When evaluating the best options for your home, steel and fiberglass are the most secure materials for front entry doors. We recommend these materials because they can meet the ANSI/ASTM F476 Grade 20 security standards required for exterior swinging doors.
- Steel: This remains the industry benchmark for security, providing a robust physical barrier at the primary entry point of your home.
- Fiberglass: This is a high-performance alternative that is particularly effective for Colorado’s climate. It resists impact, warping, and rot through our local freeze-thaw cycles. Additionally, fiberglass offers superior energy efficiency with an R-value of 5 to 7, which exceeds the typical R-value of steel.
Security depends as much on installation as it does on the material itself. To ensure these doors function as a true defense, we maintain a door-to-frame clearance of no more than one-eighth of an inch to eliminate gaps.
Furthermore, if your door design includes glass, any glazing located within 40 inches of the lock must consist of safety glass or burglar-resistant materials to prevent intruders from bypassing the locking mechanism. Our design-build team manages these technical requirements—including the use of 3-inch heavy-duty fasteners to anchor the frame into the structural wall—to turn your entry point into a determined barrier.
Let us help you get your project started. Note that project outcomes and timelines may vary based on site conditions, permitting, and material availability. Estimates are preliminary and subject to change after a site inspection and a full scope review.
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