Entry door for south facing home located in Ohio?
First off, let me thank you guys who commented on my window Q&A, as I’ve had great success going through my local lumber yard and getting windows replaced throughout my home. Before the weather completely goes to crap here, my wife and I would like to replace our 20 year old steel front door, as it is letting air in during the winter, and would like something fresher for the front of the house. Our house is south-facing, we have no porch, so the door is going to be in direct sunlight for most of the day. From what I have read, it sounds like the best option for a door is Fiberglass. Speaking with the owner at my local lumber yard, he’s worried about us staining the door since we have no shade provided to the front door. He suggested going with a Fiberglass Entry door in a smooth finish and just painting the door? I wanted to see if the experts on here agree, or what others have had experience with. I would like to avoid having to refinish the door each year – but would like to know my options.
Thank you!
Andy
GBA Detail Library
A collection of one thousand construction details organized by climate and house part
Replies
I agree with the lumber yard owner; paint it. If you like the wood grain, you can still paint it, just use a quality exterior grade paint.
Andrew,
Here's a suggestion for your to-do list: Build a small roof to protect the door -- with or without a porch or stoop.
Similar situation with a set of storeroom doors facing southwest that have no roof protection. We went fiberglass and painted them a light color.
Should have been a good plan, except that it turned out only the skins on the doors were fiberglass; the core/edges are wood and it has been a problem keeping paint on the lower portions of same.
Something to look out for.
Our lumber yard recommends Masonite doors, and looking at their site, they use a skin/facing on the front of the door, and looks like composite and foam on the inside, so hopefully we won't have any issues there.