At Beingessner Home Exteriors we offer both steel and fiberglass insulated entry doors and we often get questions about the differences between the two. There are pros to both door types, and at the end of the day, no matter which door you choose, you’re going to end up with a high-quality renovation grade product.
To get started, let’s first break down the core features of each door slab:
Steel Door Slab Features:
- Premium 24-gauge galvanized steel slab that is factory pre-finished to resist rusting
- HCFC free polyurethane foam insulation
- Slab stiles made from finger jointed, pressure treated, pre-finished wood with no knots featuring a lock block that is 16”
Fiberglass (MasterGrain) Door Slab Features:
- Fiberglass skins with a minimum thickness of .09”
- Wood-grain or smooth finished looks can be achieved with fiberglass skins
- Crisp, detailed embossments
- HCFC free polyurethane foam insulation
- 4.125” stiles run down the sides of the doors, supported by 3.5” of laminated strand lumber
- Do not rust or dent
Both steel and fiberglass systems offer frames and components that will match or complement the finish of the door.
The main feature a fiberglass door can offer that a steel door cannot, is a ‘wood-like’ appearance. Fiberglass doors are often mistaken for wooden doors, but they are much more energy efficient and require a lot less maintenance than wooden doors.
Another significant difference between steel and fiberglass doors is that steel doors are more prone to denting. If kicked, or hit with an object, a steel door will dent whereas a fiberglass door will not.
It might seem like fiberglass doors have more advantages, but renovation grade steel doors still offer a stunning addition to your home and will last you a long time if taken care of (see our post on how take care of your products and keep them looking new for years to come). Most of the door systems we sell at Beingessner’s are steel insulated systems, however we are seeing an upward trend of interest in fiberglass doors.
When it comes to insulation values, steel and fiberglass doors are very comparable (both with approximately 7 times more insulation value than a wooden door).
A final consideration that should be thought of is the type of look you want to achieve with your entrance. You may only be able to achieve a certain look with steel or with fiberglass – not always both. In that case, it’s easy to decide which way to go.
While fiberglass doors were typically more expensive, fiberglass door manufacturers are now coming in with more competitive pricing to narrow the gap. If you were interested in fiberglass doors before, now is the time to get a quote.
If you’re in the market for a new steel or fiberglass entrance system, we’d love the chance to get to work with you!
