Doors are the gateway, the essential transition from room to room, and the main passageway to your home. Fortunately for homeowners, there are options to choose from, like styles and designs. And then there’s the material, fiberglass doors, wood doors, and metal doors. In this post, I’d like to discuss the advantages and disadvantages of installing a fiberglass door. Like anything else, there are always two sides to a choice, and before you make one, it’s best to get a good handle of the product in its entirety. Let’s get started.

The Pros of Fiberglass Doors

Durability: Choosing fiberglass as a door material is beneficial in a number of ways, the best being that it is extremely stable. Capable of resisting through harsh, persistent weather, dents, scratches, and impervious to rust and rot, elements that can and will completely destroy wood and steel. This elemental and weatherproof resistance just adds to the longevity of the door, making it much more valuable.

Versatility: Another advantage of fiberglass doors is the ability to make it your own. Now, if you’re like me, you tend to grow tiresome of the same look, same color. With a fiberglass door, a fresh look can be as simple as applying a couple coats of paint. The material is such that you can stain or paint it to the color of your choice.

Insulation/Energy Efficiency: According to the Department of Energy, fiberglass doors have higher R-values than other doors, meaning they act as an excellent insulator, keeping your house cooler in the summer and warmer in the winter. In a time where energy costs are literally through the roof, using energy efficiently like this makes a huge difference to the environment AND those pesky household utility bills.

Security: Since the material is all but unbreakable, deterioration isn’t possible. Additionally, when this door is installed and fastened, the screw-holding power is amplified. In other wise, if a tornado were to come through *knocks on wood* don’t be surprised if your entry door still stands. Also, most of these doors are paired with highly secure locking mechanisms. No thievery allowed.

The Cons of Fiberglass Doors

Price: No question, this is the biggest drawback. Compared to other types of doors, this is generally the priciest, but you do get what you pay for. The above qualities create value for a door, so if you want something durable, fashionable, and crazy secure, this is the option for you. Overall, it will pay for itself, given its insulation properties and energy-efficient ways. Just throwing some facts out there.

Fitting/Standard Size: If you have an older home then it could be difficult to find one of these doors to fit the gap. Because it’s not logical, profit wise, for manufacturers to make these doors in odd sizes, they simply come in their standard size.

Still-Life: A wooden door ages, right, so down the road the appearance takes on the “distressed” look, which is a style that many have fell in love with. You’ll get no aging when it comes to fiberglass. It is, essentially, a still-life. The Dorian Gray of doors, if you will. Depending on the way you look at it, this can be a plus or a minus. All a matter of perspective.
 

Builders Surplus is a full service renovation company with locations in Louisville, Kentucky, and Newport, Kentucky, which also serves Cincinnati, Ohio. We are the leading provider of Ledge Stone, wall tile and backsplash tile in Louisville, Newport, and Cincinnati. We specialize in interior design, kitchen design, bathroom remodel, building materials, and home improvement. Interior Design and measurements come as a free service to our clients. We sell building materials ranging in every price point, from unfinished kitchen cabinets to top of the line Wellborn cabinets. In addition to interior design, we also offer installation services. If you have any questions or would like to set up a free design consultation with one of our interior designers, we would encourage you to do so. We love sharing our knowledge with clients & potential home renovators. We write about interior design, home decor, decorating ideas, and home improvement. We hope you’ll check back in for our next article! Happy Renovation!
Written By: Chris Chamberlain