When shopping for a new entry door, one of the choices you’ll need to make is the material for the door. Below are 3 options you might want to consider.
Steel:
A steel entry door offers a significant security improvement over hollow or wooden-core doors, since it can’t be kicked in and is extremely hard to bend, even using tools. Using galvanized steel — steel coated in zinc oxide to prevent rust and corrosion, and make it resistant to scratching — manufacturers can create doors that are not only easy to customize and paint, but will last a lifetime.
Most of these doors are made using what’s known as 24-gauge steel, which refers to the thickness and weight of the metal; standard steel doors use a coating that’s 0.0250 inches thick and weighs 1.15 pounds per square foot.
Many steel-coated doors are also Energy Star-certified thanks to the high-density polyurethane foam they contain, which helps prevent heat transfer. It’s also possible to find doors that are steel-coated on their outside face but feature oak or hardwood moldings on the inside, providing a warm inner look while remaining secure outside.
While a steel door can be used as an interior option, they are often prohibitively expensive to place throughout your home. They are typically found on front or back entryways, since they’re not only tamper-resistant but can also support the weight of heavier door lock cylinders.
If you plan to replace an existing wood or hollow-core door with steel, consider hiring a professional installer. Measuring a door properly is only the first step in any installation. The jambs and door frames that support lighter, wooden doors may not be enough to support a metal door, and many steel doors come with more than one lock mechanism, requiring another hole in the jamb. Source: AngiesList
Fiberglass:
The main advantage to fiberglass doors is that they are durable. Fiberglass can with stand the extreme Arctic cold, desert heat, and the damaging ocean salt. Even when exposed to these extremes, they will not crack, split, warp or rot. Fiberglass is also dent and corrosion resistant, as well as being rustproof.
Fiberglass doors are also environmentally friendly. Every fiberglass door that is installed means one less wooden door that is manufactured. This greatly lessens the amount of trees that are cut down for the manufacturing of wood doors. The fact that a fiberglass door lasts longer also means less doors are manufactured.
Saving on energy costs is another advantage to installing fiberglass doors. A fiberglass door is filled with polyurethane foam, which offers five times more energy efficiency than wooden doors can provide. The framed glass entrance doors have either a double, or triple pane, to help cut on cooling and heating costs. Source: WiseGeek
Wood:
Wood is one of the more common choices for a front door. Despite the faux substitutes, nothing can beat the real deal for many homeowners. Modern wood door models are often sandwiches of wood veneer skins over a wood core. This construction tends to minimize the chance of warping, and also lowers cost. When shopping for pre-finished wood doors, look for durable stains and high-gloss finishes, since these will best protect wood. If you’ve decided to apply the finish or stain on your own, make sure to put the finish on the top and bottom edges of the door as well to help prevent it from absorbing moisture. Source: Houzz
There are very few differences in quality when comparing different door materials. We hope this helps you decide what to buy. For more information, please contact us.
Contact:
Mr. Locksmith Calgary
555 Maidstone Drive NE
Calgary, Alberta T2A 4B6
Canada
Phone: (403) 800-9185
Speak Your Mind