The price range for a quality, pre-finished installed fiberglass door can range between $1,200 and $2,500. So they're less expensive than wood doors, but a bit more expensive compared with most steel doors.
Although wooden doors are durable, they're susceptible to damage from prolonged exposure to sun, rain, snow, humidity, and other elements. Fiberglass resists the effects of harsh weather and lasts longer, without the rotting, splitting, peeling, or delaminating that occurs in wood.
Fiberglass doors are typically more expensive than steel but less expensive than high-end wood doors. But since fiberglass lasts longer and is easier to maintain than wood and steel, many homeowners prefer it. Fiberglass gives homeowners around 75% return on investment.
The cheapest interior doors will be MDF, hollow core, or solid core doors. MDF is an engineered wood product produced from wood scraps, shavings, and other recycled materials.
Steel Exterior Door Pros:
Low Cost — Of all of the exterior door options, a steel door requires the lowest upfront investment. You can find a variety of steel door options all at a considerably lower cost than a wood or fiberglass door, simply because steel doors are much less expensive to manufacture.
Fiberglass Exterior Doors
In a reasonably protected location, a fiberglass exterior door will never need painting or staining and can last 15 to 20 years. Although it feels lighter than wood or steel, it is extremely durable and features an extremely durable coating that is difficult to breach.
The price range for a quality, pre-finished installed fiberglass door can range between $1,200 and $2,500. So they're less expensive than wood doors, but a bit more expensive compared with most steel doors.
A steel door is your best bet if security and durability are top priorities. Steel units are stronger than wood or fiberglass doors, and they won't crack or warp. Any dents or dings on these doors can be pulled and puttied with an auto-body repair kit.
Cracks: During the winter season, the rigid material of fiberglass door contracts which can lead to crack and sometimes falling apart of some inexpensive and low quality fiberglass entry doors. These cracks degrade the appearance of the doors and make a passage for the cold air to enter the house.
Advantages of Fiberglass Exterior Doors
Durability – The material never warps, rots or rusts and can stand strong for decades. Performance – The entry system reduces heat transfer and boosts energy efficiency, thereby lowering your energy costs.
Yes, fiberglass doors can dent or scratch if someone really tried. But compared to wooden doors or steel doors, they're much more resistant to things that make doors look old.
The R-values of most steel and fiberglass-clad entry doors range from R-5 to R-6, excluding a window. For example, a 1-1/2 inch (3.81 cm) thick door without a window offers more than five times the insulating value of a solid wood door of the same size.
Fiberglass doors can be produced to look alike wood, and even a door expert cannot differentiate between them. Built tougher than regular doors, performing better under sudden climate changes and being able to be customized for your specific needs.
Do Fiberglass Doors Get Hot? Yes, fiberglass doors get hot in summer. Though this material is considered as the best material for the front door, still, it gets hot in summer and cold in winter. The blue door in the video that I took is fiberglass and it was 163 degrees that day!
Fiberglass doors have a much higher resistance to weathering than wood and steel, but exposure to sunlight can fade them, as you have discovered. Depending on the fading, you may be able to patch the stain. Before you paint or stain the surface, clean your door properly.
Fiberglass front entry doors are flexible in style and durable in strength. You can get a modern, smooth look or a traditional, textured design. And as a material, fiberglass is exceptionally strong and resistant to wear.
Fiberglass doors work well in almost any climate, even extreme cold and damp conditions. Unlike wood, fiberglass doors do not warp, crack, or rot. And unlike steel, the doors don't rust, scratch, or corrode. Fiberglass is built to last and will not require yearly re-finishing to stay in top shape.
Fiberglass doors and sidelights can be smooth or textured with a wood-grain finish. This material usually does not need to be primed, but painting is required. Premium steel doors are factory-primed and should be painted but not stained.
Use a natural bristled paintbrush to apply a layer of gel stain. This is the most important element of protecting the door from fading. Once the gel stain dries, apply at least two layers of fiberglass top coat, waiting for it to dry between coats.
The total cost to install an interior door averages between $360 and $1,151. A bedroom or closet door replacement averages $100 to $300 in labor with door costs typically range from $50 to $500. Wood French doors can cost from $600 to $4,500 or more.
Out of 11,916 projects analyzed by HomeAdvisor, the average cost of replacing a door was between $477 and $1,389, for an overall average of $916. The lowest price reported by a homeowner was $100, while the highest price reported was $4,200.
The glass package for doors, sidelights and transoms are the most costly part of an entry door. A door with no glass is the least expensive option, followed by clear glass. Decorative glass, including textured glass and stained glass designs, can cost over 40% more than clear glass or no glass options.