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Wood Doors Vs. Fiberglass Doors

Fiberglass Is Just As Stylish And Versatile As Wood, But It’s WAY More Practical

Telling the difference between a wood door from a fiberglass door may sound easy enough, but you’d be surprised at how many people get this wrong. Can you tell the difference?


Large Wooden Front Entry Door Fiberglass Front Door View From Walkway

Some homeowners have a specific mental image of what a door looks like and is made of based on what they remember growing up with. Others just see a wood-like door and assume it’s made of wood.

This makes sense though. For a long time, wood entry doors were the standard and the primary option available to homeowners.

They were warm.

They were inviting.

They had a classic elegance about them that everyone sought out.

(Hence why many people gravitate towards wood doors to try to capture that nostalgic feeling from long ago.)

Even when other door materials became available, it seemed that none of them could hold up to wood doors in terms of appearance and thermal performance. But then,1983,fiberglass doors were introduced (Thanks, Therma-Tru!) and made some big, bold promises.

Fiberglass Doors promised things like:

  • They look just like wood doors, you won’t be able to tell the difference!
  • Your maintenance and upkeep will all but disappear with Fiberglass doors
  • More or less money, Anyone can make claims – but do the claims hold up when put to the test?

Some 37 years later, Fiberglass Doors are still a very popular door material that homeowners choose. But, how do they compare to the classic Wood doors that so many people know and love?

Maintenance

One of the biggest differences between fiberglass and wood doors is the maintenance. Wood doors look beautiful when first installed, but without frequent finishing/wood doors can be stained or painted., they can suffer under the pressure of the elements. Wood doors can also be prone to swelling, rotting, and/or warping.. Over time, paint can also peel and crack. .

Fiberglass, however, is less permeable to water than wood and resists swelling, rotting, and warping. They also resist denting and damage from impact. Fiberglass doors will last 100 years or more, while a wood door will only last 20-30 years before it needs to be replaced.

Cost

We’ll start out by saying that while the cost of a new door is absolutely a factor when choosing a replacement door, it should not be the only factor. In fact, it’s more than a little risky to decide to go with a door strictly based on ‘the cheap factor’. Neither wood or fiberglass doors fall under the “cheap door” category, and will be more of an investment than some steel doors or vinyl doors.

Between the two, Fiberglass tends to be less expensive than a wood door. As we mentioned, it also has less of a maintenance cost over time. If you decide to go with a fiberglass door, there’s a good chance you’ll have that door for a lifetime.

Appearance

Appearance is generally where wood doors win out over most competing door materials. Even if a door is more energy efficient and durable, it’s just hard to beat the authentic elegance of wood. But fiberglass doors have come a long way. More than any other door material, some fiberglass doors can take on the exact appearance of wood doors, even fooling the homeowners who purchase them. And because they’re so much more durable and lower maintenance, fiberglass doors will retain that beautiful appearance for longer.

Now that you’ve seen the main considerations, fiberglass seems like a clear winner. It’s stronger, less expensive, lower maintenance, and it looks just as beautiful. Contact Today’s Entry Doors today for more information or to order your own fiberglass entry door.

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