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Side doors, garage-to-house, security-first homes
Steel is our recommendation when security matters more than aesthetics: the garage-to-house door, the basement walk-out, the side entrance, the rental property. It is also the value pick for a primary front door if the budget is tight — a painted steel door looks great for 10 years if you maintain it.
Therma-Tru Smooth-Star steel is what we carry. 24-gauge galvanized steel skin, polyurethane foam core, 5x better insulation than a hollow-core wood slab.
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When steel wins
- Security — heavier, harder to kick in
- Budget — 20–30% less than equivalent fiberglass
- Side or back entry where stain finish doesn't matter
- Paint that lasts — smooth steel takes acrylic latex beautifully
When fiberglass wins instead:
- Direct sun exposure (steel can get hot to touch in summer)
- Salt air / humid climates (fiberglass never rusts)
- Wood-grain stained look (fiberglass can fake this, steel cannot)
