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Re: Secure entry door recommendations

From: info@builderswebsource.com
Category: Windows and Doors
Date: 11 Jul 2000
Time: 21:05:55
Remote Name: 63.198.181.43

Comments

If you're looking for an entry door that's secure, low maintenance, and with high r-value, avoid wood and take a closer look at the latest steel and fiberglass clad doors. There are important differences between the latter two, so here's a quick primer:

Steel doors do not warp, split, or rot like wood can. Their interior cores are typically made from polyurethane foam insulation, which provides higher r-value compared to wood. However, if your door or transom has a large glass component, the effective r-value may be reduced to the point that the insulation improvement over wood is neglible. Steel doors can be dented, however, leaving an unsightly exterior blemish. Dents can be caused from careless furniture movers or kids banging the doors with their toys. If the steel door has a smooth surface, which many do, then the dent may be patched -- like a car -- primed, and repainted, although it may be difficult to restore the original appearance exactly. In addition, steel doors generally carry a 20-minute or greater fire rating and can also be used between a house and a garage. Generally, most steel panel doors should be painted with latex only paints in light colors. Some manufacturers void the warranty on steel doors when painted with dark colors which can absorb heat when exposed to direct sunlight. Generally, the better steel doors carry warranties in the 5-10 year range.

A newer material finding its way into modern windows and doors is fiberglass. Fiberglass is extremely durable and has certain advantages over steel. First, it is stainable, giving the look of real wood grain. It is also paintable using either latex or alkyd (oil) paints. Second, fiberglass will not dent like steel and it is both strong and lightweight. Another advantage of fiberglass is that its expansion coefficient is virtually the same as glass itself. This helps to prevent premature failure of the seal between the door and any decorative glass area due to thermal expansion and contraction. Like the steel door, the fiberglass door has a foam insulating core that provides a good r-value.

Depending on the manufacturer, both steel and fiberglass doors can be made with excellent security features, including full-length "lock block" protection, such as those found on the Stanley Fiberglass doors (see http://www.stanleyworks.com/ and go to => Products => Entry Doors for examples and comparison charts).

Due to their durability and relatively maintenance-free performance, some fiberglass doors carry a limited lifetime warranty -- something you rarely see in a wood door.

Several companies offer a range of products. You might also check with your local Sears or Home Depot for steel and fiberglass doors.

As an aside, we installed a premium-grade wood door with sidelites and arched transom. The door is somewhat protected by an arched entry. However, it does receive afternoon sunshine on the lower half of the door. After only 3 years, the door began to show signs of sun damage, including a few splits near the bottom. We've had the door repainted a few times now and have even used an epoxy filler to repair the door, but it's no match for the constant sun exposure. While I will always love the flexibility and traditional look of a wood door, I would seriously evaluate steel or fiberglass products next time we build.

Alternatively, you can have a custom, heavy-duty all-steel door fabricated that provides the utlimate in strength and design flexibility. These don't always have the best insulating value, but they can look stunning on the right type of home.

Good luck.

Builders Websource.

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