What to Know When Deciding Between Steel vs. Fiberglass Entry Door

When your entry door is drafty, chipped, dented, or otherwise less-than-stellar-looking, it's time for an upgrade. A brand-new entry door can bring several benefits to your home, like energy efficiency, enhanced curb appeal, and personal satisfaction.

But that’s all dependent on picking the right entry door, of course, and that means choosing a door made of the right stuff. Steel and fiberglass doors are everywhere, and they both look amazing at first glance. To help you choose, let’s explore fiberglass vs. steel entry doors in detail.

What are fiberglass doors?

Fiberglass doors are constructed with synthetic, reinforced plastic materials with glass fibers woven within their cores. This composite structural material is naturally insulating, durable, and highly versatile thanks to its low weight and ability to be shaped into different forms or layers.

What about steel doors?

Steel doors, on the other hand, are made of quality reinforced steel. Depending on the manufacturer, steel doors may have insulating cores, exterior paint, and other features. However, many steel doors are very simplistic looking, appearing to be little more than metal slabs in the front of your Tri-Cities property.

Comparing fiberglass vs. steel entry doors

If you’re stuck picking between fiberglass vs. steel entry doors, it’ll help to compare their key attributes and features directly. Read on to see major elements, like durability and maintenance needs, for both entry door types compared head-to-head.

Durability

Both fiberglass and steel doors are long-lasting and resistant to most wear and tear. Fiberglass doesn’t warp from temperature fluctuations, moisture, or weather events. Neither does steel. But fiberglass and steel can be dented or cracked if they’re hit with heavy impacts, like hail.

However, don’t forget that steel can rust if it’s not cared for! Therefore, it's a good idea to examine your steel entry door for damage after a major storm.

Maintenance

Maintenance requirements can also inform your entry door choice. It’s very easy to clean fiberglass front doors, making them popular choices for Tri-Cities homeowners who don’t want to have to do a lot of upkeep. Wiping down your fiberglass door with a soft and moist cloth is all you need to get the job done in most cases.

Steel entry doors can’t be rinsed with a hose or left wet after a wipe-down because the steel can rust. Plus, if the door is scratched, you’ll need to repaint it to prevent rusting. In other words, steel entry doors have more immediate maintenance requirements if they are slightly damaged and whenever you clean them.

Style and aesthetics

There’s no denying that fiberglass entry doors have much more variety in terms of style and aesthetic appeal. Woodgrain fiberglass entry doors offer you the visual value of wood front doors without compromising their durability or energy efficiency. On top of that, fiberglass can be painted many different colors, combined with different accent windows, and more.

Steel doors can also be painted, but their styles and types tend to be more limited. Most importantly, you can’t mimic the look of real woodgrain as effectively with a steel door.

Energy efficiency

Your home’s entry door can affect its overall energy efficiency. The last thing you want is for your new front door to be drafty or highly conductive. You'll find that warmth escapes your home in the cooler seasons, and the reverse happens in the heat of summer.

In a direct comparison, both fiberglass and steel doors tend to be similarly efficient. They have R-values (which measure the insulation quality of a given material) of R-5 to R-6, assuming neither door has a large window in the center.

That said, remember that steel is a good conductor of heat. If your entry door faces direct sunlight, it could quickly heat up and become uncomfortable to touch or unsuitable for certain types of paint.

Cost

Finally, you should consider the cost. After all, the price of a new entry door can affect whether one material or another is right for your needs.

Fiberglass doors can cost anywhere between $250 and $2,000, with more expensive models mimicking the look and feel of real wood. These are often worthwhile investments since they look fantastic and add significant curb appeal to your home.

On the other hand, steel doors are typically cheaper upfront, costing anywhere between $100 and $1,000. But remember that they don’t have the same aesthetic appeal as fiberglass doors. And, given the higher durability of fiberglass, it’s likely that a new fiberglass door will be more cost-effective in the long run.

Which type of entry door is right for your home?

With excellent durability, tons of aesthetic variety, and fantastic insulation, a fiberglass entry door is almost certainly the best choice for your home. Plus, compared to a steel alternative, a fiberglass door even has lower maintenance requirements. Given all these upsides, it’s a no-brainer to look into new fiberglass entry doors for your upcoming remodel.

That’s where Window World of the Tri-Cities can help. We’re ready and able to help you select the ideal entry door for your home, and we can take care of installation from start to finish to ensure your new entry door looks perfect from day one. Contact us online, request a free quote, or visit our showroom to learn more!