QUESTION: I want to replace my old warped wood front door. I am looking for one with a natural wood finish, but without all the maintenance. Is an insulated stainable fiberglass door as efficient as a wood door?ANSWER: You have several efficient front door options which simulate the appearance of real stained wood without regular maintenance. These are insulated fiberglass and stainable steel doors. Both will be much more energy efficient than a typical wood front door.The insulated stainable steel doors are sometimes the most energy efficient overall because they use refrigerator-type magnetic weatherstripping. When it is new, fiberglass door weatherstripping also seals well, but magnetic weatherstripping on a steel door will remain more airtight for many years.Since you are concerned about the appearance, an insulated stainable fiberglass door would be your best choice. The stainable finish on a steel door looks good, but the deep graining in the skin on a fiberglass is more realistic and durable. When it is stained, it is difficult to distinguish from wood. Several fiberglass door manufacturers offer a limited lifetime warranty.The surface of a fiberglass door is stained similarly to a real wood door. All of the fiberglass door manufacturers offer complete staining kits. These include cans of the stain and the top coat, a brush, rag, bottle of cleaner, gloves, and several pieces of fiberglass on which to practice the application procedure. Practice first because doing it properly is an art.The actual design of most fiberglass doors are similar. The fiberglass skins are separated by wood rails and stiles around the edges. Fibertech uses strong fiberglass inner framing instead of wood. Once the door is completed, its interior cavity is filled with polyurethane foam insulation. This foam expands inside the door to eliminate any open interior voids.Fiberglass doors, because they are not magnetic, use sliding and compression-types of weatherstripping. Some are foam-filled, with a durable exterior covering, to increase the durability. They are often designed with removable weatherstripping to facility the staining and finishing of the door. This also makes it simple to replace the weatherstripping if it gets damaged.Most people prefer some decorative glass in the door. Depending upon the type of glass selected, adding it can sometimes double the price of the door. When selecting clear glass, be sure to order low-e double panes as the minimum quality.Triple-pane and spectrally selective (controls the type of light) glass is also available. Most decorative glass (beveled, etched or leaded) is triple panes with the decorative pane in the center. This is efficient and improves security. If you have space, consider adding a sidelight which opens for addition area for moving large items in and out.

Send inquiries to James Dulley, Butler Eagle, 6906 Royalgreen Dr., Cincinnati, OH