Pros and Cons of Steel Doors

Steel doors offer excellent security and energy efficiency, but they don’t have the same charm as wood doors and don’t withstand wear and tear as well as fiberglass and aluminum doors. Make sure you weigh the pros and cons of steel doors before purchasing one and hiring a contractor to install it.

What Are Steel Doors?

Steel doors are a type of entry door for homes, garages, and businesses. Steel doors are durable, energy efficient, and have an industrial-like appearance. People are often drawn to steel doors because they enhance the security of their home.

While steel doors are primarily composed of steel, they are not solid steel. They typically consist of two galvanized steel sheets on either side of an inner insulated foam core and a steel edge perimeter. They are available with various finishes, including paint or even vinyl that can mimic wood grain.

Pros of Steel Doors

Steel doors often have several advantages:

• Top-notch security: Steel doors are a great deterrent against intruders. Because of their visible strength, many burglars may choose not to try to force entry into your home. Steel doors are challenging to break open by hand, foot, or even with a tool.

• Energy efficiency: Steel conducts heat, but the interior foam core provides excellent insulation for your home. Steel doors often have a tighter fit than alternatives, such as wood doors, improving energy efficiency.

• Durability: Steel doors are built to last. On average, a steel front door lasts 30 to 100 years.

• Fire rated: The thicker the steel door, the greater its resistance to fires, generally speaking. Steel doors, particularly thick steel doors, are usually very fire resistant, though you should always check a door’s fire rating before purchasing.

• Low maintenance: Steel doors require little maintenance. You may need to touch up their paint now and then or remove a dent.

• Affordable: If you had to guess, you might wager that a steel door costs more than other types. But on the contrary, steel doors are usually more affordable than both fiberglass and wood doors.

Cons of Steel Doors

Steel doors also have some drawbacks:

• Prone to dents and scratches: Steel doors can get beat up quite easily. Over time, your door may get some dents and scratches from general wear and tear.

• Prone to rusting: Steel doors usually have an exterior coating, but exposed steel can rust if it chips away over time.

• Less aesthetic appeal: Though steel doors come in several colors, they may not be as cozy as a wood door or as stylish as doors with unique designs and window cutouts.

• Less customizable: Steel doors are less flexible than wood doors, which can be trimmed, planed, and sanded to fit an opening. This makes it harder to fit steel doors into custom openings. It’s also hard to cut openings for windows and doggy doors unless you custom-order a steel door.

• A heat conductor: Steel conducts heat, so your steel door can get hot theoretically. When paired with an aluminum storm door, these doors can trap intense heat between the main and storm doors, leading to peeling paint on the steel door.

• Difficult to install: Steel doors are heavy. This alone makes them difficult for the average homeowner to install. And because they can’t be cut to fit, you really need to hire a local door installer to handle this task, which can increase the overall cost.

Alternatives to Steel Doors

If steel isn’t your thing, you can choose from several other types of front doors, including:

Wood Doors

Wood doors are much more expensive than steel doors but are also much more customizable. You can paint or stain them, and they can be cut to fit.

Wood doors offer a charming rustic aesthetic that can help increase your home's curb appeal, but they also require more frequent maintenance to keep them in good condition.

Fiberglass Doors

Fiberglass doors are comparable in price to steel doors, though they’re still more expensive. Unlike steel doors, they don’t dent or rust but lack the heightened security of steel doors.

Compare steel doors vs. fiberglass doors to figure out which is a better option for your home.

Aluminum Doors

Aluminum doors are much lighter than steel doors and less likely to dent or rust. However, they’re not as secure as steel doors, nor are they as energy efficient. Aluminum doors are also slightly more expensive than steel doors.

Are Steel Doors Right for You?

Steel doors may be right for you if:

• Security is your number one priority when installing a front door.

• You want an energy-efficient front door.

• You’re shopping for a front door on a tight budget.

• You don’t want to have to worry about maintenance every year.

Consider another type of door if:

• You want to install it yourself.

• You are prioritizing the aesthetic and curb appeal.

• You want to be able to customize the door.