Fiberglass Doors

[soFlaNative]

Our entry door took a beating during Irma and Mrs. N is thinking fiberglass.
The door slab is only 40 lbs. (I'm told), I don't know enough about them to make an informed decision and I doubt I'll be allowed 30 seconds with a 10 lb. hammer and #3 shot.
Sales hole claims it won't split, crack or rot.
I asked about warp and received a goofy look.
I think I'd prefer steel but the vendor I prefer has no "pretty" doors.


What say ye experts of the egress, docents of the doorways?

 

[Tom S.]

Shamelessly copied from another site:

Fiberglass

Fiberglass is as strong as steel and can be as attractive as wood and has better insulation than both. A fiberglass door is slightly more costly, but they are becoming more popular because they are the easiest to maintain. They are ideal for any type of climate condition since they don’t expand or contract in response to changing weather. This material offers the most design versatility since it can be painted to match outside exterior trims or include customized finishes, which can make the door look like other materials such as wood. Fiberglass doors are durable, energy efficient and low maintenance. Many people think steel doors are more secure but fiberglass doors can have interior steel frames that provide the same support. They are compatible with most locking systems on the market.

I too, prefer steel, but as pointed out above, a fiberglass door with a steel inserted frame would give you the best of both worlds.

 

[BigDog48]

We have one and love it. It is much easier to maintain than our previous steel door was and stays warmer in the winter and cooler in the summer. It also has nothing to rot or rust.

 

[BAM-BAM]

We have one and love it. It is much easier to maintain than our previous steel door was and stays warmer in the winter and cooler in the summer. It also has nothing to rot or rust.

Ditto...... we replaced our steel door about 10 years ago. Ours has the window side panels so it's not bullet proof...................

Security is in anchoring the hinges (long screws) and the length of the bolt(s)

 

[Leslie Sapp]

I went to fiberglass on all exterior doors several years back. I'm finishing up two houses on the coast at Steinhatchee, Fl right now that have double french doors with impact resistant glass. The area they are in requires engineering for a potential 130 mph wind.
I've had zero problems with the fiberglass doors.

Leslie Sapp
Florida State Certified General Contractor
License Number CGC1516220

 

[SweetMK]

So, what is a reasonable price to pay to replace a 36" steel door with a fiberglass door?

An installer was doing the windows on the home next door, I invited him over to quote the doors.

He took a couple measurements, and emailed me,,
they want $3K to $5K per door,,

I still have my steel doors,,, that is crazy,, I figure he was charging over $250 per hour labor.



I do not mind helping the economy,, but at that price,,
I will install them myself,,,

 

[kwselke]

Hurricane Ike did in my old wooden front door and I replaced it with fiberglass. What sold me over steel was a dent in a steel door on the display at Home Depot. I've been very pleased with fiberglass.

 

[JH1951]

I've got six exterior doors that were installed 10 ~ 12 years ago. Five are fiberglass, one is steel. Two of the fiberglass could stand to be repainted, but it is not pressing enough to motivate my lazy rear end to do it. The steel door is rusting at the bottom, and will need replaced. I guess I could install a pair of kick plates, but that will only prolong the inevitable. Rust never sleeps.
Perhaps this first hand experience will be of value when making your decision.

 

[kwselke]

So, what is a reasonable price to pay to replace a 36" steel door with a fiberglass door?

An installer was doing the windows on the home next door, I invited him over to quote the doors.

He took a couple measurements, and emailed me,,
they want $3K to $5K per door,,

I still have my steel doors,,, that is crazy,, I figure he was charging over $250 per hour labor.



I do not mind helping the economy,, but at that price,,
I will install them myself,,,

Eight or so years ago I bought the pre-hung door, some trim, and a can of spray in insulation for around $400 at Home Depot. The old door was painted white. The new door was paintable, but came white so did not need painting. I reused the old lock set, mail slot, door knocker, and street numbering. I paid a carpenter $350 for the removal of the old door and installation of the new one. I knew the carpenter, but as I recall Home Depot had contractors they would refer the work to at a set rate, which was about $400.

 

[nachogrande]

ONLY AS STRONG AS THE FRAME.

FG may be easy maintenance & look nice, BUT unless you are gonna beef up the frame it is attatched to I don't see it worth the $. 2 - 36" steel front doors here set into typical FL (build it cheap as possible) wood frames. I think I'm gonna go with an exterior vinyl/FG shutter. My bigger worry is the garage door.

 

[Nevada Ed]

Steel doors are cheaper but also dent and rust.

Fiberglass cost more and come primed which are the lowest in price around $300 and then there are the painted stained doors
in the middle price group and finally the stained with glass inserts
that can start at 700 and get up to $1,500.

Mine needed a pet door........ so more $$$$$.

 

[Kanewpadle]

My steel front door is over thirty years old. It has not rusted and is certainly stronger than fiberglass. YMMV

 

[Drm50]

There are to many price ranges to argue over material of doors.
The one thing I will say is there should be no difference in the
cost of labor on pre hung doors reguardless of door material. The
job itself can differ in price depending on if door will be installed
in frame construction or masonry / brick. Will door be same size
as the one to be replaced. The amount of work to retrim the door
inside and out. Many factors that most people don't take into
consideration. When some prices are quoted it is to remove old
door and hang new, Trim is extra.

 

[Farmer17]

I have owned a small construction company for over 20 years and built many houses. I use fiberglass doors quite often and they hold up fine to the sun and weather and they are stainable so they look like wood if properly stained. Steel doors may sound a lot more secure but if you buy a door at Home Depot or a lumber yard the metal is typically paper thin and a crook with a 3 foot crowbar can break one open in seconds. They do have steel doors for safe rooms that we use quite often and if they were used as exterior home doors they would stop most any storm or crook. They cost about $1200 and are REALLY heavy, takes about 3 men to pick one up.

 

[Leslie Sapp]

The price he quoted you may have been for a prefinished door. They come stained and varnished to look like wood and are very pricey.
A primed door with no glass should be in the 250-300 range and ones with a decorative glass insert in the 500-1000 range, before labor.
Labor rates vary widely across the country, so it's difficult for me to give you any guidance there.

 

[soFlaNative]

Thanks for the replies.
I'll be checking for internal steel frame and the millwork material.

 

[Dennis The B]

We had a wooden laminate entry door for years, painted and maintained it, but it just finally wore out.

We went to Home Depot and ordered a steel-reinforced fiberglass door painted to our specs. We got a craftsman style 6-light style, and we are very happy. It's been up for around 5 years, and it remains tight and well-sealed. We also had a new storm panel installed and now the front entry is very well insulated.

 

[islamoradamark]

I like the fiberglass got three at my house down here. Been on home 21 years only repainted once that's cause my other half told me to.