On the glossy pages of most door
catalogs lie a dazzling array of door
patterns, glass options, and
hardware, but any technical information
describing the
construction and long-term performance
of the door is usually in
small type. This article takes a
look behind all the trappings at
the basic components of entry
doors.
Skins and Finishes
In an effort to combine the look
of wood with the performance of
an insulated core, manufacturers
have resorted to composite materials,
some more effective than
others.
Fiberglass. Therma-Tru first
introduced a fiberglass composite
shell in 1982. Since then, many
other manufacturers have introduced
similar products. The
fiberglass surface is embossed with
a wood grain pattern, and can be
stained. From the street, these
doors look convincingly like
wood, but up