Choosing Fiberglass Entry Doors For Your Home Improvement Project

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For several years, homeowners and contractors had only one option when selecting an entry door - wood. Steel was the next available option. Today, fiberglass entry doors are quickly commanding the market.

A little more than twenty five years ago, fiberglass door first became available. They use the same technology that is used in the initial construction of steel doors, while providing a viable option for an easily maintained product that can be made to look like wood. The very first fiberglass doors were neutral in color, and could be painted or stained to appear as though they were a wood door. There are many options to choose from today.

It was easy to tell a fiberglass door from a real wooden door when the doors were new on the market, especially when standing close to the door. From a distance, it was much more difficult. The doors have what is called edge banding, meaning the fiberglass skin wraps around and into the wooden stiles to keep the skin in place and prevent delamination. The process has become even more refined, and high end doors look just like a wood door. There are also heavier products in the internal construction making the doors weigh as much as a wood door.

There are basically two types of fiberglass doors, smooth and textured. Smooth fiberglass is primarily used as a paint grade product. Textured fiberglass doors are then broken down in to two categories as well, high end and standard. With high end fiberglass products, the doors are available with different wood grains on the fiberglass skins, such as mahogany or fir, as opposed to the traditional heavy grain of oak, which is most commonly found on the mid range, standard textured products.

There are barriers that buyers face when choosing a fiberglass door that are not normally met with wooden entry doors. Almost all fiberglass manufacturers make only standard skins. If a buyer wants a custom layout, it is next to impossible, and definitely cost prohibitive.

It can also be difficult to choose the glass for a fiberglass entry door. If the buyer finds a door design they like, they are often limited to the glass options that come with that door. Likewise, if there is a glass that is preferred, the buyer has to choose a door that comes with that glass. There are times when luck plays a role and the door they love comes with the glass they love.

Fiberglass doors are an excellent alternative to the traditional wooden entry door for homes with little or no overhang, or that face directly south or west. These doors do not rust, warp, dent, or require a lot of maintenance. With the technology available to manufacture doors that look like wood, fiberglass entry doors are quickly becoming popular in the door industry.

About the Author:
Looking to invest in the best fiberglass entry doors on the market? Get the super inside skinny on fabulous doors now in our fiberglass entry doors Lakewood guide.



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