1. Heavy versus light weight (installation issues, difficult/easy/fit/lift, etc.).

2. Strong versus Breakable (security reason/lock/issues).

3. Cost difference (customer's budget issues).

4. Ugly versus beauty (looks issues, color/shape/feel, etc.)

Need to take your pick/preference, can't have all options good!

 

1. Not really a noticeable difference
2.Unless we are talking about solid steel doors on a commercial building, steel and fiberglass entry doors are equally susceptible to break in.
3. Not that much of a cost difference, most real suppliers are beginning to only stock fiberglass as they have realized steel is crap.
4. They will look the same upon installation, however your steel door will be rusted and dented in a few years. Your fiberglass door will not be.

 

We use Fiberglass almost all the time. It's only $15.00 to $50.00 higher in most set-ups. It's warmer to the touch and the Warranty 20 years compared to 2 or 5 years with steel.

 

.....Can I lean towards the cheap side and still be okay? I prices a Mastercraft at Menards for $1400, which is as cheap as anywhere.... I know she's no Pella, but will it be okay?

Only thing I don;t like about them is, the weatherstripping is easy to tear,
but it's easy to get replacement.
What I do like, is that John Menard owns the whole process -- start to finish,
so there's no where else to point fingers.
Accountability.
If I'm gonna buy a door from a Box, that's the one.

Other guys--
There still seems to be a learning curve on finishing these things.
HO's only seem to get it right about ½ the time (= me coming back to try and fix a mess)
Three painters will have three "only ways" to stain them.
I've been watching the threads here and it confirms what I've seen in the "world".
That said I try to sell the pre-finished Mastercraft, IMO the least fake looking I've seen.

 

Fiberglass, hands down IMO. The steel door will be pitted and rust out at the bottom in a few years.

 

DITTO!:thumbsup:, Steel doors are becoming a thing of the past. So are wood jambs. Fiberglass door with a composite jamb = No Rot, No dings, etc.

I'm sure future doors will be even stronger than the one produced today.