Custom Fiberglass doors?

[The Detailer]

Just wondering if anyone knows a GOOD quality company that makes custom fiberglass doors. My dilemma is my house is an old colonial from the 1800's, no one makes a good 32 size door. The door is a front exterior main entrance door. Anyone have any recommendations?

Thanks in advance!

 

[yeldogt]

I have never noticed much difference (quality) in the various fiberglass doors. I don't particularly like most of styles they come in .... the 32" size is going to be very limited.

But you know all of the above.

I went through this two years ago for my house in Philadelphia. In my case the front is 34 and the back is 32. I could not find anything ... Found a place in Kansas that said they could make one .. but I could never get a price. House is from the early 1800's

I wanted a simple fiberglass door mounted into a new frame w/transom above -- could not get one. I was surprised at how few millwork companies remain. No choice but to have it made out of wood -- a place in NY made me the whole unit and shipped it to me .. more than I wanted to spend .. but it looks great.

Wish I could help

 

[1969]

Pella ??????

 

[PAToyota]

2’-8” is pretty standard. I’ve spec’d Masonite Fiberglass doors for a number of “period” homes and have been pretty impressed with how they turned out.

Here is their catalog: http://www.masonite.com/pdf/catalogs/CatalogEntryFiberglassSteel.pdf

The sizes are listed in the back. They’ve got quite a few available in 2’-8” by 6’-8”, 7’-0”, and 8’-0” heights.

 

[dfiler2]

Agree with PAToyota 2' 8" doors should be easy to find, any good lumber yard should have a catalog.

 

[NUTTSGT]

We bought a Stanley door about 12 years ago and have had no issues with it. I don't know if they make a custom one off door but here's a link to their site.

http://www.stanleydoor.ca/index.html

Here's our door.

 

[yeldogt]

finding the size is easy -- finding one that will go with an 1800's house is the problem.

They are all too "craftsman" or bad representation of Victorian.

 

[rburke65]

NUTTSGT....nice looking entrance.

 

[PAToyota]

finding the size is easy -- finding one that will go with an 1800's house is the problem.

They are all too "craftsman" or bad representation of Victorian.

In those cases, I have a local millwork place that will custom make anything I can design in whatever wood I want. You’re not likely to get a mass produced fiberglass door to fit those requirements.

 

[Dart53]

Google Therma-Tru Fiberglass Doors

 

[FXDawg]

Detailer, you'll probably have to go with a custom wood door to meet the aesthetic you're looking for. I don't think you'll ever find the right look with fiberglass...

 

[CNGsaves]

OP . . . . pretty tough to get appropriate advice since you don't provide any location at all.

Update GJ Profile with City/State/Country.

With enough MONEY . . . . ie ching, ching, ching $$$$$ . . . you can most definitely have custom door made with mold from another door you want to copy. Better bring a big checkbook !!

 

[wssix99]

Google Therma-Tru Fiberglass Doors

+1. I toured their factory in Indiana a few years ago and they have a first rate operation and do odd sizes.

 

[nit2wn]

I'm fairly sure Pella could do one for enough money. We ordered a custom fiberglass door for our house with a metal casing. I'm fairly sure it was a standard size but The sales guy kept trying to tell me I could get this or that not painted and save a little $$. I finally told him I could care less about the cost, I don't want to touch it for 20 years including the paint. We're on year 5.

 

[G McKay]

I never cared that much for fiberglass doors. I either stick with wood or steel. I never saw any advantage with fiberglass.

 

[PAToyota]

Well, they don’t rot like wood and hold stain or paint longer. Better insulating that steel and don’t end up rusting.

 

[BRIANBB]

We have five sets of French Doors across the front of the house circa 1980. We just had four estimates done Nuema doors are one of the best. ThermaTru are good too. Renewal By Anderson were two to three times as high as the next highest. My price was from 10K all the way to 50K for the Anderson. Thermatru are reasonable and good quality. Lots of choices online for what you need. Go to the contractor desk at the depot and have them find some for you.

 

[The Detailer]

OP . . . . pretty tough to get appropriate advice since you don't provide any location at all.

Update GJ Profile with City/State/Country.

With enough MONEY . . . . ie ching, ching, ching $$$$$ . . . you can most definitely have custom door made with mold from another door you want to copy. Better bring a big checkbook !!

I'm in NY, the Northshore of Long Island. I'm not looking to break the bank but definitely willing to pay $$$ for top quality. I'm not going to buy some lowes pre-made drop in ****.


So I emailed Pella as well as therma doors. They both seem to be right up my alley. I need a good selection of glass and both have it. I will give neuva a look as well.

I definitely have faith in anderson as we had all the windows on the house done about 6 years ago, it wasn't cheap but well worth it.

 

[The Detailer]

I'm fairly sure Pella could do one for enough money. We ordered a custom fiberglass door for our house with a metal casing. I'm fairly sure it was a standard size but The sales guy kept trying to tell me I could get this or that not painted and save a little $$. I finally told him I could care less about the cost, I don't want to touch it for 20 years including the paint. We're on year 5.

Exactly what I got from a local installer, told them not interested in settling on a steel or a model that they "do" make in 32. The steels just don't have the authentic textured look we want.

 

[NUTTSGT]

NUTTSGT....nice looking entrance.

Thanks.


For the OP, our door does have some texture to the wood grain.

 

[PT Doc]

Look at TruStile.com.

They make incredible doors and will custom make you anything you want.

 

[FXDawg]

As far as wood doors go. I see original wood doors on 300 year old houses around here. If your wood front door has rot, I'd say the material of the door is the least of your issues.

 

[Oggy]

Google Therma-Tru Fiberglass Doors

+1 on Therma-tru.

You may also wasn't too try Reeb Millwork,

 

[bigredmf]

I put a Thermatru in my old house. In all appearances it was wood. You do pay for it though. The gain was deep and they even included what appeared to be tear out.

On Halloween the number of compliments I received on my "solid oak door" never ended. I had people wanting to argue it was not fiberglass after they touched it.
It was a extremely high quality door.
The yard where I bought it mentioned they are a bit difficult to stain so I had them stain it before the install.
Add brass Baldwin hardware and it will look spectacular for years.

Red

Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

 

[yeldogt]

In those cases, I have a local millwork place that will custom make anything I can design in whatever wood I want. You’re not likely to get a mass produced fiberglass door to fit those requirements.

That's what I did .. that was my point.

 

[yeldogt]

I'm in NY, the Northshore of Long Island. I'm not looking to break the bank but definitely willing to pay $$$ for top quality. I'm not going to buy some lowes pre-made drop in ****.


So I emailed Pella as well as therma doors. They both seem to be right up my alley. I need a good selection of glass and both have it. I will give neuva a look as well.

I definitely have faith in anderson as we had all the windows on the house done about 6 years ago, it wasn't cheap but well worth it.

Pella makes a nice door. I have them at my beach house -- they have the option for the three point locks. Many different options and much nicer than the others .. much nicer then the Andersen offerings IMO.

No modern door is going to look like it came from the 1800's

 

[nit2wn]

Exactly what I got from a local installer, told them not interested in settling on a steel or a model that they "do" make in 32. The steels just don't have the authentic textured look we want.

The door itself is fiberglass, the casing or frame is steel or aluminum, either way, I won't worry about the screws backing out on the hinges again.

 

[The Detailer]

Just to clarify, the door we have now is solid oak. It's fine as it is, however it does have chips from 20+ years and being a small style colonial we are desperate for light. The other problem is the insulating job done before is horrible, I can literally feel a sub Arctic breeze with winters like this. The door now has no glass an really kills the entrance way as far as light, so this was a no brainer. The whole house is done in a "mission" style an the door is one of the last things to really bring it all together per say.

 

[wssix99]

Can you share a picture of your current door?

 

[froggert]

we got doors from provia last year. i believe they can make any size you need.

 

[Stuart in MN]

Door width isn't always a problem on older houses, but the height can be - they didn't necessarily use the same standards they do today.

I found this place online: http://mison.com/services/jaroff-custom-entryways/ They're in your area and build doors to suit, it may be worth checking out. Otherwise check your local Yellow Pages for custom doors or millwork shops that can do similar work.

 

[wssix99]

The thing with decorative fiberglass doors is that they are made in special molds, placed in to industrial presses and cured with heat. So, one can't really get a "custom" fiberglass door. (I think there are some you can customize the size - but generally only on a flush slab.)

As I understand the process for making fiberglass doors, there are companies with a wide range of molds/sizes, but they do limited runs of the lower demand sizes, etc. So, getting the right door may require a special order and a wait. (Until the company schedules a production run for the particular mold being used.)