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I am in the process of renovating my Cod style house and am working on the front entrance. After tearing out, with pleasure, the 1960’s style front door and screen, I would like to replace them with a 6 panel colonial door and classic sorround (with no storm/screen door). My big question involves wood vs insulated steel for the door. I am a huge fan of the look of real wood, even when painted. However, I am very concerned that a solid wood door without a storm door in front is gas bill suicide. There are some decent insulated steel doors that claim to be 4-5x more energy efficient than wood, however they lack the detail and warmth of natural wood. I am really stuck !
Does anyone have any opinions on just how energy inefficient solid wood really is? Do the savings from insulated steel really outweigh the aesthetics of real wood?
Any advice would be of great help? Right now I am stuck on top of the proverbial fence!
thanks,
joe
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Hi Joe,
If your wooden door was solid, it would be better thermal protection than most of your windows.
The problem is with the panels. You don't have much wood thickness in these locations to insulate from the cold.
You can get pressed arborite doors that are both panelled and insulated and they take paint like the real thing.
However, all said and done, my vote would go for the insulated steel door. It may not have the warmth of real wood, but it will keep your house warmer and more secure than the average wood door.
Gabe
*Joe, you might want to look into a fiberglass door. You won't have the limited lifetime of a wood door (rot) or steel door (rust, dents). Some of the fiberglass doors don't have the heavy fake grain embossed on them, and look pretty much like wood. Thermally, they are pretty efficient, and compare favorably to steel. Some can be stained to match interior trim.Good luck, Steve
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I am in the process of renovating my Cod style house and am working on the front entrance. After tearing out, with pleasure, the 1960's style front door and screen, I would like to replace them with a 6 panel colonial door and classic sorround (with no storm/screen door). My big question involves wood vs insulated steel for the door. I am a huge fan of the look of real wood, even when painted. However, I am very concerned that a solid wood door without a storm door in front is gas bill suicide. There are some decent insulated steel doors that claim to be 4-5x more energy efficient than wood, however they lack the detail and warmth of natural wood. I am really stuck !
Does anyone have any opinions on just how energy inefficient solid wood really is? Do the savings from insulated steel really outweigh the aesthetics of real wood?
Any advice would be of great help? Right now I am stuck on top of the proverbial fence!
thanks,
joe