Introduction to Fiberglass Entry Doors

A solid, modern choice

Fiberglass entry doors are a solid, modern choice for home and building owners who are concerned about long term wear and tear on doors made of traditional materials.

Exposed to the elements

Doors for entry into a building structure are unlike interior doors, as they are exposed to elements and constant, possibly heavy, use. As a result, these doors may age visibly especially if they are composed of traditional materials such as wood. The advantage of using wood is that it has the classic look, and that even if it is scratched, it can be easily repaired.

The disadvantages of wood

But wood also has some severe disadvantages, namely that the material is not hardy. Over time, wood can bubble, crack, and warp after absorbing moisture and heat from sunlight. The different wavelengths of natural sunlight contain enough energy to destroy chemical bonds in wood, and the uptake and release of natural moisture causes the door to increase and decrease in size constantly.

Why fiberglass stands out

The options for front, entry and exterior doors have expanded greatly for the modern building owner. Not only can one select amongst different sizes, styles, but there are now three basic material types: wood, steel and fiberglass. Steel ones surpass wood in some respects by being hardier, resistant long term changes due to moisture and heat. They do come with their own set of limitations, as steel can be dented (which can be fixed by skilled artisan), and also if the exterior is scratched, it can rust. Additionally, steel has the unfortunately quality of conducting heat, so on a hot day a steel structure can become quite hot to the touch especially if it is in direct sunlight. Finally, who wants a steel entry for the front door of a home when wood ones look so much more attractive? Therefore to fill the gap, the last material that has surfaced in recent years is the use of fiberglass for entry doors. Fiberglass entry doors have the distinct advantage of being much more custom in look. They can be stylized to resemble wood, but possess super-resistant qualities to the things that harm wood. Fiberglass entry doors won’t warp, bubble, crack like wood, nor will they dent or rust like steel. For those concerned about energy efficiency, fiberglass entry doors can be made to insulate the home well and do not build up heat like a metal door.

Entry systems vs. standalone doors

The material changes have been accompanied by a change in the way front doors are installed. In the past, a sing le piece of wood may be substituted in for the old door by unhinging the old one and installing the new one on t he old hinges. However, recent years have seen a rise in “entry systems”. The entire outer frame of the fibergla ss entry door, threshhold-interface, and weather stripping for the door, bound by hinges and locksets are includ ed with the entry system. Because the fiberglass entry doors arrives as a complete piece, the problem of heat co nduction and convection through the door can be minimized greatly by the manufacturer through consistency in man ufacturing procedures.

Affordable, durable, and stylish

Choosing fiberglass entry doors means choosing affordability in addition to durability and style. The look of mo dern fiberglass entry doors approximates wooden ones. Only close up would someone be able to tell the difference in materials.