Choosing your Entry Door: Steel or Fibreglass?
Whether it’s for a residential or commercial project, the entryway matters. Beautiful, effective doors can make or break an establishment, and it’s important to understand the fundamentals. Steel and fibreglass doors are both excellent options, and each offers a ton of benefits. Each is good in different situations, however, to boost your property’s value, enhance your living area or feeling secure, it is good to compare both options to see which one will suit your needs.
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Features of a Fibreglass Door
Fibreglass entry doors are a top replacement option for homeowners. They closely mimic authentic wood grain, and they pack the endurance needed to withstand years of use. Unlike wooden doors, fibreglass doors don’t warp, split, shrink, crack or delaminate. Because of their solid design, they’re often equipped with lifetime warranties. They’re available in many different styles.
Features of a Steel Door
Steel doors are often used in commercial properties, but they’re great home options, too. Like fibreglass entry doors, steel entry doors are available with wood finishes. So, if you want a classy, memorable space, you can take advantage of many stylized looks.
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Steel Vs Fibreglass – Important Considerations
Installation
When it comes to installation, it’s best to have it professionally done. When it comes to fibreglass doors, the door needs to be measured first, then put into the frame. Other specifics must be done by a professional, such as adding additional shims to the sides of the doorway. Fibreglass doors are easier to install as they are pre-hung. When it comes to steel door installation, it is done by having the door cut to the specifications of the doorway measurements. Anchors and wall frames are required to get the best fit for the specific doorway where the new steel door is being installed. Sometimes drywall is needed around the frame.
Appearance
The inner frame of both steel and fibreglass doors are usually wooden with a core made out of foam. The major difference between the two is the outer layer of the door: a steel door has a steel exterior, and a fibreglass door has a fibreglass exterior. However, both steel and fibreglass doors can be rendered to resemble a wooden door. Steel and fibreglass doors can be rendered to resemble a wooden door. Fibreglass doors are available in custom colours in order to match wood trims, getting the look of wood doors with the added durability.
Costs
Fibreglass doors can be comparable in cost to wood doors or can be significantly higher, depending on the model, glass options and hardware selected, but offer longer durability and far less maintenance. As for steel entry doors, they are much more affordable and offer significant long-term value. The total cost can vary widely depending on the door style and options chosen.
Energy Efficiency
Modern steel doors are still quite energy-efficient compared to their older counterparts, but they are also notably less efficient than other materials like fibreglass.
Fibreglass doors are ENERGY STAR® qualified, meaning your door will resist thermal transfer like heat loss and heat gain, helping to minimize energy costs and improve overall comfort.
Security
Steel entryway doors provide more protection than fibreglass, thanks to their thick and protective material. They are harder to break into because of the strong hold that they provide in the frame of the house. On the other hand, fibreglass is easier to manipulate, making it a less secure option.
Durability
While steel is strong and durable, it is more prone to scratching and denting than fibreglass. Though it is possible to fix dents with an auto-body repair kit, and cover scratches with putty and paint, this is something to consider when getting steel.
Maintenance
Most fibreglass doors feature an integral colour that extends through the thickness of the door. If these doors are scratched or scuffed, the damage is not very noticeable. Steel doors, on the other hand, are painted at the factory or during installation. If steel doors are dented or scratched, the damage is particularly noticeable because the natural metal colour will show through. Fibreglass requires little to no maintenance while the most carefully protected steel door will usually require repainting every few years.
Heat
Exposure to heat over time can cause doors to crack, swell, and warp, which can harm the frame and seal of an entry door. While steel and fibreglass are more resistant to this than wood, fibreglass is slightly better. The material will hold up against extreme temperature fluctuations and keep its shape for a long, long time, but you’ll have to pay a little more for this added durability.
Resale Value
When it comes to resale, both steel and fibreglass’s value increases. However, steel doors have a higher resale value with a regain of 90% of its value, while fibreglass doors bring in 77%.
Your project’s needs, residential or commercial, will determine which type of door is more useful. If you want a high-performance, long-lasting door, stick with steel. If you’re looking for cost-effective, fibreglass is a great option.