There are many unique styles and materials available to select from when choosing an exterior door. The most common material are solid wood and steel with an insulated core.

Exterior door manufacturers are also now using alternative materials such as vinyl and fiberglass to create strong doors which do not require much maintenance. There are many advantages to a solid wood exterior door, including the the beautiful look this strong door provides.

There are several different species of wood used to make solid wood doors with cedar, walnut, mahogany, pine, and oak being some of the most common. Your solid wood exterior door will need maintenance to give it protection from changing weather conditions.

While many manufacturers will treat their wood exterior doors with a preservative a protective coating will still need to be applied regularly to protect them for the long run. You will find that wood exterior doors will expand and contract in response to moisture and temperature changes.

The performance of the door will often be determined on the climate in which they are installed. Installing a wood exterior door in a climate which is moist and hot will mean it will need regular maintenance annually. So before you buy consider all the choices you have about exterior doors.

Steel is another material that many people are familiar with when it comes to exterior doors. These doors most often use a wood frame which have been filled with foam insulation and then covered by an outer skin of steel. Strenth and stability are provided by the wood frame while the foam insulation provides greater energy efficiency. There is very little maintenance involved with a steel door.

Fiberglass exterior doors are produced in a way very similar to steel doors except for the fact that fiberglass is used to create the outer layer. These doors are great for long term durability and energy efficiency. An embossing process can even be used to give the outer skin of fiberglass the look of real wood.

Vinyl is one of the newest materials used to create exterior doors. These doors feature a several chambered vinyl structure with added strength coming from aluminum, steel or wood. Vinyl exterior doors are known for excellent energy efficiency and the ability to stand up under just about any weather condition.