Skip to content 
Which is Better, Wood, Steel, or Fiberglass Entry Door?
There are many varieties of door materials, each differing in appearance, cost, and security. So which is better, wood, steel or fiberglass entry door? To choose the best entry door between wood, steel and fiberglass door, you must consider each material’s special properties and suitability for your home
Table of Contents
Wood, Steel, And Fiberglass Entry Doors: Which Is Better?
Fiberglass doors are better entry doors because of their appearance and durability. They are created from compression-molded fiberglass that gives the door durability without sacrificing flexibility and visual appeal. However, the best door also depends on your needs and choice for your home.
Here are tips to consider when determining between wood, steel, and fiberglass entry doors: which is better:
1: Appearance
Fiberglass doors have a wooden appearance, giving off a compromise between wood and steel doors. They come in different unique styles, finishing, and features that you paint to suit your preference or architectural style. Most fiberglass doors give off a rich, expensive vibe and always look beautiful for a front door.
Woods doors, on the other hand, are simple, traditional, and give off a natural appearance. It is also easy to customize.
Steel doors are the least adaptable in appearance. They have a smooth surface but low curb appeal compared to fiberglass and wood. Steel doors are also difficult to customize due to their hard material, but you can paint and repaint them as you wish.
2: Durability
You should always consider durability when you go for an entry door. Wooden doors are not very durable and are susceptible to weather, scratches, warping, and moisture. They last an average of 10-30 years, depending on maintenance and wood type. The wood door lifespan is fickle and too dependent on weather conditions and maintenance.
Steel doors, on the other hand, are more durable and sturdy. However, they are prone to damage in the long run. Steel doors corrode, rust, dent, and scratch and are difficult to repair. The great thing about them is that they last longer than wood doors, especially with proper maintenance. With proper maintenance, a steel door lasts at least 30 years.
Fiberglass doors are the best in durability. They make the best weather resistance doors and are not prone to the damages wood and steel suffer. These properties make them a long-lasting option for an entry door. Fiberglass doors are made with a composite exterior and a skin that resists heavy impact, moisture, rotting, and scratches. Its unique features mean fiberglass lasts up to 50 years and more.
3: Security
The security of entry doors greatly depends on the material used for the door. The wood door offers the least security between fiberglass and steel. They crack under pressure or impact and warp under weather tensions. Hardwoods have more resistance, but softwoods are the least secure.
Steel doors are more secure than wood doors because of their dense material. An intruder will have a very difficult time forcing a steel door open, but while steel doors are praised as secure, they are of different strength qualities. It is best for you to choose a high-strength 18+ steel gauge thickness for maximum strength.
Security and fiberglass doors are synonymous. Fiberglass doors have dense cores that make them the perfect choice for entry door security. When their thick fiberglass skin is merged with a rigid foam core, the door’s strength increases against forced entry. If security is at the top of your need in an entry door, then the fiberglass door is the best choice
Which Entry Door Requires The Least Maintenance?
The fiberglass door requires the least maintenance. They need a little touch-up, unlike wood which needs to be painted and repainted to prevent moisture from rotting. They do not scratch easily, unlike steel which is prone to dents and scratches upon impact, and finally, they are weather resistant.
The entry door that needs the most maintenance is the wooden door, requiring yearly repainting, sealing, and refinishing. The maintenance cost of a wooden door is around $200—$400. If not taken care of, you might have to replace the entire door soon enough.
Steel doors fall somewhere in the middle when it comes to maintenance. The much you worry about is rusting and scratches, which set in early if overexposed to moisture. Even with their clean and polished look, steel shows scratches more easily than any other material. So, you need to repaint more to maintain their sleek appearance, which costs somewhere below $100.
For fiberglass entry doors, you seldom have to worry about maintenance because they are less susceptible to scratches, dents, or fading. An added advantage of fiberglass entry doors is that, from a distance, they look like newly painted wood. But a closer look gives you more perspective. This makes them the most cost-effective choice for you.
Which Entry Door Provides The Best Security?
The fiberglass door provides the best security. After all, you won’t want a door that gives in at the slightest pressure. When comparing wood, fiberglass, and steel doors, the answer comes down to the quality of the material.
With wood entry doors, strength varies based on the type and grade of wood used. Softer woods are the most vulnerable, making them easier to crack under impact. Wood cut out from oak trees is the toughest wood for entry doors, offering better resistance against force.
Steel doors are naturally tough, making them one of the hardest options to force open. But not all steel doors are created equal— many big-box retailers sell thinner 24- to 26-gauge steel doors, which are not strong enough for front doors.
For tight security, you should look for steel doors with an 18-gauge or thicker build, as they provide significantly more strength.
Fiberglass doors, thanks to their solid core and thick outer body, offer the most impressive security. A high-density foam core adds structural reinforcement to the exterior, making it much harder to break through.
Some fiberglass doors have composite door frames which are another security boost—far more rigid and durable than traditional wood frames, helping to keep your door firmly in place.
Which Entry Door Is More Energy Efficient?
The fiberglass doors are more energy efficient, because of the dense layers of insulation foam within. So, if you live in areas with the worst climate conditions, it won’t even scratch the surface of fiberglass doors.
Wood doors have their pros. Naturally, they have a higher R-value than other materials, and this helps safeguard your home. While this is a decent option, it is best to go for a more reliable alternative because it rarely has an insulating wood core.
For steel entry doors, they fall short in terms of energy efficiency. This is because steels are conductors and rarely have a foam core. This means that they are prone to be affected by heat and cold weather conditions and are, therefore, low in energy efficiency.
Which Entry Door Is More Cost-effective?
The wooden door is the more cost-effective entry door. A wooden door ranges from $100 to $1,000, landing at a higher starting price than steel or fiberglass—especially when using high-quality wood. This is because wood doors require more craftsmanship to give their unique luxury appearance. Costs also fluctuate based on wood type and the size of the door.
Steel, on the other hand, is a more affordable option for you, starting at about $200 and can go up to $1,500 or more. While they generally require less maintenance than wood, exposure to harsh weather easily causes dents and rust, which are difficult to fix and might mean replacing the entire door.
For fiberglass doors, the price ranges from $200 to as much as $3,000. These are not absolute figures, so you need to confirm the current market price. Their durability and low maintenance make them a good investment for you in the long run, as you won’t have to spend so much on repairs.
Takeaway
The best entry door depends on your priorities. Wood doors have their beauty and aesthetics, while steel doors are a more secure and affordable option. Overall, nothing beats fiberglass doors, as they are the best fit for entry doors
