Are fiberglass doors better than steel?

Fiberglass doors and steel doors are very similarly built when it comes to the guts of the door itself. Fiberglass and steel are typically used for the cladding or exterior finish of the door. That said, fiberglass doesn’t have the heat conductivity of steel, and so from an energy efficiency perspective, fiberglass would typically be the better choice.

How long do steel doors last?

Steel entry doors are typically fairly resilient doors and can last for decades (at least 15 years) with very low maintenance.

Can you cut a metal door?

As far as cutting a steel entry door for fitment, it isn’t recommended as these doors are pre-finished along the edges to allow for a smooth and tight fitment with the door frame. That said, where cutting a metal door is more common is to install glass inserts or drilling for handles or deadbolts.

In-Depth Product Guide

Steel Entry Door

FAQs

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Steel entry doors (also known as galvanized steel door) are strong and secure and are typically the most inexpensive option for exterior rated doors. They are typically also reinforced with steel, a material that has high heat conductivity. If you’re considering a steel entry door for your home, make sure the door uses other materials that work to ensure its efficiency, such as foam cores and wood.

Try to find out how well insulated the core of the door is. For comparison, a polyurethane foam core door with a painted steel surface is more commonly available.

Energy Star rated is typically an okay choice, but for doors, is really a minimum standard to look to. A well-insulated door is at least 2 inches thick and should have an R-value of around R11.

A steel entry door will also show signs of rust over the years if exposed to salt and the elements, so may require painting and may have to be replaced early, depending on maintenance and conditions.

Look for doors with multiple seals, gaskets, and latches; and generally, the thicker the door, the more insulated it can be. Limiting the amount of window space (or eliminating any window space completely) is generally a good idea as far as the efficiency of the door.

Affordable door, but often not well insulated, so not great at cutting heat loss. More suited to low-use areas and outbuildings. While some of these doors may achieve an Energy Star rating, achieving Passive House standards for a door is a preferred standard for energy efficiency.

The largest doors in the world are at the NASA Vehicle Assembly Building, in Florida, USA, where the space shuttles and the Apollo rockets were built. The four doors are each 465 feet tall so that the completed space vehicles can be moved out the doors in a vertical orientation.

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