Exterior Fiberglass Doors Buying Guide
Homeowners get more from a front door than it being the entry into and exit from the house. A front door is an essential part of the house because it offers security. It also gives the first impression of the home because the door is what people see first. As such, when choosing exterior fiberglass doors for your home, no stone should be left unturned.
You will find many types of front doors in the market, and they come in various materials. This makes it hard for homeowners to choose a door that suits the home well. Using a buying guide when shopping for front fiberglass doors can help you make the right decision and choose the right one for your home. Take a look at some tips to consider.
1. Where To Buy The Door
You can choose to buy your fiberglass entry doors in Canada at an online shop or from a local manufacturer. Before choosing the online store, do some research by looking at their website. You can read the client reviews to get an idea of the product the company offers as well as its dealing with the clients. If you buy from a local retailer, you can visit their shop first and see what they have. This will also give you more options for a front door.
2. Factors To Consider
Fiberglass doors are not only meant for decoration. The door should be sturdy enough to offer security and withstand harsh climatic conditions. Always consider these factors when shopping for a front door.
3. Energy Efficiency
You do not want to pay a high energy bill for the rest of your life, so you ought to choose a front door with good insulating values. This is made possible by the materials of the door you buy. Some like wood and fiberglass are good for insulation while buying a steel front door will make your house hot in summer and cold in winter.
4. Durability
The material used to make the door should be sturdy enough to ensure longevity. Your front door should serve you for about 30 to 50 years before wearing out and replacing again. Fiberglass entry doors Canada fit this description.
5. Installation
Once you have selected a suitable front door for your home, the next important thing to do is choose a good and qualified installer. Having your energy-efficient door poorly installed will make it not function as it should. Always ensure your installer has a license and insurance to avoid losses in case of accidents. You can only DIY if you have good carpentry skills and are experienced in installing doors.
6. Choose A Material
Many materials make entry doors, and they all have various characteristics, pros, and cons. When selecting, choose a material that will offer you what you need in a front door. If you don’t want to compromise on energy efficiency, fiberglass and wood are most suitable. Check out some of these material’s characteristics.
7. Fiberglass doors
It is a standard front door material for homeowners who want energy efficiency. Fiberglass doors are available on smooth surfaces, and the most significant advantage is that they can be stained with wood grain texture to resemble wood doors. Fiberglass offers low maintenance costs, but it is a little bit expensive to buy.
8. Steel
Steel doors are lightweight and very easy to install. You can actually DIY on these, reducing installation costs. Steel doors are also many in the market, making your selection of a style easier because they are also cheaper. However, these doors conduct heat quickly, and they are poor insulators, hence poor for energy efficiency.
9. Wood
Have you noticed that most homes have wooden front doors? These doors are most preferred because of their natural look that adds aesthetics to the home. Even fiberglass manufacturers stain their doors with wood grain finishing to mimic the look of wood, meaning many people fancy it.
Wood is very durable and resistant to harsh climatic conditions. Its downsides are that the door is prone to water, and when exposed, it absorbs moisture and starts to rot. These doors are also infested by insects, and when they feed on the wood, they leave the door weak, making your home vulnerable.