We are going to get a new front door for the house but are not sure between the steel or fiberglass. We plan on staying in the house for many years. The door does not get direct sun and will have a glass screen door if those are factors.

Any opinions on which material is best.

We just put a 3/4 glass with 3/4 sidelights fiberglass front door on our house. We're extremely happy. It's extremely energy efficient, and much less heavy than steel.



I figured if someone wanted in, they'd destroy the door or a different window anyway.

I'm a huge fan of the new fiberglass doors and Therma-Tru seems to make a killer product. YMMV.

I'll see if I can find the pics on my phone a moment.

Security or looks?

If the door you intend to install has glass in it, then I don't think the door material matters as both are compromised by the glass.

Fiberglass, all day, every day. Steel rusts.

I have two steel doors that need to be replaced as the bottom of the doors are rusting out. Just need to come up with the funds.

Steel been on my home over forty years ,I replaced the wood one the builder used.Builders were prettier but those kick out panels cost some neighbors some of their valuables.
No rust so far.

quote:

Originally posted by PHPaul:
Fiberglass, all day, every day. Steel rusts.

I have two steel doors that need to be replaced as the bottom of the doors are rusting out. Just need to come up with the funds.

This!
As long as its not subject to direct sunlight. If you want you should be able to stain it as well..

quote:

Originally posted by ZSMICHAEL:
Security or looks?

Looks. There is a giant sliding glass door in the rear if someone wants in.


The door has side lights on both sides.

Fiberglass. If security is important to you. Get a Dade County approved impact door in fiberglass. They are extremely strong and even if you pull the hinge pins, they won't come off of the hinges. I think I paid $600 for my 6 panel fiberglass one (with jam) including installation a few years back.

Friends don't let friends install steel doors.

Fiberglass, almost no maintenance.

Good luck on finding a steel door that isn't dented.

Home Depot only carries the dented kind.

I replaced a steel with fiberglas. Rust wasn't the problem, the wood frame at the bottom, between the steel skins was rotten.

We have had a fiberglass front door for over 10 years. The glue is oozing out from the glass but that is from being in direct sunlight. That just started last year. I am going to replace it with another fiberglass door this year. I have no complaints about it at all.

My front steel door is 30 years old and fine.

The company that sold it to me told me it was primed and if I didn't paint it it would rust quickly. I put on two coats of paint and freshen it up once in a while and it has never rusted.

I am on 12 years on a fiberglass door and it is fine.

I would go by looks and R value.

Neither is made to keep out a thief.

Fiberglass. Should have insulation inside. Won't transfer cold like metal.

We love our fiberglass door.