Shopping for Entry Doors

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