Fiberglass and insulated steel
Fiberglass exterior doors are among the strongest on the market. They're also some of the most energy-efficient. Fiberglass is a poor conductor of heat, making it energy-efficient on its own, but when insulation is added, it's hard to beat.
Wooden Doors
Being naturally insulating, they are excellent at retaining heat inside. For interior or external doors, a solid wood door is an excellent option for helping to keep your home warm.
Best Types of Energy-Efficient Doors
While fiberglass, aluminum and steel are great exterior door options, the best kind of energy-efficient interior door is veneer wood doors. While a solid wood door provides some insulation, doors with insulating cores are more energy-efficient.
Fiberglass composite doors are a lighter, more durable option that won't contract and expand and get their energy efficiency from a dense polyurethane foam core. Steel doors also feature a thick foam center for superior energy efficiency, and they're extremely durable and add value to your home.
Steel. Steel is the best material for a front door if security is your top priority. This tough metal is stronger than all other door products. It provides excellent protection against forced entries and is less likely to crack or warp.
And steel can get hot when exposed to sunlight and high temperatures, which makes it a little less efficient than fiberglass. Verdict: While both steel and fiberglass are energy-efficient options, fiberglass outperforms steel in this area, making it a favorite door replacement option for many homeowners.
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.
A fiberglass front door is your best bet for peak energy efficiency. Fiberglass doors have an exceptionally insulating polyurethane foam core that provides a high R-value. The R-value is a standard measure of insulation effectiveness; higher numbers mean better insulation.
Look for the ENERGY STAR label to help identify energy efficient products for your climate. The National Fenestration Rating Council (NFRC) label helps you compare energy performance ratings of doors. The label shows the solar heat gain coefficient (SHGC) and U-factor for the door.
Composite doors deliver superior energy efficiency due to their construction. The process involved in manufacturing these energy efficient doors is different from that used to create those made with just a singular material.
You really can't beat steel when it comes choosing a long-lasting door. Not only do they resist fire damage, they're extremely secure and they can last for 100 years or more.
Fibreglass: These doors are very low maintenance. Just wash them with soap, and check the weather stripping once in a while. They are resistant to wear and tear, and are humidity proof. PVC: These doors are also low maintenance.
Low Energy Doors are automatic swing doors that must be opened specifically via a Knowing Act device, such as a push plate, touchless actuator or wireless button (per ANSI standards). These doors require less kinetic energy to open and close as compared to Full Energy Doors.
Drawbacks of Fiberglass Exterior Doors
The disadvantages of fiberglass doors include: Price – While not as costly as some types of wood, fiberglass is one of the more expensive options on the market. Sizing – The material is difficult to trim, so it's not well-suited for exterior doors that aren't standard sizes.
Steel Door Disadvantages
Denting and Rusting – While steel doors cannot warp they can be dented if hit by something, and if the paint on the door gets chipped off at the dent then rusting can develop with the metal being exposed to the moisture in the air.
Fiberglass. Fiberglass wins for the choice of the most insulative exterior door choice. While they fill a fiberglass door with foam much like a steel door, its low maintenance feature makes it superior to steel.
Fiberglass Entry Doors
This exterior door material offers the lowest maintenance and does not warp or crack under climate pressure. They're also resistant to denting and scratching, unlike steel or wood doors.
Steel and fiberglass front doors require the least amount of maintenance. They're made from durable materials that resist dents and scratches, with a long-lasting finish.