Fiberglass Entry Doors

Introduction - Installing New Fiberglass Doors

Did you know some 15% of new houses have fiberglass doors? This is despite the fact that fiberglass was only invented about 50 years ago in the midst of World War II. The popularity is attributable to how other materials age so poorly in even moderate climates. And people who own houses notice all the small details about their house.



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.

Wood Doors Experience Wear-and-tear

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.

Steel Doors Are Cheap And Sturdy But Don't Have The Wood Look

The other major material used for front doors is steel, which happens to be not only cheap, but also fairly widely used and sturdy. In fact, this is the most popular type of door because of these qualities. The problem is that most houses (but not apartments) in the U.S. are made of wood, so the steel door stands out a bit. Fiberglass is made to mimic wood down to having grain patterns, but does not have the short life span or expensive upkeep. For a more thorough and unbiased comparison take a look at our page on front doors for homes.

Fiberglass Lowers Your Costs

But there is one bright option to which many homeowners turn: the fiberglass entry door. Read here about the upfront cost. Now, I know you might be thinking that fiberglass 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.

Fiberglass Is A Composite Material

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.

Versatilty

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.

Drawbacks Of Fiberglass

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.