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What are the Advantages of Fiberglass Front Doors?

Miranda Fine
Miranda Fine

There are several advantages to choosing a fiberglass front door over a wood or steel front door. Fiberglass doors are known for their attractiveness, security, weather resistance, affordability, and durability. Many home repair experts recommend them as the best choice for the average homeowner. With a fiberglass door, a homeowner will never have the problem of being unable to open the front door after a heavy storm because it has warped or swollen.

Some homeowners prefer the look of real wood, but they are subject to warping, rotting, and problems with the finish. A fiberglass door will have none of these problems. Fiberglass front doors mimic the look of wood and can be stained to match a variety of wood finishes. These doors are available in a wide variety of colors, styles, and sizes. They require very little maintenance to keep them looking new, and show less wear and tear over time than a steel door.

Fiberglass front doors are useful in areas prone to storms.
Fiberglass front doors are useful in areas prone to storms.

Fiberglass front doors are good at keeping out heavy rains, and their weather resistance and durability makes them especially good choices in areas with humid or harsh climates. They have a higher energy efficiency rating than wood doors, but the difference is negligible since most energy loss occurs through cracks and poor weatherizing around the door, rather than through the door itself.

A fiberglass front door is more secure than the average wood door. While all doors will fail if enough pressure is applied around the area of the lock and strike plate, the typical fiberglass door will stand up better to battering. These doors are also relatively affordable, and a basic door that is 3 feet (0.9 meters) wide and 6 feet 8 inches (2 meters) tall costs about the same as a comparable wood door. Most come with long warranties.

It is important for homeowners to remember that front doors come without hardware, and hardware costs the same regardless of the price of the door itself. A “door system” includes hardware and may include other accessories, such as side panels.

Discussion Comments

anon934977

When a full view, non-ventilating storm door is installed over a fiberglass door, extreme heat can build up between the doors and cause damage to the finish of the fiberglass.

If there is no ventilation between the doors, most manufacturers will void the warranty on the door for this reason. In addition, fiberglass doors are excellent at resisting damage due to the elements. They will not rust or warp so the need for a storm door is unnecessary. Next time, you may want to read the terms on the product warranty.

anon112277

I'm going with fiberglass doors,but, be on the alert: it wasn't the door that failed in my home. It was the wood that supported the Therma-Tru unit (door and sidelights). The contractor for previous owners did not connect unit to slate foyer, covered it up with quarter rounds and did not glue and caulk bottom sash properly. It was sick for a long time with mold and it was hard to uncover the problem. Rain went under the door (where there should have been thick line of glue and there was only three dots), traveled to the opening in the floor under quarter rounds and rotted the surroundings and joists.

You could not tell there was anything wrong with my door. It needed a CIEC - Certified Indoor Environmental Consultant to discover the problem. I am searching now for a door company.

anon96061

Fiberglass doors may have many benefits but plastic odors are not one of them. I purchased a Feather River exterior door and the plastic fumes are horrible. I added a full glass storm door because I like the opportunity of the amount of light they allow.

This intensified the fumes tremendously and whenever the door is opened the wall of fumes that hits you is unbearable.

I contacted the company to find out exactly what I am breathing and they could not tell me. They also told me you cannot put a storm door over a fiberglass door because of the problem with fumes. How would I know that?

Their answer was to return the door to Home Depot and get something I am happy with. All at my expense of course. Buyer beware!

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    • Fiberglass front doors are useful in areas prone to storms.
      By: Jason Branz
      Fiberglass front doors are useful in areas prone to storms.