Double entrance door - Wood vs fibreglass vs aluminium

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zyo

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#196722 10-Jun-2016 13:21

We have been considering replacing our front entrance door with a double door.

The quote we received for a double aluminium door is well over our budget (6k including installation and glass)

Fibreglass seems to be a really affordable alternative (not sure if they can be stained to look like wood?)

Any suggestions?

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#1569406 10-Jun-2016 13:26

When you say look like wood, are you talking about unpainted wood look? I have seen a fake grain on many non wood doors, it looks terrible, but so does most wood IMO.

Richard rich.ms

zyo

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#1569413 10-Jun-2016 13:37

richms:

When you say look like wood, are you talking about unpainted wood look? I have seen a fake grain on many non wood doors, it looks terrible, but so does most wood IMO.

I am referring to a stained wood grain look

timmmay

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#1569414 10-Jun-2016 13:41

Consider PVC, you can do white or an oak look. Better material than aluminium generally. Ours were around $4K from memory. We used ThermalFrame recently.

zyo

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#1569424 10-Jun-2016 14:01

timmmay:

Consider PVC, you can do white or an oak look. Better material than aluminium generally. Ours were around $4K from memory. We used ThermalFrame recently.

that's still pretty pricy though, I think Fibreglass is around 2-3k.

mattwnz

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#1569428 10-Jun-2016 14:07

Dimensions and does it have side windows? A colored glass door by itself I thought was about 2k. Solid timber after about the same. Painted doors are cheaper.

Hammerer

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#1569431 10-Jun-2016 14:12

If the entrance is exposed to rain then there are advantages to having double doors that are more dimensionally stable than wood.

richms

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#1569433 10-Jun-2016 14:14

Also the location of the bolt on the secondary door matters, I have seen it accessible from inside when both doors are closed on many wood doors, making a deadbolt ineffective since you can just pull the bolt and push both doors.

Richard rich.ms

timmmay

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#1569434 10-Jun-2016 14:17

I wouldn't buy wooden doors any more as they're higher maintenance. Never heard of fiberglass doors, a quick Google doesn't show up much.

zyo

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#1569435 10-Jun-2016 14:18

mattwnz: Dimensions and does it have side windows? A colored glass door by itself I thought was about 2k. Solid timber after about the same. Painted doors are cheaper.

Currently there is a single door with side windows. It's a fairly modern house so I don't think colored glass will fit.

We want to replace the whole thing with just double doors (glazed)

zyo

488 posts

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#1569436 10-Jun-2016 14:21

richms:

Also the location of the bolt on the secondary door matters, I have seen it accessible from inside when both doors are closed on many wood doors, making a deadbolt ineffective since you can just pull the bolt and push both doors.

My understand is the whole frame will be replaced and the new double door will open inwards so I assume the bolt won't be accessible externally?

TBH there are lots of ways to get into my property, the bolts are least of my problems :)

zyo

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#1569438 10-Jun-2016 14:23

timmmay:

I wouldn't buy wooden doors any more as they're higher maintenance. Never heard of fiberglass doors, a quick Google doesn't show up much.

Bunnings sell Duramax fibre glass entrance doors (I assume we can get two of these and make a double door?)

https://www.bunnings.co.nz/duramax-1980x910mm-vertical-woodgrain-entrance-door-fvwg_p00125409

richms

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#1569440 10-Jun-2016 14:25

Usually there is a rebate on the edges of double doors so that there is overlap. Not sure how that would be done on fiberglass if it was not done at manufacture time.

Richard rich.ms

timmmay

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#1569445 10-Jun-2016 14:27

Ah I just wouldn't bother with anything like that. Get a proper PVC or if you like aluminium door, with good seals, good insulation. Yes they're expensive, but they'll last a long time. Maybe fiberglass will, but given it can be trimmed to size it probably doesn't have all the seals. Plus if you buy PVC/aluminium someone else does the install, which makes it easier.

zyo

488 posts

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#1569452 10-Jun-2016 14:39

timmmay:

Ah I just wouldn't bother with anything like that. Get a proper PVC or if you like aluminium door, with good seals, good insulation. Yes they're expensive, but they'll last a long time. Maybe fiberglass will, but given it can be trimmed to size it probably doesn't have all the seals. Plus if you buy PVC/aluminium someone else does the install, which makes it easier.

Yea we are not going to buy two of these from Bunnings and DIY. At the moment we are just trying to get an idea what the cost will be for each option.

If we do go with either Fibreglass or aluminium it will most likely be custom made with our existing Yale lock fitted.

richms

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#1569454 10-Jun-2016 14:43

PVC ones usually have their own locking solution which is multipoint rather than just a single deadbolt like wooden doors have, so if you go that way you probably will not be reusing your lock.

Richard rich.ms

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