When it comes to choosing an exterior door for your commercial property, you have two main material choices: steel or fiberglass. Which should you choose? Most of the advice that you’ll read on this subject is meant for homeowners. But, commercial doors are a bit different. You should work with a commercial door technician who understands your needs. In the meantime, read our quick explanation on how to compare steel vs fiberglass exterior doors for your business.
For Durability: Steel Doors
Companies that need a more durable door for security reasons should choose a steel door. Steel is simply stronger than fiberglass. In fact, you can also choose more secure steel-stiffened doors if there is a risk that someone will try to break your door down, especially if they might use tools or equipment.
Fiberglass doors can offer enough durability for some businesses, but they will also wear down faster in the face of adverse weather. Steel doors will last longer and look better—although you should know that these doors can still develop scratches or dents from impact.
You should note that both of these options are superior to wood doors. Neither steel nor fiberglass will warp with changes in humidity or rain. Both resist rust and corrosion well, assuming they are treated properly. Wood doors are vulnerable to weather, which is why very few businesses choose them.
For Design Choices: Fiberglass Doors
Both steel and fiberglass doors offer a wide range of styles. However, fiberglass doors offer more. This material can be stained or painted, which also extends your design options. If what you care most about is choosing a door in a particular style, then it is most likely that you’ll end up choosing a fiberglass door.
For Maintenance: Fiberglass Doors
Both of these door types are easy to maintain in comparison to a wood door. However, fiberglass is a little bit simpler. All you to is clean off the door with a gentle cloth and some soapy water. If you want, you can use a garden hose to rinse the door. Do not use a pressure washer, though, as you can significantly damage the door.
Steel doors are easy to wipe down too. The only thing that’s different is that any dent or scratch in a steel door needs to be repaired or at least resealed or painted to prevent rusting. You’ll need to assess the door for scratches every so often to make sure you don’t need to seal it.
For Energy Efficiency: Fiberglass Doors
Those businesses that need the most energy-efficient doors may end up choosing fiberglass. The high-end versions of these doors achieve better insulation than steel.
Consider Building Type
The type of property that your business runs out of matters a great deal when it comes to choosing a door. Those who have repurposed residential homes for their business should stick to styles that are more familiar on homes. Those who work out of dedicated commercial buildings should avoid the home look and choose a steel or glass door that will match the building.
