Wood Vs Fiberglass: Which Is Better For A Glass Front Door?
When it comes to upgrading your home's exterior, there are tons of options to choose from for the perfect front door to match your home's style. Your new front door could be solid, have small glass panels, or be primarily glass. Glass front doors offer a great aesthetic option for nearly any home, and decorative glass is great for curb appeal. Whether it's clear or frosted, glass lets in a lot of natural light and can make your entryway feel larger and more open. When choosing a glass front door, however, it is also important to consider the material of the door that surrounds the glass. Two of the most popular front door material options are wood and fiberglass, and while both are popular for a reason, you should carefully assess your needs before investing in either.
Wood and fiberglass front doors featuring glass each have some benefits and drawbacks that are important to understand. The material you choose will determine your door's energy efficiency, maintenance routine, longevity, cost, and more. The door material can also impact the overall look of your front door. Because fiberglass doors offer better energy efficiency, less maintenance, and more durability, which better protects your glass, they will likely be a better choice for many people. People who value having real wood can still get a functional door, but they will need to be more careful about keeping their door in good condition and may have to pay more for their dream door.
Is a wood and glass front door best for you?
If you know you want a front door with rich tones and woodgrain textures, then your first thought will probably be to get a door made from real wood. While other materials try to mimic the look of solid wood, alternative material options, including fiberglass, will look and feel slightly different. Solid wood front doors are often more flexible with design options, so you can choose a front door that perfectly matches what you want. This flexibility also means that custom wooden front doors can be adjusted and sized perfectly for the doorway, which is important for properly insulating your home.
This elegant look and endless customization comes with a high price tag, though. Wooden front doors can range in cost from $600 to over $4,000. If you want a thick, high-quality door with customizations, you will likely be on the higher end of that range. Plus, if you do not take adequate care of the door, the wood could rot or warp over time, which could potentially break the glass or create gaps if it occurs around the glass. You will also need to re-stain or paint the door every couple of years. This could mean hiring someone to update the door, or you could learn the best way to refinish a wooden door yourself and pay for the materials needed. Overall, glass front doors made with real wood are a good choice for someone who has a specific look in mind, a higher budget, and a willingness to keep up with maintenance.
Fiberglass and glass front doors are often a better choice
If you are willing to potentially compromise on your aesthetic vision, then a fiberglass door could a better choice for several reasons. First, fiberglass doors are often less expensive upfront than solid wood doors — they can range in price from $800 to $1,500. You might also save on energy costs compared with real wooden doors, as fiberglass doors are made with insulation that makes them significantly more energy efficient than wooden doors. Fiberglass front doors are also more durable and require less maintenance than wooden doors due to their materials. They are not susceptible to rotting or warping, and they are easy to keep clean with just soap and water. Without warping, the risk of your door's glass breaking or the seal being damaged is reduced.
Fiberglass front doors with glass are generally more lightweight, functional, and affordable than wooden front doors with glass, but they have downsides, too. They are mass-produced, which makes them harder to custom fit into your home. While there are many styles of fiberglass doors available, they are less customizable than wooden doors, and while they can be made to imitate the look of wood, they lack the uniqueness and solid feel of real wood doors.
If getting the perfect style and fit of front door is your top priority, then a wooden door may the best choice for you. For a balance between durability, cost, maintenance, and style, fiberglass doors are a better option. No matter which you choose, make sure you avoid the mistakes people make when choosing a front door.