Best type of Entry (Front Door)?
Question:I want to replace my 30 year old front door on my house. I've been advised that fiberglass is the best. My Situation warrants a 3 foot wide front door with 2 sidelites, 12" each. Well I priced the style I like.
About 4 thousand dollars, minus installation! Crip!
I live in NE Pa. and the door receives terrible wind weather and cold. The model I like is Therma Tru doors. Does this seem normal to you or am I still living in the 70's! Thanks.
Answers:
Fiberglass is the only way to go (in my opinion), and ThermaTru is about as good as they come (again, my opinion). Wood is out, maintenance nightmare. Steel is the middle choice, but can rust and does not insulate as well. Fiberglass is not maintenance free, but is a bit more forgiving if you skip maintenance.
This door unit could easily run $4000 or more, depending upon the style of glass and the type of fiberglass door. Before you give up on the idea of fiberglass, look at something with a square glass instead of oval. Also, the Fiber-Classic doors are much less expensive than the Classic-Craft doors. The Fiber-Classic does not have the deep profile molding that like the Classic-Craft and the color is not as nice, but they are still nice looking doors.
If you are already looking at a square glass in the Fiber-Classic line, I would check with another dealer just to be sure.
A steel door with similar glass will be less expensive than either of the fiberglass options, but you loose a good deal of the insulating value and staining is much more difficult. That is not an issue if you intend to paint.
Now, evidently I was not clear on the price issue. If you are pricing one of the Classic-Craft doors, especially with an oval glass, $4000 may not be out of line. Other fiberglass doors by ThermaTru (or another manufacturer, for that matter) should be less. The deep moldings on the Classic-Craft line are expensive, oval glass is expensive.
Also, I am under the impression that the door you are pricing will fit your hole. If the door is in poor condition, the frame is likely not much better. For the added cost of a frame, you really can't afford the time or labor needed to fit a new door in an old frame -- hanging, boring for lockset, etc.
<>You might want to consider steel-over-solid-wood-core. You will probably save quite a bit of money and it will hold up well (no warping and the coating makes it pretty much maintenance-free).
Sorry to disagree with be_a_lert, but check around. You will save a lot of cash by finding a door that fits your original opening. You also have to ask yourself if it is worth the four thousand dollars to put in the new and different door. If you are concerned about cost, chances are you can get a door that fits the original opening for about 2500$ cheaper. It really boils down to what you want and can afford. You can also insulate around your existing door for about 100$ Its not the door losing the heat, but the seams around the door. Nor does the glass lose heat, but the seams around the glass.
Entry doors are expensive. Consumers get a little bit price gouged due to the entry is almost the entire setting for curb appeal. It's important for you to get the best quality, as you have severe weather, also get an experienced doorhanger. They aren't cheap either. No wood=no termites, no wood=no warpage, and the name of your choice sounds like it will insulate well, and make sure your sidelights are dual paned. Home improvement items have gone way up in price along with real estate, but look at the bright side; at least you're not buying a house!
No, that price is about right. I have a 3' front entry w/2 sidelights and a transom above. The least expensive bid that I received was 5 grand, and I was obsessed with pricing around. So, if you take away the transom for you, that price is about right. It's not so much the door, but those sidelights that jack up the price. To save money, try going w/ a solid door and just leaded glass for the sidelights...just a thought.
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