Read about Cutting Fiberglass Doors

01/15/2010 A look back in time:

"Perhaps the most interesting and promising of the proposed uses of glass-reinforced plastics are to be found in models for space-saving, structure-supporting, prefabricated kitchen and bathroom units. The two-sided assemblies, complete with full storage facilities, are intended to occupy a space only seven feet square, yet they are capable of supporting the entire structure of a house."

From 1945, Scientific American
Glass-reinforced plastics is another name for fiberglass, now a ubiquitous material.

It's hoped that the reader will gain an appreciation for how this material has transformed the boundaries of what's possible in the world of front doors once he or she takes a look around this website. Enjoy!

Fiberglass Entry Doors

People who own houses notice all the small details about their house. The wood front door is a great example: it always seems to get old-looking pretty fast.

If you live in a moist, wet climate, say for example in the South, you're going to see the wood soak up the moisture, get moldy and warp. If you live in a dry climate, say in the Southwest or West, that wood is going to dry out, peel under the hot sun, or crack. Moreover, seasonal changes add additional stress to your door due to variations in moisture, temperature and sunlight.

This kind of wear usually happens pretty quickly, within a year or two of getting the door. The standard way to remedy these problems is to refinish or restain the door every year. For some, the thought of doing this year after year is going to be painful. Staining is no small feat since you've got to remove the door from its hinges and then lay it out to dry outside or in your garage for a few days. But there is one bright option to which many homeowners turn: the fiberglass entry door. I know you might be thinking that fiberglass exterior doors might be kind of cheating because it's a nasty composite material or that they're difficult to repair. But the truth is that the time-savings for maintenance will be enormous, as you'll spend much effort and expense fixing up the door to keep it looking new. Furthermore, such doors come with absurdly long warranties because of the high durability.

These fiberglass entry doors are a relatively new choice for homeowners. These doors are made of a composite material that is a mixture of ultra thin filaments of glass fibers (hence fiberglass), but also mixed with plastic resins which bond the fibers. The result is a strong, durable, weavable material that can be layered to build up any shape. For example, skis, boats, tent poles, roofing material, have all been made in fiberglass to take advantage of its robust and waterproof properties. Homeowners now have a choice in choosing fiberglass entry doors as the main entrance to their homes. Why? Fiberglass entry doors has all of the above properties, but most importantly, modern manufacturing allows them to be made in such a way as to mimic closely the classy and traditional look of ones composed of wood. There are a few drawbacks, namely the cost of repair (in the rare event that it happens). Fiberglass exterior doors cannot be simply repaired by sanding or cutting, and instead require specialized repair kits. Homeowners will have to carefully weight the pros and cons should they face a choice for a new or replacement front door.