8 Best Exterior Door Materials That Keep Your Home Safe

Keeping the home safe and secure is a priority for most people so that they can have peace of mind. Being on top of situations like break-ins or natural disasters, where you may need to take shelter inside, requires more than just planning and preparation. There are ways to amp up your home security without electronics. It could be time for you to consider choosing more specific exterior door materials to provide better front door security. Not every door is designed in a way that will effectively protect your home, but the right material can boost security, durability, curb appeal, and even your home's value. Some of the best exterior door materials to keep your home safe include solid wood, steel, aluminum, and fiberglass.

Your front door is the first line of defense in helping you feel safe and secure. You can pick a material, and then explore front door trends to elevate the look of your home. The one you choose should help in your home's protection and can be paired with other safety measures, such as reinforced frames, deadbolts, and strong hardware.

A traditional, high-end, and natural-looking exterior material for many front doors is wood. It's very heavy, which can make forced entry challenging. You may want to find rot-resistant types for your exterior, like pressure-treated pine, redwood, and white oak, and apply a quality seal. Generally, wood is a popular front door choice you may want to avoid if you want minimal maintenance. Wood is a timeless and eco-friendly material that comes in highly customizable forms, allowing you to create an aesthetically pleasing front door. It's also a good insulator when properly sealed.

Steel doors are among the best front door options for security due to their durability and affordability. The internal makeup is reinforced and galvanized for corrosion resistance. It's incredibly resistant to many common break-in tactics by intruders, making it a sound choice for your exterior. It's very hard to kick in a steel door, and many of them are paired with strong hinges and multi-point lock systems to provide even more safety for your home. Another benefit of a steel door is its weatherproof, insulating, and fire-resistant properties.

Fiberglass is a material that ranks high for resisting environmental damage, making it an excellent choice for exterior doors. Its structure ensures that it is more resistant to rotting, warping, dents, and rust. The quality or type of fiberglass door can vary, so you must look for models that have higher-quality foam cores for better insulation, which will help with your utility costs. Although a fiberglass door can be more expensive than steel for a front door, it also is one of the most secure, is easy to maintain, and lasts a long time.

Composite material is made from a combination of things like fiberglass, PVC, and wood that help create the look of wood with more reinforcement for top-notch security. Many composite exterior doors have reinforced cores (such as solid wood) to withstand impact and multi-point lock systems that help provide extra safety. They are highly resistant to break-ins. The outer material can be customized to your overall aesthetic, similar to wood, but is also resistant to damage from weather, and there's less need for upkeep for it to last.

Another option for your exterior door is aluminum, a lighter yet pricier way to combine modern design with functional performance. It promotes a sleek, contemporary look for newer homes. Aluminum can also be composed of reinforced frames with safety glass that can provide added security for peace of mind. The glass lets in more natural light, and the aluminum material is naturally more resistant to rust and other types of environmental damage, making it a solid choice for your exterior door.

If you're looking for something more durable and high-end, an iron door is an excellent option. Iron doors do need some upkeep to ensure that they stay rust-free but provide great protection against break-ins. Manufactured to be impact-absorbing, they can ensure you feel safe and, depending on their composition, offer good insulation to ease your energy usage. They can also be customized with a tailored finish or pattern that elevates your home's exterior. Pair your iron door with tempered glass panels for a beautiful upgrade and stellar security.

uPVC material, known as unplasticized polyvinyl chloride, is yet another option for your exterior door. They have a lot of versatility since you can paint them, allowing you to customize their look for your home. They are also very strong (in part due to sturdy metal reinforcements) and resistant to the environment and damage caused from attempted break-ins. The rigid resin resists rotting, corrosion, and wear and tear. The material is waterproof and doesn't crack or shatter, providing optimum home security.

Finally, if you care about your environmental impact when purchasing a new door but don't want to compromise on safety, an FRP (fiber reinforced plastic or fiber reinforced polymer) door may be the solution for your home's exterior. They are made from recycled materials to reduce their carbon footprint while remaining a top contender for strength. FRP doors resist weather and corrosion and are manufactured with fire-resistant materials for superior safety. They offer a strong, sustainable choice for your home's security.