Interior and Exterior doors are going taller , wider , and more contempary . Therma Tru has been displaying 8-foot entry doors with an expanded glass selection that includes modern leaded glass and textured glass inserts with moldings and bold color options . Glass door walls that fold back for access to outdoor spaces . The strap hinges accent the modern style & enhance curb appeal .

Today , we will talk about  the differences between solid core wood doors & steel doors .

Solid core wood doors  are made of a thin exterior wood grain  layer  that encloses larger layers or plies of wood .  The middle of the door contains polyurethane insulation .   The main downfall with solid core doors is the deterioration of the outer veneer of wood.  If you fail to seal & refinish periodically , the door won’t last long .    Furthermore , the number of times you can  stain & refinish the door is limited due to the thin outer layer .

Steel doors are used more than any other type of exterior door in residential construction applications .  The price is reasonable & the metal skin is far more durable than wood .  Steel doors must be finished with paint instead of a stain .  You need to ask your salesperson  the thickness of  metal.  The higher the number , the  thinner the steel .   Some home stores will sell a 24 gauge residential door , however don’t make this mistake. You’ll need a   22 gauge door at a minimum .

One other piece of information you should know is that a high end priced name like Pella doesn’t equate to a higher quality & better made door .  Check with the retailer to see if the company builds everything in house .  Some door companies have their doors & frames manufactured somewhere else. Then they install there own glass & hardware packages so they can use their name on the product .

Therma Tru , Jeldwen ,  Stanley , & Reliabuit are durable & of high quality .