Which Are Better for Your Home: Fiberglass vs Wood Doors
Are you looking for replacement exterior doors? If so, then you maybe asking yourself, “fiberglass vs wood doors?” Which door is more energy efficient, durable, strong, low maintenance and affordable? We’re here to help you answer those questions.
Both door materials have their benefits but it’s a much easier decision to make than you think. We’ll help you determine which door material is better for your Chicago home – fiberglass or wood.
Durability – Which Will Last Longer?
The last thing you want is for your replacement door to last a few years. You should be able to get decades out of your doors. A great replacement door will stand the test of time.
Fiberglass doors are built to deal with Chicago’s weather. They won’t warp, rot or expand when exposed to moisture and the elements won’t damage the door. Dents and dings are almost non-existent with a fiberglass door.
Wood doors, on the other hand, will struggle immensely with the weather. If you don’t have a storm door protecting your wood door, you’re bound to have warping and rotting problems.
Maintenance – Which is Easier to Keep Looking Beautiful?
You can make a great first impression with your entry door. But, if your door isn’t well maintained, the first impression you make will be anything but great. It’s important to get a door made from a material that’s easy to maintain.
Wood is far from low maintenance. Every few years you’ll need to paint and stain your door in order for it to remain beautiful. Plus, with the aforementioned warping and rotting, you’ll be spending a lot of time and money caring for your wood door.
A fiberglass door is the exact opposite. You already know it doesn’t warp and rot and it’ll never need to be painted or stained. It’s an extremely low maintenance door option for Chicago homeowners.
Energy Efficient – Which Will Keep Your Home Comfortable Year Round?
Energy efficiency is an extremely important feature of your entry door. It keeps your home comfortable no matter the weather and you’ll save money on your heating and cooling bills. Anything that’ll save you money is something you need to consider.
Both wood and fiberglass doors are energy efficient, but since we have to pick one that’s better, we’d have to say fiberglass. You may be wondering why we picked fiberglass over wood if we just said that both were energy efficient.
The reason is because fiberglass doors have a foam core which makes it difficult for heat or cooled air to pass through. You’ll also keep the outside temperatures out. This reduces the amount of stress your furnace and air conditioner face which will save you money on your energy bills.
Customizable – Which Gives You More Options?
You know that your front door is a great way to make a first impression. Its style will say a lot about you. You should be able to customize your dream door for your home but not all materials have the same customization features.
Without a doubt, wood doors are extremely beautiful but you really don’t have too many customization options. Aside from a few finishes and decorative glass, there isn’t much else that can be done.
On the other hand, fiberglass doors have many different ways you can customize your door with many more hardware, decorative glass style and color options – there are even wood grain finishes. So if you like the look of wood but want the features of fiberglass, this is your best option. Your fiberglass door will look just as beautiful as a wood door – no one will be able to tell the difference.
Strength – Which is Stronger?
One of the most important jobs of your exterior door is to keep unwanted people and animals out of your home. That’s why you want a strong door to make it more difficult for intruders. Much like energy efficiency, both wood and fiberglass doors are strong.
A wood door is heavy making it difficult to move. Because of this, it’s hard to break down or knock in. The last thing an intruder wants is to cause a commotion and get caught trying to break into your home. A wood door might deter them.
While a fiberglass door isn’t as thick and heavy as a wood door, it’s just as strong. It has hardwood stiles and rails to give your door great structural integrity. Plus, the foam filled insulation improves the strength as well.
In the end, we have to call this category a draw. Both door materials have the ability to make your home a safer place along with a good door lock.
Cost – Which Door is More Affordable?
One of the first things you were probably wondering about when you saw “fiberglass vs wood doors” is which is more affordable. So without further adieu, the moment you’ve all been waiting for – what door material costs less?
It isn’t even a contest – a fiberglass door is the more affordable option. You can get many of the same or better features of a wood door at half the cost with fiberglass. You can even get the same beautiful wood-look with a fiberglass door.
Not only is the upfront cost less with a fiberglass door, but you’ll save more money overtime. With its greater energy efficiency, you’ll lower your energy bills. Plus, you’re wallet will get fatter just by saving money on all of the maintenance costs.
We Have the Results of Fiberglass vs Wood Doors
With a score of 5-0 (and one tie), our winner of fiberglass vs wood doors is fiberglass. It should go without saying that it’s a great door material for Chicago homeowners. It’s beautiful, energy efficient, strong, durable and more affordable than wood doors.
If you’re interested in replacing your old, worn out door with a new fiberglass door, get a free quote now or call 866-4FELDCO. We’ve served the Chicagoland area for the last 40 years and our product specialists will find the perfect door for your home.
