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[Trailrun23]

We need to replace our front door. It is the original door put in circa 1979. The wood swells now in the heat and humidity making it harder and harder to open and close. I have had contractors say a fiberglass or aluminum entryway door is much better than wood now...nobody uses wood does anymore, etc. our home is in a popular neighborhood and houses are expensive. Don't want to cheapen the look with fiberglass or aluminum...what kind of front door do you have? TIA!

[Somertime]

I have a fiberglass door with a glass insert, very attractive and the humidity has no effect on it.  There is no maintenace either.  They come in choices of colors.  I would not advise aluminum.  Look on Home Depot, Lowes, etc. to see if you find something you like.

[We rescue cats]

Our front door is original to the house, it's solid oak with leaded glass windows. The door does not swell but it needs to be refinished every 10 years or so due to the sun beating on it, we have a Andersen storm door that protects it from the weather.

The deck doors are also oak, by Andersen, we have not had an issue with them, they've been on there since we built the deck 27 years ago.

[Janey2]

I have a fiberglass front door for 10 years. It looks the exact same as the day I purchased it. No up keep involved. It has a glass insert and I find it attractive. It is a heavy door which I like for security purposes.

[jewel-maven]

I have a steel door mainly because in my area security is an issue. Fiberglass is a good option vs. aluminum. However, considering the home values in your area, you might want to replace with a good wood door. Considering that your current door has lasted nearly 50 years, replacing with another wood door would most likely last at least another 50 years! Good luck and don't let a contractor sway you from what you consider is best for you and your situation. 😊

[Goldengate8361]

Do you really need a new door? I would not be looking to replace a wood door just because it's a little harder to open now. 

[On It]

Some here are using custom iron front doors. They are a combination of iron and glass. I am sorry I do not know how to post pictures, but you might search iron front doors to see if you like them.

Edited to add: if you are familiar with Young and the Restless, they look like the front door on the Abbott mansion.

[SilleeMee]

My front door is made of solid wood but it's very old and needs replacing mainly b/c it's not good at keeping the hot/cold out. Wood is just not a good insulator.  I will be replacing it will an insulated steel door.

People around here spend as much on storm doors as they do on the entry doors themselves. After all, a storm door is what you see first when you come to the front door.

[Queen of shop]

@Trailrun23  How about just having the door sanded down and restained? A wood door is really nice to have. A good carpenter can also plane a tad off the door top or bottom to stop the sticking.

I have a fiberglass front door with a glass insert and a screen door to protect it. No sticking problem.

My back kitchen door is custom wood. I went to an all door factory many years ago. I styled a glass insert for it with tulips, lillies and tall and short leaves. Some other foliage too. I love it.

Keep searching. Don't give up on what you really want. Good luck.

[Carmie]

We have a fiberglass door that replaced the original steel door.  I replaced the door because I wanted a small half moon window for light.

The door is okay, but we also got a storm door.  The sun beats on the door all afternoon and the paint bubbles up when the storm door has the glass in it. It gets so hot between the two doors.

When the screen in, it is okay.  The paint is not ruined, but we always remember to either open the fiberglass door or the screen door a little if it is a sunny day when the glass is in.....early spring or fall.

My previous house had a solid wood door that was over 100 years old.  I think it was better than steel or fiberglass.