There are many unique styles and materials available to select from when choosing an exterior door. The most common material are steel and wood.

Producers of exterior doors are also starting to use new materials including vinyl to produce doors which are virtually maintenance free. There are many advantages to a solid wood exterior door, including the strength and beauty it provides.

There are several different species of wood used to make solid wood doors with cedar, walnut, mahogany, pine, and oak being some of the most common. Your solid wood exterior door will need maintenance to help it stand up to the elements.

While many manufacturers will treat their wood exterior doors with a preservative they will still need to have a protective coating applied so they will last many years. Wood exterior doors will expand and contract over time in response to moisture and temperature changes.

The performance of the door will often be dependant on the weather where they are installed. Installing a wood exterior door in a climate which is moist and hot will mean it will require maintenance at least once a year. Here are a few tips about choosing exterior doors.

Steel is another material commonly used for exterior doors. These typically have a wood frame filled with insulating foam which is then coated with a steel skin. You will get strength and rigidity from the wood frame while the foam insulation provides greater energy efficiency. These type of door do not require much maintenance.

Fiberglass doors are made in a similar fashion as steel doors except the outer skin is fiberglass. These doors are great for long term durability and energy efficiency. You can even give the fiberglass the look of real wood by using an embossing process.

Vinyl is one of the newest materials used to create exterior doors. Chambers of vinyl create the structure of these doors with added strength coming from aluminum, steel or wood. These type of doors offer good energy efficiently and the ability to stand up under just about any weather condition.

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