The forsythias are exploding all across Morris County in vibrant yellow, signaling that spring has officially arrived. As Randolph residents emerge from their homes after winter’s chill, those noticing their front, side or rear entryways are approaching the end of their life expectancy may find themselves in a quandary as to what the first step is in replacing their door(s).

The first question to ask is, what are you looking to accomplish with a new entry door: is it energy savings, security, aesthetics, or a combination of all three?

Let’s explore the options:

There are 3 material options to considering when replacing entry door.

1. Wood
2. Steel
3. Fiberglass

Each have merit, so to familiarize yourself with them will help you choose what will best fit your need and wallet.

Wood is sturdy, reasonably energy efficient and provides the look the other two materials aspire to imitate. Wood doors can be custom-made to fit most sizes, and will last a long time. However, with wood comes the inevitable maintenance factor. From time to time they will need to be repainted or stained, and because they’re made of wood, they are subject to expansion and contraction, especially during our lovely hot, humid New Jersey summers.

Steel doors are durable, attractive and highly energy-efficient, provided they are fully insulated with a polyurethane core, such as the Legacy Series by ProVia Doors. These doors are available in a wide variety of glass options including full, half, and three quarters, as well as top glass, oval and half round. Numerous decorative glass offerings are also available.

Painted steel doors go through a rigorous process. At ProVia, for example, their hot-dipped galvannealed step provides 300% more coating thickness than other methods, making the door rust-resistant both inside and out. After that, a 2-part base coat is applied; then oven-curing locks in the durability. The door is then coated with another 2-part urethane, catalyst-hardened finish coat by means of an electrostatic application, the same method used by the auto industry. Lastly the door is oven-cured for a second time, creating a long lasting finish.

When it comes to peace of mind, no other door material offers the security of steel. Not all steel entry doors are created alike, so make sure you choose one that has at least .22-gauge thickness, preferably a .20. Not only will it provided maximum security for you and your family, it’s less likely to dent and ding like the thinner .26 gauge doors, typically sold at box stores.

If you’re looking to replicate wood, but don’t want the maintenance that comes with it, Fiberglass doors give you the best of both worlds. Not only do they capture the true essence and feel of wood, even up close they will fool the most curious onlooker into thinking they’re real thing. Both ProVia’s Signet and Heritage Series fiberglass doors are stained by hand, and undergo a seven-step finishing system that includes double oven-curing, hand sanding and staining as well as a UV-resistant coating that will protect the finish from harmful ultra violet rays. They are engineered to mimic all the popular wood finishes, including oak, mahogany, cherry, fir and knotty alder, so even the grains will look true-to-life when compared to their wood counterparts.

As for energy efficiency, both steel and fiberglass are neck and neck; where the rubber meets the road is in the appearance. Finishing touches like designer hardware in Lifetime Brass, Satin Nickle or Aged Bronze finishes will make your new entryway stand out, and give you years of hassle-free service while enhancing and protecting your home.

Here’s a little-known tip- use a steel door on the side and rear entrances to your home, where break-ins are more likely, and use a fiberglass door to enhance the front of your home and maximize the return on your investment.