Exterior Door Materials Compared: Wood, Fiberglass, Steel, and Composite

Longevity is one of the three things we weigh, along with price and function, and fiberglass is usually the material we reach for first because it holds up over time and still takes paint or stain. Wood gives you real beauty, but it's more likely to warp or take on water damage if the opening gets direct sun or rain. Steel holds up well too, but it can only be painted, not stained, and it's the material most likely to dent or rust in a wet spot. Across all four front door materials, the composite doors we supply are fiberglass, so they share that same durability.

No. Steel can be painted, but it can't be stained. If you want a stained finish, steel isn't the right material, and we'd point you toward wood or fiberglass instead. Steel is also the material most likely to dent or show rust if the opening sits in a wet or exposed spot.

It depends on how much direct sun and rain that opening actually gets, because wood is the material most likely to warp, expand, or contract enough to cause water damage. We won't put a wood door in an opening that takes direct sun or rain. If your entry is covered or faces away from the weather, wood can still be the right call; if it doesn't, we'll steer you toward fiberglass instead.

There are four types of doors to weigh here: wood, fiberglass, steel, and composite, and the advantages and disadvantages come down to upkeep versus finish. Wood can be painted or stained and gives an authentic look, but it takes more care and may need refinishing over time. Steel and fiberglass both need less upkeep, though steel only takes paint while fiberglass is just as customizable, taking paint or stain the same way wood does. Composite, in the doors we supply, is fiberglass, so it fits in that same low-upkeep group.

A low-maintenance material doesn't rule out curb appeal. Fiberglass takes paint or stain and can still match the look you want for your entry, sidelight, or glass panels, without asking for the upkeep wood does. Manufacturers describe wood as having the most natural, authentic beauty of the four materials, but that look comes with more care over time.

It depends on what each opening faces. An entry that gets full sun or rain may call for fiberglass or steel, while a covered, protected opening can still work with wood. Rather than using wood and steel doors interchangeably across every opening, we match the material to what that specific spot actually faces.

Yes. Price is one of the three things we weigh when choosing the right door material for your home, along with longevity and function. We don't default to whichever material costs the least if it's the wrong fit for that spot; the trade-off has to make sense for the opening, not just the invoice.

If you're not sure how much sun or rain your entry gets, fiberglass is usually the starting point we recommend, because it holds up well across a wider, more weather-resistant range of exposure than wood does. Steel is a reasonable option too, as long as you're fine with a painted finish rather than a stained one. Wood is still worth considering, but only once we've confirmed the opening is protected from direct sun and rain.