Side entrance/service door

[lml999]

Side entrance/service door repair or replace?

House is 25 years old, with attached garage. We're replacing some rotted pine trim around the house, and the service door for the garage is on the list...the outside trim at the bottom of the door is rotting.

It's a simple door, metal, half (double pane) window, original to the house. It sticks in the summer and it's neither air or weather proof (bottom weatherstrip is shot). So I'm thinking that rather than just patch the trim, we should replace the door.

We live in an area where people don't generally lock their doors, so heavy security is not a primary concern. There's a window on the same wall that would provide easy access to the garage if someone were so motivated...

Construction is 2x4 stud, finished inside, shingled outside. Door threshhold sits on garage pad. Door looks to be standard size (famous last words!)

The door has south/west exposure, sees some weather and gets regular use, particularly during the summer as it provides easy access to our outdoor shower, and during the winter for access to the wood pile.

So...I'm thinking I probably want to replace it with a similar door - insulated, metal, half window. Prehung.

We intend to be in the house for a while (added).

Big box store has doors starting at $250. Jeld-Wen steel or fiberglass, Stanley brand at $400.

So... a couple of questions...

Repair trim/replace door?
Metal or fiberglass?
More glass? (like 2/3rd of door)
Better quality door options (or am I overthinking this?)

Thanks!

 

[Innovate1]

If you plan to stay there for a while I would replace the door. Depending on how long you expect it to last you can go for a composite door/frame. I found a local supplier that puts together doors and frames and was able to get a craftsman style door with composite frame for less than the big guys. Got to select the hinge finish as well. Just stumbled across the fact that they did that when talking to them about other materials.

 

[lml999]

If you plan to stay there for a while I would replace the door. Depending on how long you expect it to last you can go for a composite door/frame. I found a local supplier that puts together doors and frames and was able to get a craftsman style door with composite frame for less than the big guys. Got to select the hinge finish as well. Just stumbled across the fact that they did that when talking to them about other materials.

I'd be happy with another 25 years. At that point the kids will have probably sold the house, or IDK, maybe kept it...it's close enough to lots of fun things to do on the Cape, without the hassle of actually being on the water.

I've read some reviews of the inexpensive doors from the big box stores and it sounds like a **** show. Hinges mounted wrong, staples poking through things, fiberglass doors rotting out within a couple of years, etc. I just want the door to open and to close without having to think about it too much.

Of all the projects around the house, this ain't one of them. Just a problem to solve, don't want it to grow in scope. The two roll-up garage doors need replacing, the deck needs replacing (thinking about either mahogany or ipe), i've got a couple of piles of wood in my shop waiting to be turned into a standing desk and some bookcases in my home office...

 

[nadogail]

IMHO, a prehung fiberglass door should work fine and last a long time.