Why ProVia Wood-Look Fiberglass Doors Are Better than Real Wood for Minneapolis Homes

One of the big home remodeling and design trends going strong over the past couple of years is incorporating natural materials.  The use of real wood for items like entry doors and windows fits in with that trend.  The problem, however, is that real wood exterior products don’t fit well with Minneapolis climate.  Our extreme heat and cold as well as heavy rains, ice, and snow (not to mention high winds) is very hard on wood.  So is direct sunlight.  Though we install real wood entry and patio doors, we don’t recommend them except for certain circumstances, like historic homes.

Why?  Exterior wood requires lots of upkeep – frequent repainting or re-staining is needed, which is both time consuming and costly.  Heat and cold cycles can cause both doors and windows to shrink or expand in their openings, eventually warping the frames.  Warped doors and windows aren’t very good at keeping air and moisture out.  Not only does it affect the comfort in your home but also your finances in terms of heating and cooling expenses.  We’ve got a better solution for you if you like the idea of wood entry doors:  fiberglass wood-look doors from ProVia, like the Signet® door shown below.  (Photo courtesy of ProVia.)

 

Advantages of Fiberglass Doors Over Wood

In addition to the lack of regular maintenance of the finish, there are some distinct advantages that fiberglass exterior doors have over genuine wood:

• Wood by its very nature is not impervious; even with the best protective finish, it can absorb moisture.  In contrast, fiberglass doors are molded in one piece; there are no seams to let in moisture (or air).
• Even with the very best in maintenance, wood doors deteriorate over time.  Fiberglass doors have a much longer expected lifespan.  Depending on the manufacturer, you can expect your fiberglass door to last 25-70 years.  The ProVia fiberglass entry doors you have us install will likely outlive you!  In contrast, with proper care a quality wood door might last 20 or so years. (Although with our climate we’d say the lifespan is on the lower end.) But in those 20 years you’ll need to put time and money into refinishing.
• Fiberglass doors resist damage from water, heat, cold, sunlight, etc.  All of those can be particularly hard on genuine wood exterior doors.  In fact, if your wood entry door is exposed to direct sunlight, we recommend you have a storm door installed over it to protect it.
• Fiberglass is a much more eco-friendly option; unlike wood, it’s made from sustainable materials and is considered a ‘green’ product.  This is particularly important if you’re concerned about your impact on the environment.
• And then there’s the upfront installation cost.  Generally, a fiberglass entry door is less expensive than a comparable wood door.  And when you factor in things like the cost of refinishing wood doors as well as the energy savings fiberglass doors provide (they are more energy efficient than wood doors), they become even more economical.

Window Outfitters, Inc. is a licensed Minnesota home remodeling contractor specializing in energy-efficient replacement windows and exterior doors. If you’d like to see more fiberglass doors from ProVia, why not contact us to set up a private appointment at our Savage MN showroom?   We are the only certified ProVia installer in the Minneapolis area as well as a Platinum Dealer.  

 

 

Window Outfitters is a premier Window Replacement, doors, siding contractor and installer. As Contractor in the St Paul, Minneapolis, (Twin Cities) Minnesota (MN) metro, we proudly serve, but are not limited to, the following areas: Minneapolis Energy Efficient Vinyl Windows, Replacement Window Contractors Minnesota, Burnsville, Apple Valley, Lakeville, Savage, Bloomington, Edina, Richfield, Eagan, St Paul, Hastings, Minnetonka, Plymouth, Maple Grove, Eden Prairie, Farmington MN, Chaska, Shakopee, Chanhassen, Victoria, Mendota Heights Anderson Windows Minneapolis, Marvin Windows Minneapolis.