[hellothere123]

Looking for recommendations on the best exterior door to buy...I'm in Canada, so winters are cold.

Is steel the best ?

 

[Ron6519]

I'm not a fan of steel doors. Even with fancy glass they look cheap. I'd rather put in a wood grained fiberglass door. It's insulated and endures temperature extremes better than wood.
Ron

 

[Chemist1961]

HT123,
I have been working on my house and doors and reinsulating over the last 6 months. Dropme a pm if you need or just reply here I have lots of local info from several good Ontario door manufacturers who ship. Where are you that it is so cold?
It`s warm here in SWO :laughing:

 

[hellothere123]

Sorry,

I should have mentioned that it is for an exterior door on my house.

Here is the differences I have found, wood door is out because of the cost of getting a quality door compared to steel and fiberglass, but the only bad thing I see with steel is that it dents...just looking for opinions...thanks

• Steel doors have energy efficient foam core insulation and are fully weatherstripped by the manufacturer. They are highly resistant to shrinking, swelling and warping. Their tough steel construction will withstand years of extreme weather conditions with minimum maintenance. The doors can be purchased with predrilled doorknob and lockset holes, making installation even easier. Steel doors come preprimed and ready to paint.
• Fiberglass doors offer the same energy saving and easy installation qualities as steel doors. Fiberglass doors have wood grain texture molded into the door so they give the appearance of a real wood door when painted or stained. Their high quality composite construction make these doors resistant to all sorts of weather as well as scratches and dents. These are an excellent choice for extreme climates and high traffic entrances.
• Wood doors offer the most traditional look. The familiar look and feel of a well-crafted wooden door sends an inviting message of home and hearth. The substantial weight of a wooden door adds a sense of security and sturdiness to your home. These doors may be painted or stained for a natural, warm appearance. Wooden doors are usually made using frame and panel construction to counteract the effects of climatic or seasonal changes.

 

[Chemist1961]

HT, If you go steel there are different grades. Suggest you go with a heavier gauge as it is more resistathe nt to denting. HD has these in the Masonite line, however I live near MDL door factory and they have GREAT customer service and offer steel doors as well...check your local Home Hardware/Home Building Centre, etc for MDL.
Also have a fibreglass door I am about to install, exterior, facing West. I am told it is very weather resistant. A neighbour has one stained as OAK, embossed grain and it is stunning, looks very high end and natural. This unit is via Golden Windows here in Kitchener,not the manufacturer ......however I find there service is a pain.
I would also recommnend products from Stassburger windows and doors based in Kitchener...very good folks, have met the owners of both Strassburger and MDL and would highly recommend their products...DEPENDING of course on where you live......Strassburger I think supplies SWO market.

 

[twracc]

Can anyone provide advice or a link on finishing a fibreglass exterior door if you already have one? I followed the mfr's advice and used a wipe-on gel stain, but I'm not happy with the result. I'd be interested in knowing if a) can I strip it (finish has been on 6 months), and b) can a finish be brush/rolled on? Wiping with a rag was not effective. The surface is raised panel and I'm looking for a deep chestnut or redish walnut. There will be zero sun exposure. And one other thing. It has an arched transom window. Frame is PVC. Can that be painted, and if so, any tips re: priming, etc. Thanks. Dave (Toronto)The

 

[diy'er on LI]

we currently have gorgeous wood front doors behind storm doors that are a wreck. They have direct south/western exposure. the summer sun/heat caused them to crack. I would lean towards either fiberglass or steel.....

 

[Ron6519]

we currently have gorgeous wood front doors behind storm doors that are a wreck. They have direct south/western exposure. the summer sun/heat caused them to crack. I would lean towards either fiberglass or steel.....

How does one have, "gorgeous wood front doors behind storm doors that are a wreck."
They're either a wreck or they're gorgeous, they can't be both.
Ron

 

[Ron6519]

Can anyone provide advice or a link on finishing a fibreglass exterior door if you already have one? I followed the mfr's advice and used a wipe-on gel stain, but I'm not happy with the result. I'd be interested in knowing if a) can I strip it (finish has been on 6 months), and b) can a finish be brush/rolled on? Wiping with a rag was not effective. The surface is raised panel and I'm looking for a deep chestnut or redish walnut. There will be zero sun exposure. And one other thing. It has an arched transom window. Frame is PVC. Can that be painted, and if so, any tips re: priming, etc. Thanks. Dave (Toronto)The

The manufacturer provided instructions with the door.
What went wrong?
Ron

 

[twracc]

The manufacturer provided instructions with the door.
What went wrong?
Ron

There is zero absorption, so the more I played with the cheesecloth trying to get a blemish free finish, I simply wound up creating more. And it tends to build up in the raised panel detail. We painted it in the afternoon (on sawhorses), but it was still tacky late in the evening. I had to hang it for the night. But it's pretty heavy and in trying to re-hang it, we got some finger prints around the edges. Although the stain wasn't completely dry, it was dry enough that our attempts at touchup still look bad.
I'm not an expert. My previous experience was on wood. Wipe it on, let it sit, wipe it off. But this fibreglass doesn't absorb anything. It appears you're supposed to put it on and let it dry, and then you're done. The instructions didn't go into much detail other than to say finish with a cloth-applied gel. My local paint store were honest and said they didnt' have any experience in this regard.

 

[Ron6519]

There is zero absorption, so the more I played with the cheesecloth trying to get a blemish free finish, I simply wound up creating more. And it tends to build up in the raised panel detail. We painted it in the afternoon (on sawhorses), but it was still tacky late in the evening. I had to hang it for the night. But it's pretty heavy and in trying to re-hang it, we got some finger prints around the edges. Although the stain wasn't completely dry, it was dry enough that our attempts at touchup still look bad.
I'm not an expert. My previous experience was on wood. Wipe it on, let it sit, wipe it off. But this fibreglass doesn't absorb anything. It appears you're supposed to put it on and let it dry, and then you're done. The instructions didn't go into much detail other than to say finish with a cloth-applied gel. My local paint store were honest and said they didnt' have any experience in this regard.

I've stained the Therma-tru fiberglass doors, but always used solid stains and a brush. As I vaguely remember, there were caveats about the type of stain you should use and should not use.
Ron.

 

[diy'er on LI]

How does one have, "gorgeous wood front doors behind storm doors that are a wreck."
They're either a wreck or they're gorgeous, they can't be both.
Ron

let me rephrase that... they WERE gorgeous wood doors.... very substantial, very $$$$, and very impressive.... they now have a hairline crack down the middle of one door becuase of excessive heat / sunlight. So I consider them now to be a wreck.... but they're still pretty.

Honestly, I don't think my comment was so difficult to decipher what I meant......

 

[Ron6519]

let me rephrase that... they WERE gorgeous wood doors.... very substantial, very $$$$, and very impressive.... they now have a hairline crack down the middle of one door becuase of excessive heat / sunlight. So I consider them now to be a wreck.... but they're still pretty.

Honestly, I don't think my comment was so difficult to decipher what I meant......

I'm just not too bright.
Ron

 

[twracc]

I've stained the Therma-tru fiberglass doors, but always used solid stains and a brush. As I vaguely remember, there were caveats about the type of stain you should use and should not use.
Ron.

Any thoughts on whether I can strip my failed attempt and start over?

 

[Ron6519]

Any thoughts on whether I can strip my failed attempt and start over?

I don't see why not. Just check with the door manufacturer for any caveats on strippers and the cleaning processes.
Ron

 

[twracc]

I don't see why not. Just check with the door manufacturer for any caveats on strippers and the cleaning processes.
Ron

Thanks Ron. Sorry for the lateness in acknowledging. Weekends are cottage time and I get my pee pee whacked if I touch the computer mid week when the bride has other jobs for me to do.

BTW She stained the door and thinks it's "good enough". It drives me nuts!

Dave