The entry door to your home is one of the main things that creates the first impression to visitors, so you want it to look good. A solid wood door used to be the norm for homes, but now there are many different types of materials that you can choose from.

Many homeowners have replaced or are considering replacing the entry door to their home with a new one. If you’re in this situation, it’s important for you to understand the differences between the types of materials used in entry doors so you can purchase the right door for your home.

Wood

Wood has been the go-to material for entry doors for as long as people have been putting doors on homes. That said, you shouldn’t think wood doors are old-fashioned. They provide a timeless and beautiful look to a home that can be customized for your needs. They offer good thermal properties, too, meaning your home will hold in heat well and be comfortable on the inside.

The downside to a wood door is that it does require maintenance. A wood door is susceptible to the elements and can warp or crack over time. This can damage the door’s air-sealing qualities and make your home uncomfortable.

Wood-Clad

A wood-clad door is a door that has wood on the inside and some type of cladding on the outside. Wood-clad doors offer many of the benefits of a wood door but without the negative maintenance-related aspects. Wood-clad doors offer an essentially maintenance-free exterior and come in a wide variety of styles and sizes.

Fiberglass

Fiberglass doors are a great option if you’re looking for a door that is low maintenance for life. Some fiberglass doors come with a lifetime guarantee from the manufacturer. They also come in a variety of styles and can be stained to look like a wood. Unlike many other door types, you’ll find a lot of different glass designs and shapes for a very reasonable price in fiberglass doors.

Steel

Steel doors don’t offer a quite as aesthetically pleasing look as other door materials, but the door type comes with a few serious merits of its own. First and foremost is security. Steel doors are some of the most secure doors on the market. They also tend to be the most affordable doors, too. Unfortunately, they come up short when it comes to energy efficiency and looks. You can’t stain a steel like you can other materials. While a steel door can be a good choice it really depends on the home.

If you have any other door material questions or need to think about replacing an entry door on your home, contact Clevernest today! We’ll send a well-trained technician out to your home for a free consultation.