Home Door Frame Materials

DOOR MATERIALS

Fiberglass:

Fiberglass doors are built to withstand years of use without showing so much as a scratch. Fiberglass comes in the color of your choosing and can easily be repainted. Some doors even come with the option of wood cladding to match you home décor.

Aluminum:

Aluminum is the most popular, affordable and durable material in use for doors. Beyond being resistant to insects and the elements, the metal is able to handle the weight of a large piece of glass and still slide smoothly for years. It often present a sleek, modern feel, understated enough to slip into the background of a more traditional home. When painted for your aesthetic, aluminum doors or wall systems can match anything around them.

Wood:

A great choice for entry doors, among other places. Our manufacturers can create a wood door that will meet your specific requirements. A wide selection of wood and glass features to select from lets your personal style shine.

Vinyl:

Vinyl does not show scratches, is very thermal resistant and will be easy on your budget. Commonly used for patio doors, vinyl doors can swing, slide or fold. The choice is yours.

DOOR FRAME MATERIALS

Vinyl

Durable:

Vinyl is an extremely durable material that can withstand the daily duties of a door. Since they are the same color all the way through, small scratches and dings will not be seen, resulting in pristine doors for as long as you own them.

Energy Efficient:

The inside of vinyl frames has thermal blocks that trap heat so that it doesn’t interfere with your air conditioning in summer or escape outside in winter. Vinyl won’t warp in heat and humidity, and it hardly contracts from cold.

Brands:

Milgard: The American Architectural Manufacturers Association (AAMA) has rated Milgard’s vinyl doors at or above their expectations, and we guarantee them for a lifetime.

Simonton offers special doors for those who live at the coast. Their Stormbreaker doors can withstand heavy winds and rain, making them a good choice for homes in the Columbia River Gorge or any other place where high winds are a fact of life.

Cascade carries double-paneled sliding doors, as well as triple-paneled, where the center slides. If you like, we can install a vinyl awning window above the sliding door unit, allowing gentle ventilation without opening the door.

Recyclable:

Research on the environmental impact of vinyl doors shows that 100 percent of the industrial waste from their manufacture can be recycled and at least 80 percent of post-industrial materials are being recycled. That percentage should continue to increase.

Fiberglass

Fiberglass is strong and resilient building products, having weathered the test of time on ship hulls. This kind of doors material can hold up under saltwater, pounding waves, and the wear and tear of transit, so it can surely withstand any punishment as a door.

Low Maintenance:

Fiberglass is extremely low maintenance. It is made of glass fiber and resin, so its seasonal contraction/expansion is minimal and will mirror the same shifts as the glass it holds. Even if you live at the coast, these doors will withstand whatever Mother Nature has in store.

Versatility:

One of the primary benefits of fiberglass is that it can be painted. Fiberglass also won’t face any issues related to weather, such as warping or rot. A wooden veneer can be added to the interior of the window frame, providing a warmth and attractiveness that other materials can’t match.

Fiberglass doors come either plain or clad in wood. You can select from an array of factory-standard colors or from custom paints. Factory paint is guaranteed never to peel or eggshell. In fact, Milgard fiberglass doors come with an Industry-Leading Warranty with Glass Breakage.

Energy Efficiency:

These doors will be sure to please. Fiberglass conducts a minimum of heat and cold, and the double-paned glass keeps the elements contained. Fiberglass works so well for framing that we wonder how we ever managed without it.

Wood

Wood is the classic door frame material. Prior to vinyl, aluminum and fiberglass, it was the only material, and it is still a stunning choice for your home or building. Some builders will not work with wooden doors because of the maintenance required after the sale, but we want to make wood available to you. It is a beautiful option that cannot be overlooked.

Energy Efficiency:

Wood provides the most insulation of any material and is therefore a great choice for energy efficiency. When you factor in double or triple-paned glass inside the frame, you can virtually see your energy bill decreasing as the windows are installed.

Versatility:

Wood looks great and can be painted in any color you like. Or you can strip it down and go with a natural look. That sort of versatility makes wood a great choice for your new doors.

Three of our manufacturers carry wooden door frames:

Milgard: wood-clad paneled doors
Milgard’s patio and French doors are a beauty to behold.

Simpson: swinging all wood doors
Simpson offers the widest selection. We can order custom windows from them that will exactly match your vision of a front door.

Maintenance:

The beauty of wood is a labor of love. Wood does require maintenance, but wooden doors require less than window frames. Nonetheless, it is important to keep an eye on the condition of wooden door frames to ensure that rot or decay has not set in. Given that most doors are spared the direct impact of the elements, this shouldn’t be an issue. If your home is at the coast, you may need to check on any doors exposed to direct sea air or consider wood-clad fiberglass instead.

Aluminum

Aluminum makes for an excellent door frame material. It is durable, resists the elements, and it is light enough to use as a sliding or swinging door. With modern advancements, it is even more energy efficient than aluminum door systems in the past. Only one of our manufacturers, Milgard, carries aluminum doors, but their products are second to none.

Brands:

Milgard Aluminum Doors
Milgard goes past standard doors to provide what they call “moving glass walls.” Such a system can make a barrier between rooms or between a living room and the exterior patio without seeming like a door. In a condominium on an upper floor, residents can enjoy year-round views, and then open up the glass wall to take a stroll out onto the patio.

The Milgard Sliding Glass Wall Systems allow you to use large panels to create sweeping views, filling your room with fresh air and natural light. You can get these sleek and modern “window walls” in a stacking system, pocket doors or bi-fold styles, available in an array of designer colors to fit your vision.

Styles:

The pocket style allows you to slide the door into the wall, hidden from view until it’s time to close off the space.

Stacking glass walls are multi-paneled systems where one panel slides over the other.

Bi-fold systems fold up in an accordion style, safely tucked away while family and guests flow in and out of the home.

Standard aluminum sliding doors are also available. Though we say “standard,” this door system can be custom designed and manufactured to meet your exact specifications.

Energy Efficiency:

Milgard’s aluminum doors and wall systems are created with thermal breaks, halting conduction before it can impact the interior of the home. Milgard also carries a line of “thermally improved” aluminum doors designed with cutting-edge efficiency technology.

Add Milgard’s effective weather stripping and double-paned glass, and you have a door system built to handle the Pacific Northwest’s winters and summers.

QUESTIONS ABOUT HOME DOOR FRAME MATERIALS?

Lifetime Windows & Doors provides personalized project management and exceptional customer service. If you have any questions about what door is best for your new home or replacement project, give us a call today.

Back to Door Installation