiberglass Door: Pros and Cons
While both fiberglass and vinyl door materials beat wood by a large margin, fiberglass comes out ahead of vinyl in several key areas.
Nine times stronger than vinyl, fiberglass front doors are incredibly long-lasting, with a lifespan of 15-20 years or even longer. The insulation within the lightweight slabs adds an extra layer of energy efficiency. This can make a significant difference to your home heating and cooling costs. If you live in a very variable climate or one with extreme weather conditions, fiberglass is an excellent investment.
Additionally, modern fiberglass doors boast wonderful curb appeal. The huge range of skins and finish options–including some extremely realistic ones that look just like wood–allow you to find one that perfectly fits the look of your home.
The main downside to fiberglass entry doors is the cost. They are higher-priced than vinyl entry doors, especially if you want to order a custom door. Expect to pay between $1,500 to $2,500 plus installation for a high quality, premade fiberglass front door.
Vinyl Door: Pros and Cons
While we consider fiberglass front doors a more ideal investment, you may not need to shell out for one if a vinyl entry door would suit your needs. The main advantage of a vinyl door is the lower cost, with high quality vinyl doors ranging from about $500 to $1500 plus installation.
Although less durable and with a shorter typical lifespan than fiberglass doors, a vinyl door will still last for many years with minimal maintenance. They also provide some insulation and more weatherproofing than wooden exterior doors. Today’s manufacturers offer a variety of attractive finishes to fit different home aesthetics. If you live in a milder climate with fewer temperature fluctuations or extreme weather conditions, a vinyl door may be enough for your needs.
We hope our introductory exterior door material comparison helped you get started in deciding whether a fiberglass door or a vinyl door is better for your needs. For an in-person consultation, contact us today.
