All three options have their advantages, but each has some drawbacks. If you're looking for a simple and brief answer, we recommend that you choose fiberglass for greater durability, choose a wooden exterior door for character and style, and choose a steel or metal exterior door for an economical option. Yes, a garage door (the one you drive through) is considered an exterior door. It falls into the same category as sliding, glass, storm doors, mosquito nets and basements, but you'll need to inspect and maintain the condition of your garage door to get the best possible protection.
For an exterior door, the solid one is generally preferred. They are safer, more durable and better insulated (especially the foam core). The amount of climate a door can withstand can make you choose a steel or fiberglass product. If the cantilever is good and there are no massive temperature cycles due to the sun, you can opt for a cheaper product with a particle core.
As a general rule, the more you pay, the more durable the door will be, although regular painting will have a big impact on the life of the door. While fiberglass and steel try to mimic the look, wooden front doors offer an authentic experience. Most entry systems are made of solid wood, which makes them better at withstanding wear and tear.
Wooden doors
are probably the most expensive of the three options.They will also need to be varnished or painted regularly to keep them looking good. Steel is the most popular material for garage doors, and for good reason. Steel doors are reasonably priced, durable, low-maintenance, and available in just about any style you want. Steel can be painted and is available in textures that mimic wood.
To see which complementary garage and entry doors would best fit in your home, check out Clopay's Door Imagination system. Clopay Canyon Ridge Carriage House 5-ply garage door with complementary Craftsman front door with dark finish. A local door installation professional can also help you identify these doors and guide you through the process. After you select the type of front door and whether or not you want to include decorative glass, you can choose the type of finish and the accessories you want to include on your door.
Looking at the solid doors, I thought that the doors that were completely solid were made of pure wood. Replacing the front door with a steel or fiberglass front door is not easy at all and usually costs between 53 and 69 percent of the cost. If you like the look of a solid wood front door, but you're embarrassed to think about maintenance, consider Clopay's veined fiberglass options. The first garage doors were made with wood, and wood continues to appeal to those looking for traditional styles and materials.
Wooden doors have their appeal, but their steel and fiberglass counterparts tend to have a higher insulating value. For maximum impact, select hardware that creates a coordinated look on both the front door and the garage door. Aluminum doors share many of the characteristics of steel, with optional synthetic wood textures and durable finishes. The combination of panel designs, decorative glass, and paint or tint finishing options makes selecting a complementary front door and garage door easier than you might think.
In general, you're right about the types of doors, except that most of the wood-core doors manufactured are likely to be made of chipboard inside.
