Frame Material

The three main materials used for manufacturing doors are wood, fiberglass and steel. The price point for wood is the highest and steel is the lowest. Solid wood doors are beautiful, but do not have the insulation value of other doors. They also require regular painting or staining to protect the wood. It is also recommended that a wood door be installed behind a storm door for added protection--especially if unprotected by a roof, deep overhang or porch.

Check out fiberglass doors for a durable exterior that won't chip or dent when knocked about. Door panels, made of flat or molded fiberglass, have a wood grain pattern and a coating that can be stained to look very much like wood. The fiberglass panels are applied over a wood frame and then filled with a high-density foam insulation.

Similar to fiberglass doors, steel doors are durable and have an insulated foam core for energy efficiency. The steel panels can be flat or molded and most likely will be indented with a pattern that looks like wood. They come with a primer coat, but are best protected from rust when painted. The steel cladding can vary in thickness--look for 22 or 24-guage steel. The higher the number the thinner the gauge--a door that is thinner than 24 gauge will dent too easily. Painted steel doors weather well and will not warp. If you live in a colder climate, look for a steel door with exposed wood edges that act as a thermal break (this helps keep the cold outside panel from conducting the cold to the inside panel).