Q: What are the pros and cons of wooden exterior doors?

Pros of wooden exterior doors: Aesthetics — With a variety of species, grains, and finishes available, wooden entry doors are among the most beautiful on the market. Ease of customization — Wood can be cut, stained, and/or painted to your liking. Insulation — When properly maintained, solid wood or engineered wood core entry doors offer an excellent buffer against noise and weather. Cons of wooden exterior doors Maintenance — Wooden entry doors need to be sealed at the time of installation and resealed every couple of years afterward. Paint or stain will need to be reapplied every few years as well as a result of natural wear. Cost — The curb appeal of a premium wood entry door may be worth the expense, but it is an expense nonetheless.

Q: What are the pros and cons of fiberglass exterior doors?

Pros of fiberglass exterior doors: Versatility — Fiberglass entry doors can convincingly mimic a wide array of materials and therefore blend with any exterior architectural style. Durability — Impervious to rotting, warping, or rusting; no additional sealing or finishing is required. Energy efficiency — Reduces heat transfer to keep entryway cooler in the summer and warmer in the winter. Cons of fiberglass exterior doors: Sizing — Fiberglass entry doors cannot be easily cut to fit like wooden doors. Cost — Higher-tier fiberglass entry doors can approach the price of some wooden doors. Ease of installation — Fiberglass entry doors arrive pre-assembled as a single unit, including the frame, requiring professional installation.

Q: What are the pros and cons of steel exterior doors?

Pros of steel exterior doors: Value — Steel entry doors offer a great combo of good looks and solid performance at a reasonable cost. Security — The steel shells of these entry doors come in thicknesses ranging from 20 to 26 gauge for added resilience. Weather-resistance — Wind, rain, and snow pose little threat to steel entry doors. Cons of steel exterior doors: Repairability — Steel entry doors are difficult and costly to repair if scratched, dented, or bent. Conductivity — Steel entry doors are more susceptible to heating up or getting cold, making it more difficult to regulate the temperature of your entryway. Updatability — It's difficult (and unless it's a primed steel door, impossible) to update the look of a steel entry door by painting or staining, which could pose a problem if making other cosmetic alterations to your exterior.

Question 1

What are the pros and cons of wooden exterior doors?

Accepted Answer

Pros of wooden exterior doors:

Aesthetics &mdash; With a variety of species, grains, and finishes available, wooden entry doors are among the most beautiful on the market.
Ease of customization &mdash; Wood can be cut, stained, and/or painted to your liking.
Insulation &mdash; When properly maintained, solid wood or engineered wood core entry doors offer an excellent buffer against noise and weather.

Cons of wooden exterior doors

Maintenance &mdash; Wooden entry doors need to be sealed at the time of installation and resealed every couple of years afterward. Paint or stain will need to be reapplied every few years as well as a result of natural wear.
Cost &mdash; The curb appeal of a premium wood entry door may be worth the expense, but it is an expense nonetheless.

Question 2

What are the pros and cons of fiberglass exterior doors?

Accepted Answer

Pros of fiberglass exterior doors:

Versatility &mdash; Fiberglass entry doors can convincingly mimic a wide array of materials and therefore blend with any exterior architectural style. 
Durability &mdash; Impervious to rotting, warping, or rusting; no additional sealing or finishing is required.
Energy efficiency &mdash; Reduces heat transfer to keep entryway cooler in the summer and warmer in the winter. 


Cons of fiberglass exterior doors:

Sizing &mdash; Fiberglass entry doors cannot be easily cut to fit like wooden doors.
Cost &mdash; Higher-tier fiberglass entry doors can approach the price of some wooden doors.
Ease of installation &mdash; Fiberglass entry doors arrive pre-assembled as a single unit, including the frame, requiring professional installation.

Question 3

What are the pros and cons of steel exterior doors?

Accepted Answer

Pros of steel exterior doors:

Value &mdash; Steel entry doors offer a great combo of good looks and solid performance at a reasonable cost. 
Security &mdash; The steel shells of these entry doors come in thicknesses ranging from 20 to 26 gauge for added resilience. 
Weather-resistance &mdash; Wind, rain, and snow pose little threat to steel entry doors. 

Cons of steel exterior doors:

Repairability &mdash; Steel entry doors are difficult and costly to repair if scratched, dented, or bent.
Conductivity &mdash; Steel entry doors are more susceptible to heating up or getting cold, making it more difficult to regulate the temperature of your entryway. 
Updatability &mdash; It's difficult (and unless it's a primed steel door, impossible) to update the look of a steel entry door by painting or staining, which could pose a problem if making  other cosmetic alterations to your exterior.

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