Comparing Replacement Exterior Doors In The Denver, CO Area

What Is The Best Entry-Door Material For Your Home?

Let’s Explore Your Options, So You Can Make The Right Decision.

Finding the right replacement entry door in Denver is easier said than done. When exploring your options, you’ll have to ask yourself a number of tough questions, including…

• “Which material should I choose? Steel? Wood? Fiberglass?”
• “How do I know if this entry door is energy efficient?”
• How do I know if this entry door is secure enough to protect my family?
• “Will this entry door honestly look good on my home?”
• “How do I find a company I KNOW will do the installation right?”

Fortunately, our Denver Homeowners Guide To Entry Doors can help you answer these questions. By exploring the guide below, you’ll arm yourself with knowledge you need to make the best decision for your home, family, and budget.

Let’s Start With The Basics…

Before we explore the different types of entry door materials, let’s first define what features you should look for in a quality door:

Finish: You should be able to have the options of what colors you want the exterior and interior of the door, frames and sidelites to be.

Insulation: This is applicable to steel and fiberglass doors. Polyurethane is the best way to go for durability and it has twice the R-Value of Expanded Poly-Styrene.

Security: A security plate built into your door jamb and frame with its characteristic for withstanding 450 pounds for force.

Bottom of Door Components: The bottom of the door should be made of a composite material to inhibit 8 Homeowner’s guide to ENTRY DOORS moisture. The sweep should consist of a compression bulb seal/ fin combination. A compression bulb with three fins is the most effective system to provide maximum protection from moisture and air infiltration. The sill needs to be made of a composite to avoid rot and insects and should be self-adjusting.

Other Considerations…

• If a doorlite or sidelite is an option, Thermal Compression Molding (TCM) or Better Than Styrene (BTS) is the best means for mounting the glass. These products will allow a decent finish, and will not yellow or melt.
• Inform your contractor if you will be installing a storm door, so that compatible components are ordered with the entry door.
• Fire doors are available. They rate from 20 minutes to 90 minutes. Steel doors will provide the best rating in this category.
• The moderately to higher end doors should carry a lifetime limited warranty. Ask to see the warranty before you purchase. A reputable dealer should not have an issue with this request.

Below, we’ll take a look at the different entry door materials from which you can choose.

STEEL DOORS

Steel is one of the strongest and most secure entry door materials when coupled with the right framing materials.  Quality steel doors are coated in galvanized (protective zinc coating to prevent rusting) epoxy to prevent rust, and have a baked enamel finish that allows you to paint it whatever color you choose.

Since metal conducts energy, quality steel entry doors come with an insulated energy efficient core. This ensures the door is energy efficient to keep your home comfortable and energy bills lowers.

Steel entry doors can last you a lifetime with little maintenance. But while steel entry doors will not rot or warp like wood doors, they are susceptible to chipped paint, denting, and scratching. Unrepaired scratches can eventually lead to rust. This is why we recommend a storm door to complement any steel entry door. Steel doors also don’t resist weather, wear, and tear as well as wood and fiberglass entry doors. That said, if you want strength, security, and longevity for a great price, a steel entry door is a fantastic choice.

Bottom Line: Steel doors are a great option as long as you are buying a quality door and having it professionally installed.

WOOD DOORS

The market for wood doors is mainly a consideration for looks. Unlike metal, scratches can be sanded out and re-varnished. Besides being very expensive, wood doors require a great deal of upkeep. Many manufacturers recommend resealing the wood doors once a year. Wood doors commonly crack and warp. They are not as energy efficient as steel and fiberglass, since wood has poor insulating qualities. Wood expands and contracts. Eventually gaps open up and air and moisture infiltrate into the home.

Bottom Line: Wood doors are beautiful, but expensive and require a great deal of maintenance.

FIBERGLASS DOORS

When homeowners want an entry door that has the beautiful look of wood—without high wood-related costs and upkeep—they choose fiberglass.

Fiberglass entry doors are manufactured of composite materials that are clad in a fiberglass panel. They can be made with a grain pattern to accurately reproduce the look of wood, or can be manufactured with a smooth finish.

A big benefit of fiberglass entry doors is energy efficiency. Fiberglass entry doors contain state-of-the-art insulation within their cores. This helps you cut your energy costs while keeping your home a comfortable temperature year round.

Fiberglass doors can dent and scratch just like wood and steel; however, fiberglass cannot warp or rot like wood can. In terms of price, fiberglass tends to be more expensive than steel but less expensive than wood.

If you want a beautiful, energy efficient entry door than can reproduce the look of wood—without the wood-related maintenance—fiberglass is the material for you.

 Bottom Line: Fiberglass doors are a great value and come in a variety of price ranges (so there is something for almost everyone). There is little upkeep and the more expensive ones are just as attractive as the wood ones with more durability and less maintenance.

Need Help? Get In Touch…

If you need help choosing the best replacement exterior doors in Denver, contact us today. We would be honored to discuss your project and provide our professional expertise to guide you to the perfect doors for your home and budget.