Price Of A Steel Replacement Exterior Door VS A Fiberglass One
The post about the top three home improvement projects explained that replacing your front door gives you one of the biggest returns on your investment when you sell your home.
After replacing existing, and installing new, hundreds of exterior doors over the last 24 years as a Florida licensed Building Contractor, I understand the trouble homeowners are faced with when making the decision of which type of door to install. While steel and fiberglass doors have their own unique pros and cons, this article will explain enough of the good, bad, and ugly of each type so you can decide for yourself which is best for your situation.
The Difference Between Price and Cost
Before getting into each type of door, it would be helpful to review the difference between price and cost. Price is the amount of money you need to take out of your pocket to initially buy a product. Cost is the amount of money you need to take out of your pocket over the lifetime of owning a product. If you are replacing a door in preparation for selling your house, the low price option probably makes the most sense. If you have no intention of moving for over 5 years, the low cost option makes the most sense.
Steel Doors
The upside of a steel door is that it is significantly less expensive in price than fiberglass ones – $200 versus $400 ($600 if hurricane large missile impact rated with no-rot jamb and weatherproof hinges). The downside to a metal door is that it easily dents and dings, it rusts, and the wood jambs it is typically mounted in rots and provides food for termites.
Fiberglass Doors
The upside of fiberglass doors is that they do not rust of rot, they absorb minor impacts without denting, they are available with a smooth or wood-grained finish, and they are typically mounted on composite (no rot) jambs with stainless steel hinges. They are also available with a steel core which makes them hurricane large missile impact approved with no shutters. Their only downside is the extra initial price.
Since labor costs are the same for both door types, the cost of a fiberglass door is less than steel over the long run if you have to replace the steel door even once.
Leading Edge Homes, Inc. is a Florida state certified general contracting company specializing in room additions, bathroom renovations, kitchen updates, and hurricane-resistant screen enclosures. In business since 1991, the most important thing they build is your trust. Contact them at 561-795-2551 or visit their website for more information about how they can help you with your next Palm Beach County home remodeling project.