2026 Exterior Door Review: Finding the Best Front Door
The front door is the first impression for your home, and so finding the best exterior door is an important element often overlooked in designing a new custom home or renovating your existing home.
The right door for you is dependent on what you value and are seeking in the front door. I typically recommend an elegant wood door (Simpson) for an unmatched luxury entry or a high-quality fiberglass (Provia) for those that want something a little more robust and not minding having a perfect-looking wood finish.
Here is a breakdown on how to select the best exterior doors:
Material: Fiberglass vs. Steel vs. Wood
Fiberglass
Modern fiberglass doors (specifically from top brands) have gotten pretty good looking. The place where they are the weakest aesthetically is if you want a wood-looking door. From a distance, fiberglass can look indistinguishable from wood but as you approach and touch it, it becomes apparent that it is not wood. It wins on thermal performance and typically good warranties, which makes it a top contender when selecting an exterior door.
Wood
Wood is beautiful, but it can be a little bit of a commitment. You aren't just buying a door; you’re buying an heirloom that needs a little upkeep to keep looking good. Luckily in Colorado, the humidity level is lower and so moisture isn’t as big of a deal. Just make sure that the door is properly coated every so often. Homes in Park Hill or Wash Park have ample front porches and so a wood front door is well protected. There's a reason that wood has been the undisputed choice for high end homes for centuries.
Steel
While great for the feeling of security and budget, steel can be high-maintenance. It dents and scratches easily, and if you don't hit those scratches and touch-up paint immediately (Bondo for deep gouges and paint), they will rust. If you go steel, find something at least 20-gauge (smaller number is best) thickness to avoid a door that dents and dings too easily.
Exterior Door Brands
Finding the right brand at the right price is the hardest part for getting exterior doors. Some companies will try to sell inferior doors at a large price preying on customers' limited knowledge, especially with the expected large cost of a door.
ProVia
Provia manufactures high-quality fiberglass doors and has some of the best looking wood-look finishes. They make the slab, the frame, the threshold, and the glass. When everything is made under one roof, it is easier for quality control and a seamless warranty.
Therma-Tru
Therma-Tru makes a great quality slab for the door but it’s often sent to a third-party hanger to be put in a frame and then on to another finisher to be painted. That makes the warranty a little more complicated. The door quality can run from big box store to a little above that.
Simpson
Simpson makes well-crafted wood doors in the Pacific Northwest that have a large catalog of customizable designs with a wide range of wood species. This makes them a premier choice for homeowners seeking a natural, high-performance entryway that ages beautifully with proper maintenance. With being a natural material, there can be some issues with the wood.
Big-Box Doors
Brands like Feather River or Therma-Tru or the big-box specific lines are stripped-down products designed for a price point. With warranties as short as two years and a laundry list of exclusions, you’ll likely find that the doors won’t be resilient. You’re better off going to the Habitat ReStore or Extra Building Materials.
Window Companies
Large window and door companies usually offer a range of doors like Anderson or Marvin. Depending on the line, they can range from bad to good quality. Since I recommend good quality window company lines, they offer a great option to match the windows but if I am replacing just an exterior door, I recommend door-centered companies.
Local Woodworkers
Often overlooked is that there are plenty of woodworkers that are able to make a custom, elegant wood front door that is stunning. With the escalating prices of the marquee brands, local woodworkers can be competitive with pricing.
Security
Security concerns are often thought about when selecting doors. In reality, it is the door hardware that is where the real security lies. For forced entry, the door frame is what is the weakest link that splits open when busting in the door. For exterior doors, a quality deadbolt is what is needed for security. Beyond that, windows become the desired access point.
Home Projects
Working on projects for your existing home or thinking about building a custom home can be a daunting task. Don't hesitate to reach out if you're needing any advice, see my calendar for scheduling a time to talk.
