Solid Wood Doors vs. Composite Doors

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The great debate continues about the best option for exterior doors for your home. So let’s compare, from real experience, the pros and cons of Solid Wood Doors vs. Composite/ Fiberglass Doors. 

Solid Wood Doors – PROS

Well it may be obvious but the biggest advantage of solid wood doors is their BEAUTY! You cannot beat the appearance of a solid wood door. I replaced all of my exterior doors on my home and has an antique Fir Front door I found that fit my home perfectly! The character of this door is so beautiful. 

Solid Wood Doors can be polyurethaned, stained or painted. So the options for finishing a solid wood door are great!

Solid Wood Doors – CONS

When you take away the beauty of a front door made from real solid wood you will find a few big disadvantages. First, bring its durability! Especially when it comes to front doors, a solid wood door can get dings, dents and warp. 

Maintenance is the last CON! You need to care for your wood door if you want it to continue to look good. Especially if you live in a 4 seasonal climate you will need to keep it protected from moisture and from sun exposure. Also living in Alberta, Canada means that these wood doors expand and shrink multiple times a year. 

Composite Doors – Pros

A major trend for building contractors is to install composite entry doors. The pros of these doors is that they come in multiple designs and styles. There are composite doors that come with wood grain detail that can be refinished to mimic a real wood door. 

This style of door is extremely durable! They are a great option for high traffic areas and provide great heat and cool resistance for your home. 

Composite Doors – Cons

The #1 disadvantage of a composite door is the unique character that they lack. Every door looks similar and they lack that beauty that wood doors have. 

While factory finished composite doors (that are usually white or a solid color) have a durable finish, faux wood finishes can be finicky. Britt was lucky to find a local girl who was experienced in faux finishes on composite doors. These doors have held up for 6 years and still look great. However, we have seen multiple composite doors in our communities that weren’t finished the proper way and they are flaking and fading quickly. 

Before you give a composite door a wood stain appearance do the research to optimize the durability of your entry door. Here is a simple formula for sealing a composite door:

1. Apply a solid paint colour as a primer

2. Paint with gel stains of your choice.

3. Apply a clear Polyurethane to seal the door.

Also, we should note that while a composite door may be more affordable in the beginning the cost of refinishing a composite door is expensive. It can be over $300 or more per door to have them refinished.

What we recommend

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​	SOLID WOOD DOOR	COMPOSITE DOOR
PROS / CONS	1 = Weak or Low  5 = Good or High
Beauty	5	2
Durability	2	5
Finish Options	4	3
High Usage	2	5
Price	4	3

To sum up this decision as to the best entry door for your farmhouse we would say …If it is a high-traffic area where people (or specifically kids) will not be careful we would recommend a composite door. However, if the style is very important and you are careful about the wear and tear of your home then we would say go for a solid wood door!

Let us know below what you think the best option would be for your home. A Solid Wood door or a Composite Door?

Get more ideas for styling the exterior of your home with our best tips on outdoor living spaces!

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