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Fiberglass Doors vs. Wood Doors: The Ultimate Guide for Builders and Buyers

Thirty12Creative on July 10, 2023

Which is better for a front door, fiberglass or wood? When it comes to choosing a door for your home’s entryway, the material you select can make a significant difference. Remember, doors serve a number of purposes. They provide security, they help keep your home insulated, and they also provide a huge aesthetic appeal.

Many builders prefer classic front doors made of heavy wood. However, natural wood doors can be costly. In many cases, a fiberglass front door can be an acceptable alternative. But which is truly better? In order to answer that question, we need to take a much closer look.

In this article, the experts from DSA Doors will compare fiberglass doors vs. wood doors, examining their respective pros and cons so you can make an informed decision.

Wood Doors and Fiberglass Doors: What Are You Looking For in a Door?

Is wood or fiberglass better for a front door? Both buyers and builders want to know. And despite the simplicity of the question, there are lots of factors to consider. According to Guillermo Flores, Director of Product Development for DSA Doors, builders should ask themselves some important questions before deciding on a fiberglass or wood door model.

“Are you more concerned with aesthetics or energy efficiency? Is security a concern? Where is the home located? Is security or environmental wear and tear going to be a problem?” Flores says. “There’s a lot more to it than just choosing A or B.”

To Guillermo’s point, let’s analyze what else you should consider when determining the best material for an entry door.

Energy Efficiency

Energy-efficient doors help maintain a comfortable indoor temperature while reducing energy costs. If the home is in a particularly hot or cold climate, you may need to run your air conditioning or heat more often. In this case, the type of door you choose can make a big difference.

DSA’s Wynstellar Collection maximizes energy efficiency with Cross Laminated Ply Foam cores. All DSA Doors also feature energy-efficient Low-Emissivity glass, which absorbs infrared radiation to prevent heat from escaping through the glass and can reduce energy costs by up to 30%.

Eco-Friendliness

Many modern builders and homebuyers like to know the environmental impact of the materials used in a door’s construction. While this may not be priority #1, it is certainly something to consider when determining which type of door is right for you. DSA Doors are constructed with single-origin timber, sustainably sourced from an FSC-certified forest.

Safety and Security

All exterior doors should provide adequate security to protect the occupant’s family and property. However, some types of door materials perform better in this role than others. On top of that, maintenance can also be a factor in how well a door stands up to intruders.

Durability

Nobody wants to be replacing their front door every other year. Whether you choose a wood or fiberglass front door, it should be able to withstand common adverse weather conditions as well as daily wear and tear. The longer it can last, the better!

Required Maintenance

It’s crucial to consider the amount of maintenance required to keep a door in optimal condition. Some people don’t mind doing a little upkeep now and then, while others will want a door they don’t have to think about unless they’re using it.

Cost

The price tags between fiberglass and wood doors can vary quite a bit, but the same goes for different types and styles within those categories. Whether you’re building or renovating, you should make sure to calculate all the upfront and long-term costs associated with the door’s installation and maintenance.

Ken Custer, Vice President at DSA Doors, has answered the “fiberglass vs. wood front door” question for hundreds of clients. “There are pros and cons to both types of doors,” he says. “The key is figuring out which benefits are most important to your project while minimizing the effect of those downsides.”

The Downsides of Fiberglass Entry Doors

Fiberglass exterior doors first appeared on the construction scene in the early 1980s. They typically consist of a wood or composite frame and a door panel made of fiberglass-reinforced sheeting held together with resins. The goal in creating this new type of door was to provide durability, energy efficiency, and aesthetic appeal while reducing overall costs.

That’s all well and good, but fiberglass doors do have some drawbacks to consider.

CON: Fiberglass Doors are Difficult to Work or Trim

Fiberglass doors are mass-produced, which is what helps keep them so cheap. As a result, they often come in standardized sizes. This can be frustrating for builders or remodelers who have (or want to design) a non-standard entryway. The materials used during prefabrication also make it very difficult to trim these doors in the event of a poor fit.

With DSA Doors, custom sizes are a non-issue. In addition to our Custom department, which creates wood doors of any size, our premium wood doors can be trimmed. Trim amounts vary depending on door size and style, but many DSA Doors can be trimmed up to 3 inches in height and 1/4 inch in width.

CON: Fiberglass Doors are Getting Pricier

The cost of fiberglass doors has increased due to the rising demand and manufacturing costs. In fact, some fiberglass models are now outpricing natural wood doors in some markets, reducing their primary benefit.

CON: Fiberglass Doors Are Far From Eco-Friendly

The production of fiberglass doors is energy-intensive and involves the use of tons of chemicals. The resins and epoxies that hold the doors together are extremely toxic, so fiberglass doors are not easily recyclable or biodegradable.

“We have clients contact us every day because they’re dissatisfied with their fiberglass door performance,” says DSA Manufacturing Engineer Brent Shepherd. “In a lot of cases, they just want something that’s easier to work with and provides a more solid, premium feel.”

Weighing wood entry doors vs. fiberglass? Check out DSA Doors’ full catalog of models, including Traditional Doors, Modern Doors, Coastal Doors, and more.

The Benefits of Fiberglass Entry Doors

Despite these limitations, fiberglass doors offer several advantages. After all, there’s a reason why these doors are in demand. It’s also important to be fair when considering the difference between fiberglass and wood doors because the decision often comes down to preference.

PRO: Fiberglass Doors Require Little Maintenance

Builders and buyers choose fiberglass doors because they are resistant to rot, warping, and rust. This means they are generally quite low maintenance. In fact, cleaning fiberglass doors typically involves just mild soap and water. However, innovations to wood doors exist for low-maintenance entries. DSA’s Wynstellar Collection, constructed with Acetylated Accoya, is also resistant to rot, warping, moisture, insects, sunlight, fire, mold, mildew, and rust.

PRO: Fiberglass Doors are Still Cheaper than Wood

While they may have a higher upfront cost than some entry doors, fiberglass doors offer long-term cost savings due to their durability and energy efficiency. This is a big reason why they’re so often seen in apartments and office buildings that have dozens (or hundreds) of doors.

PRO: Fiberglass Doors are Getting Better at Mimicking Wood

The early fiberglass doors looked pretty terrible. However, newer models are actually good at mimicking the look of natural wood doors. So even though they lack the same wood door benefits, builders can select from a variety of design options to suit various architectural styles.

The Downsides of Wood Entry Doors

Wood entry doors are about as old as the concept of doors themselves. Buyers and builders love them for their classic and timeless appeal as well as their natural beauty. Because they are made of natural oak, mahogany, cherry, etc., each model is 100% unique in terms of grain pattern, color, and texture. But classic as they may be, homeowners need to consider their investment when choosing a wood door.

“Whenever you’re working with a natural element like wood, you have to expect limitations,” Flores says. “However, if you treat and maintain your wood door properly, you can drastically reduce those downsides over the life of your door.”

CON: Wood Doors Are A Bigger Investment

Every builder knows that you get what you pay for. The cost of a door can vary depending on a number of factors, including size, style, material, and quality. However, in general, wood doors are more expensive than fiberglass doors due to the craftsmanship involved.

CON: Wood Doors Require Maintainance

Wood doors are a beautiful and natural addition to any home, but they do require some maintenance to keep them looking their best. When improperly maintained, wood doors can become compromised and even warp or crack. In order to keep a wood door looking its best for years to come, it needs to be periodically sealed or painted to prevent moisture absorption and UV damage.

CON: Many Wood Doors Require an Overhang

Traditional wood doors require an overhang to protect them from the elements. This is because wood is a natural material that can be susceptible to damage if it is constantly exposed to direct sunlight and precipitation. Protective overhang dimensions should be at least half the distance from the unit threshold to the overhang ceiling.

DSA Doors does offer a selection of wood doors that do not require an overhang. Our high-performance Wynstellar Collection is constructed with Acetylated Accoya and features a five-year warranty.

DSA Doors provides wood doors of superior craftsmanship and quality. Not only do we have hundreds of door styles to choose from, but we can also create custom designs to suit any project.

The Benefits of Wood Entry Doors

For many homes, wood doors offer numerous advantages that make them an attractive choice for designers, builders, and homeowners. There’s no substitute for the timeless beauty of wood and all the ways it can be customized to match individual style preferences.

PRO: Wood Doors are Sturdy and Solidly Made

Due to their dense composition, wood doors feel very sturdy – even when they’re made of lighter types of wood. Many homeowners report feeling far more secure with a solid wood front door as opposed to steel, fiberglass, etc. This is because wood doors are more difficult to break down, making them a more effective deterrent to burglars. Wood doors can also withstand a lot of use and abuse without showing signs of wear, making them a good choice for homes with high traffic.

PRO: Wood Doors are Beautiful, with Endless Design Possibilities

Wood door designs range between simple and incredibly ornate. And because they are completely customizable, they can be suited to virtually any style, whether you have traditional, modern, or rustic decor. Whenever a builder wants a “show stopper” exterior door, you can rest assured it will be made of wood.

PRO: Wood Doors are Easy to Work, Resize, and Come in Custom Sizes

Wood is a versatile material that can be easily modified to fit non-standard openings. This gives designers free rein to get as creative as they want to with their properties. Custom DSA Doors are a great option for non-standard entryways, and standard DSA Doors can be trimmed to accommodate slight differences common with remodels. Wood doors can also be painted or refinished by homeowners as desired. This makes them a good choice for homeowners who want to change the look of their door without having to replace it.

PRO: Wood Doors are Luxurious and Provide a Nice ROI

Wood doors are a luxurious and elegant choice for homeowners who want to make a statement. They are made from a natural material that is both beautiful and durable. Though they have that higher upfront cost, it’s important to note that wood doors provide a great return on investment. Studies have shown that homes with wood doors sell for more money than homes with other types of doors. Buyers see a good-looking wood door as a sign that the entire property is of higher-than-average quality. As the “face” of the house, the right front door can significantly impact the selling price.

PRO: Wood Doors are Eco-Friendly and Renewable

Wood is a sustainable and renewable resource, making it an environmentally friendly choice. Trees are a natural resource that can be replanted and harvested, so wood doors do not contribute to deforestation. In fact, wood doors can actually help to reduce deforestation by providing a market for sustainably-grown wood. In addition to being sustainable, wood is also a recyclable material. Old wood doors can be recycled into new products, such as tables, clocks, and even furniture. This helps to reduce waste and keep wood out of landfills.

PRO: Wood Doors are Reparable

Wood doors are a durable material that can last for many years with proper care. However, even the most durable doors can eventually suffer damage. If a wood door is damaged, it can usually be repaired or replaced without the need for a complete door replacement. Wood doors can be repaired by filling in cracks, sanding down dents, or replacing damaged panels. In the event of UV damage, wood doors can be sanded down and refinished to restore their original appearance by a homeowner or contractor.

“Is fiberglass OK for a front door? Sure. But there really is nothing quite like a well-made wood door,” says Brent Shepherd. “It’s a little piece of nature that can make even the most modern home design feel grounded.”

Fiberglass Doors vs. Wood Doors: Which is Better?

We’ve done our best to outline all the pros and cons of both materials here. However, the choice between fiberglass and wood doors ultimately depends on your priorities. Fiberglass doors offer the advantages of low maintenance and low investment. On the other hand, wood doors are eco-friendly, strong, durable, and provide unmatched elegance and design versatility.

What sort of property are you looking to create? What types of people will occupy or purchase it when you’re done? What’s the project’s budget? These are the sorts of questions you need to ask yourself when considering a wood or fiberglass door (or doors). The answers will go a long way toward pointing you in the right direction.

“If you’re a builder, you need to know your target market,” says Ken Custer. “Entryways not only contribute to curb appeal, but they’re every single person’s ‘introduction’ to the home. That includes the people who will eventually purchase your project. In the end, we’re all designing for them.”

DSA Doors Provides Superior Quality Natural Wood Doors

If you do determine that a wood door is the right choice for your project, the next thing you need to consider is where you’ll source the final model. At DSA Doors, we have more than two decades of experience producing some of the finest wood doors in the country. Not only do we have hundreds of door styles to choose from, but we can also create custom doors to suit even the most unique home or office space.

To see our full selection of signature, traditional, and modern doors, visit our website here. To see some of our custom features, click here.

DSA Doors offers a variety of pre-fabricated and custom wood pivot doors for sale. You can see our entire LUXE Pivot Door Catalog here

LUXE Pivot Doors: A Complete Guide for Builders and Architects

sml-dev on May 18, 2023

When designing or constructing a new building, few elements are as important as the front door. To prospective homeowners, the front door is the “face” of the property. And in many cases, standing out is far better than blending in. There are hundreds of choices when it comes to designing an entryway, but pivot front doors provide a unique look and function that is hard to replicate with a traditional model.

In this article, the DSA Door experts will answer a number of questions about pivoting doors, including “What is a pivot door,” and “How do pivoting doors differ from standard doors?” We’ll also provide information about our LUXE Pivot Doors so that you can decide if a pivoting front or back door is right for your next project.

Are you a builder or dealer looking to learn more about LUXE Pivot Doors from DSA Doors? Click here to sign up for in-person or online Pivot Door training, and we’ll provide FREE LUNCH for your team!

What Are Pivot Doors?

Pivot doors are designed to rotate on hinges placed at the top and bottom of the door. This is different from nearly all traditional doors, which have hinges attached to the horizontal section of the door frame. Pivot hinges have been around for centuries, but modern technology allows for much smoother function as well as more impressive presentations.

How Do Pivot Doors Work?

The basic pivot door design consists of a top pivot, a bottom pivot, and two corresponding plates set into the frame. So, rather than opening and closing at the side of the door frame, a pivot door turns on the axis created by the two pivot mechanisms. For this reason, they are often referred to as swivel doors. Depending on the intended aesthetic, this axis can be placed almost anywhere in the door, creating pivoting door designs that open in a variety of dynamic ways.

Why Pivot Doors?

There are many reasons why an architect, designer, or homeowner might prefer a pivot door vs. a traditional door design. For example:

They Can Be Much Larger (and Smaller)

Most standard doors remain limited by the strength of the hinges. Any architect knows that a big, heavy Hickory or Mahogany door will need larger hinges to hold it in place. The same is not true for pivot doors. Because the pivot axis can be placed at any point, it’s possible to design pivot doors of virtually any size or material. In fact, there have been examples of pivot doors made of marble and stone that are in no danger of failing. Pivot door designs are also ideal for alcoves and “secret” rooms with thin entryways.

They Offer a Clean, Modern Look

Architects around the world love pivot doors because they provide seamless, elegant functionality while also looking amazing. When installed properly, some pivot doors look as if there is virtually no space at all between the door and frame. From mansions to churches to government buildings, pivot doors can really add a lot to any room.

They Provide Incredibly Smooth Movement

Because their movement is not hindered by a traditional hinge, even the heaviest pivot doors can be opened by a single individual. This also allows for a variety of different movement types. For instance, placing the pivot point closer to the center of the door drastically reduces the amount of space needed to open it.

They are Incredibly Versatile

Pivot doors provide architects with unlimited room for creativity. From pivot front doors to pivoting walls and more, these entryways really add that “wow factor” that many homebuyers crave. Though wood remains the most popular option, aluminum pivot door and glass pivot door designs have also been incorporated into all types of buildings.

DSA Doors offers a variety of pre-fabricated and custom wood pivot doors for sale. You can see our entire LUXE Pivot Door Catalog here

Are Pivot Doors Worth It?

With the right mechanism, architects can install pivot doors that weigh more than 1,000 pounds and measure over a dozen feet wide. Some ostentatious designers have also incorporated pivot entryway designs over 20 feet tall. That said, you can include pivot entryways in all manner of different design situations.

A simple, well-built wood pivot door makes for a functional and aesthetically pleasing addition to any home. Of course, they can also help spice up an office space or commercial property. There’s a pivot door design for every situation. So, it’s less about pivot doors vs. regular doors and more about what a particular space calls for.

LUXE Premium Pivot Doors for Sale from DSA Doors

As one of America’s premier door manufacturers, DSA Doors works with professional dealers, architects, designers, and builders nationwide. Our catalog of models includes a series of nine pre-engineered luxury pivot doors. Of course, we also design and produce custom pivot entryways in our Raleigh-based production facility. This allows us to meet any customer need, no matter how unique.

Our pre-engineered pivot doors include the Scandinavian-inspired Fjord, the geometric, translucent Niva, and the ultra-modern Solna. Each boasts only the finest premium timber and includes the state-of-the-art FritsJurgens M+ Adjustable Pivot System. We also provide pivot door sidelites in single or double-frame designs.

Aside from their exceptional craftsmanship, our LUXE Pivot Doors stand out for several reasons. Standard and Custom features include:

FritsJurgens® System M+ Adjustable Pivot Hinge

This revolutionary pivot hinge design from Dutch company FritsJurgens allows for fluent and precise movement at the touch of a finger. DSA offers four standard pivot locations, as well as custom placements. The premium M+ Pivot Hinge system is made of high-strength stainless steel and tested to withstand over 136 years of daily use. Most importantly, the entire hinge system is completely embedded into the door frame, making it virtually invisible to the naked eye. That said, the system’s superior functionality is very clear. Homeowners can easily adjust the speed, damper, and latch control as desired using the adjustment screws at the bottom of the door. Once installed and customized, the M+ hinge will be maintenance-free for years to come.

Multiple Lock and Hardware Options

We allow many points of customization for our pivot door designs. Our clients can choose from serval latching systems and locking mechanisms, including smart lock hardware from Danalock. We also provide several thumb latch options, pull bars, and handles. Want a glass pivot door to maximize brighten up your space? We provide multiple insulated glass styles, including Flemish, Sandblasted, and Rain.

ATHMER® Top & Bottom Automatic Drop Seals

The most frequent complaint about sub-par pivot entryways is that they fail to form a proper seal, sometimes allowing in water, wind, and dust. That’s why every DSA LUXE Pivot Door features Athmer Schall-Ex WS Pivot Automatic Drop Seals on both the top and bottom. Made of anodized aluminum, these premium-quality drop seals automatically extend and retract when the door opens and closes for superior environmental, thermal, and weather protection.

Why Wood Pivot Doors Lead the Industry

Because of their unique design, builders can incorporate all sorts of pivot into their homes, from marble or metal to composite and glass. However, wood pivot doors remain the industry standard and a favorite among buyers for several reasons. The primary benefit of a wood door, pivot or otherwise, is durability. Indeed, even lightweight wood is difficult to break and resistant to damage. If a wood door becomes dented or scuffed, it is much easier to repair than a metal or composite model. Wood models are also sustainable and very energy efficient, drastically reducing hot and cold air transfer while effectively blocking UV light.

Premium Doors, Premium Service: The DSA Difference

LUXE Pivot Doors from DSA Doors are truly in a league of their own. And with our ability to design and deliver to a national client base, there’s no need to sit around searching “pivot doors for sale near me.” With DSA, you get the highest quality doors at the best price every time. If you’re an architect, designer, or builder looking to craft a truly magnificent space, DSA can open the door to a whole world of new ideas.

LUXE Pivot Doors from DSA Doors offer superior craftsmanship and functionality. To learn more about our wood pivot door solutions, click here.

Is a New Front Door a Good Investment?

sml-dev on March 21, 2022

When you’re building or renovating a home, projects can add up quickly. Still, it’s important to know that every investment will continue to pay off for years to come. One of the smartest investments of all is installing a new front door. The exterior front doors are the first thing many people notice when they see your home.

Moreover, replacing your door can increase your home’s curb appeal, value, security, and energy efficiency. How can you tell if it’s time for a new front door? Inspect your entryway for common signs of damage today, and keep reading to find out how to measure for a replacement and what to look out for when choosing your new door.

Why You Should Buy a New Front Door for Your Home

Installing a new front door is one of the best ways to revitalize your property. In fact, by replacing that old, damaged door, you can drastically improve your curb appeal, energy efficiency, and security.

Maximize your curb appeal and ROI

When planning a renovation or building a new home, it’s helpful to consider the return on investment (ROI). The ROI measures the amount by which the home’s value increases compared to the improvement cost. Completing projects with a high ROI can help you get as much back on your investment as possible when you sell your property. According to Remodeling Magazine, investing in a new entry door has an average ROI of 74.9%. Each year, the Magazine reports the ROI of common remodeling projects. Front doors have topped the list for many years.

The exterior door is an important focal point for visitors, neighbors, and potential homebuyers. Or that reason, your front door is crucial to your home’s curb appeal and perceived value. In addition to ROI and curb appeal, investing in a quality entry door will provide protection and energy efficiency. A new front door is one of the most affordable and important investments you can make. Even if you’re not selling your home, it will provide value to your family for years to come.

Invest in your home security

Security firm ADT reports that the front door is the most common entry point for intruders. That’s why it’s so important to keep it secure. But if you overlook or fail to maintain this exterior door, years of wear and tear may weaken its integrity. For instance, warping is a common defect that can cause the deadbolt to fit incorrectly. Without the full protection of a deadbolt, a burglar could force open the front door with surprisingly little effort.

When should you replace your front door?

Many homeowners inherited their front door when they purchased their home, and it may or may not reflect their personal style. As time goes by, a homeowner may take the door for granted instead of evaluating it regularly for maintenance or repairs.

Here are some clear signs that it’s time to invest in a new entry door:

Light peeking through – Is there light coming in around the perimeter of your door, or even through cracks in the door itself? Remember, if light is entering your house, other things can get in too. This includes water, wind, dirt, insects, and rodents.
Hot or cold air coming in – If you don’t see light coming in but feel a draft, there may be a gap around your door framing or damaged weather stripping. It would be best if you replaced the weather stripping regularly to ensure a good seal. However, if you’re feeling drafts year after year, it’s probably well past time to replace your front door.
Heavy dents – On a well-used door, wear and tear is normal. However, some types of damage go beyond looks. For instance, large dents can indicate compromised structural integrity, especially if located near the door’s perimeter.
Hard to open or close – If you often struggle to open or close your front door, your door has likely expanded, contracted, or even warped. And when your door no longer fits properly in the door jamb, the compromised seal will allow air, water, insects, and other pollutants into your home.
Lock is not working properly – A front door that doesn’t lock properly is an obvious security issue. If possible, perform maintenance on the lock as soon as you can. However, if you find you need to replace your entire lock system, consider this an opportunity to install a new, more secure door.
Exterior rust – Visible rust indicates there is moisture inside your door frame, which is likely causing rot. Indeed, many manufacturers do not fully galvanize their steel doors. As they rot from the inside out, they become structurally unsound, making it easy for intruders to force entry.
Rotting, flaking, or softened wood – If you see rotting or flaking near the bottom of the door jamb (the casing around the door), this is a surefire sign it’s time to replace the door. You may also notice that the wood is getting soft to the touch. This is another sign of rot and indicates it’s time to replace both the door and jamb.
Splitting and peeling – If not maintained, wood and engineered wood doors can become cracked, warped, and weathered. This leads to rot while simultaneously attracting termites and other wood-destroying insects.
Increased energy bills – Front doors that leak air around the frame can significantly compromise your home’s energy efficiency. Leaks force your HVAC system to work harder to maintain temperatures. Also, older front doors lack energy performance innovations that are huge money savers during hot summers and cold winters. If this applies to your home, consider investing in a new exterior door immediately.

How to measure for a new front door

Before you can start shopping for your new front door, you need to know exactly what size door you’re looking for. If you’re set on replacing your door, start by measuring your old door’s width, thickness, and height. Also, measure the thickness of the wall so that you get the proper door jamb width. While doing so, take note of the door swing direction. Finally, stand inside your home, and see which side the doorknob is on. If it’s on the right, you have a right-handed door. If it’s on the left, it’s a left-handed door.

Historic or custom homes sometimes have non-standard-sized doors. Luckily, our DSA Dealers and Custom Design Team can custom-fit or modify our doors to fit a wide variety of homes and design preferences. When you purchase your new entry, it’s best to order your door as a pre-hung package with the weather stripping, threshold, jamb, and hardware included. This confirms that all the components are designed to work well together. At DSA, we test our pre-hung doors for infiltration and thermal efficiency to ensure each DSA homeowner gets an enduring entryway to enjoy for years to come.

Where to buy your new door

Make the best investment in your home! DSA works with a network of trusted dealers and home professionals extending to the Northeast, Mid-Atlantic and Southeastern United States to make sure that each homeowner receives a professionally fitted, customized, and installed DSA Door. Our teams of skilled artisans hand-assemble, sand and finish each door to the highest quality standards. To find your dealer, click here or visit DSADoors.com/Dealer today!

Why You Should Choose a Wood Door

sml-dev on March 21, 2022

As you are probably aware, there are many different types of materials used to make front doors. As a designer or builder, you can choose a traditional wood door, or one constructed from steel, aluminum, fiberglass, or other materials. You can also choose solid wood or engineered wood, which has a high-end wood veneer over a lower-grade wood core.

At DSA Doors, we manufacture Master-Crafted solid wood doors. Drawing on centuries of tradition and decades of experience, we know that a solid wood door is one of the best investments a homeowner can make in their home. In this article, we’ll discuss the various benefits of a wood door and give you some tips on protecting these classic front doors from the elements.

DSA Doors provides wood doors of superior craftsmanship and quality. Not only do we have dozens of models to choose from, we can also create custom designs to suit any project.

The Benefits of a Wood Front Door

Looking to buy a new front door? Are you a builder working on a project and want to source top rated wood doors in a variety of classic styles? Whatever the case, the benefits of having a solid wood front door don’t change! See below to find out why heavy wood doors are better than fiberglass, steel, and many other options.

Wood Doors Offer Strength & Security

Safety is an important concern for many people looking to move into a new home or purchase a front door. Solid wood doors are incredibly strong and resistant to break-in attempts. Averaging around 150 pounds, solid wood doors do not budge easily. In fact, many types of wood used for doors are so hearty that they’re difficult to even dent. As a result, it takes a lot more than a kick or shove to force it open.

Of course, to remain strong, you need to protect the door against weather and wind. Depending on your location, you may even need an impact-rated DP-50 or DP-70 door. Fortunately, all DSA Doors are subjected to extreme testing conditions that simulate hurricane-force winds to ensure their safety and reliability.

Wood Front Doors are Durable & Repairable

Fans of aluminum and fiberglass doors often tout how inexpensive they are. Unfortunately, as in most cases, you get what you pay for. Metal and veneered doors are not easy to repair once they’re damaged. In many cases, they often need to be replaced outright. However, solid wood doors can be sanded and refinished multiple times.

In addition to being repairable, DSA Doors are constructed for maximum durability. In fact, our proprietary 11-ply floating panel core and finger joint laminated rails protect against warping and splitting for years to come.

Wood Doors are Customizable & One-of-a-Kind

Every wood door is a one-of-a-kind masterpiece. From traditional wood door styles to custom models and beyond, wood’s warm, natural aesthetic is perfect for welcoming guests and upgrading a home’s curb appeal. And since wood doors have been produced for centuries, there is a wide range of designs and options available to choose from. In addition to design options, wood doors can be re-stained when updating the style of your home, something that’s impossible with almost any other material.

At DSA Doors, we have over 30 Standard Door collections to choose from. Our Custom Design Team can help you design your perfect door from scratch. During this process, you can choose every element, from the type of timber to the panel design. You can even add custom glass.

Wood is Sustainable & Energy-Efficient

Sustainably sourced wood is one of the most environmentally friendly materials currently available. After all, it is not only a natural carbon sink but also 100% natural and truly renewable. Another benefit to wood doors is that they are extremely energy efficient. Sure, they may need some additional insulation around the edges, but that investment will pay for itself 1000x over throughout the life of the entryway.

DSA Doors exclusively uses sustainably sourced timber, which is managed in an environmentally, socially, and economically beneficial manner. We also feature innovative door collections with CLPF construction, which replaces our solid hardwood cores with an energy-efficient foam core for the highest thermal performance.

All our doors have a complimentary low-emissivity (Low E) double-coating on the glass to further increase thermal efficiency. This minimizes the amount of heat and UV light that comes through your glass without minimizing the visible light entering your home.

Looking for high-quality wood entry doors? Check out DSA Doors’ full catalog of models, including Traditional Doors, Coastal Doors, and more.

How to Protect a Wooden Front Door

Every homeowner wants to preserve the look of their property for generations to come. There are two main factors to consider when purchasing a wood door.

Sun Exposure

One of the biggest factors in wood door maintenance is sun exposure. To reduce the damaging effects of the sun, we recommend installing a protective overhang on all wood doors. In fact, if possible, we recommend this for all exterior doors. However, DSA’s Wynstellar Collection, which features high-performance acetylated Accoya wood, does not require an overhang and is a good choice for exterior doors subjected to harsh climates and conditions.

Keep in mind, the overhang needs to extend at least half the distance from the base of the door to the bottom of the overhang. So, if your overhang is 10 feet from the base of your door, it needs to extend at least 5 feet to provide adequate protection. Manufacturers typically require a suitable overhang in warranty documentation.

Proper Maintenance

The other way to preserve your wood door is through regular maintenance. One of the most important aspects of this is keeping up with your door’s protective clear coat. If the clear coat degrades, your door’s stain and wood become vulnerable to the elements.

Depending on your weather and overhang coverage, you should try to maintain the door at least once a year. However, you should make sure to act quickly whenever you feel the clear coat is wearing off. You don’t need to be an expert, either. Simply clean your door, lightly sand, then apply another clear coat. You can apply 2-3 coats for maximum protection, letting each coat dry before applying another.