Question Details	Asked By	Asked On
Wooden entry Doors versus Steel Doors	headranger	11/21/04
Hi, George here from SF, long time member I am having my house painted next month and I want to replace my front entry door which is a wooden slab door (solid, no glass). It seems steel doors are certainly much more expensive, I hear they tend to show every ding. What are your thoughts, one versus the other. Budget is a big consideration. I currently have a peephole and I am very security conscious. Can you even put a peephole in a steel door? I hear there are fancier peepholes available for wooden doors which will show more area from the inside. I like that aspect a lot for added security. I plan to have my painter paint my door when he does the house. I look forward to your insights, ideas and suggestions. Thanks.
Answered By		Answered On
IQGuru		11/21/04
Hi George! It makes no sense to replace a wooden slab door with a steel door unless you also replace the wooden door frame with a steel frame... A steel door in a wooden frame is no more secure than the wood one was. You can get steel doors, with frame, starting at $105 (up to $253) at Lowes.com... Then, as with a wooden door, you have to add the cost of the threshold plate, the doorknobs and the locks you desire, any screen, storm, or extra security door, and the peepsite... The biggest expense will be any wooden reframing and cosmetic patching which may (may not) be necessary to support the new steel frame. Steel doors come mostly in 32" and 36" widths. And, for example, the framing width required for the 36" steel frame is 38.5"... So, entirely dependent upon your old framing (measure it carefully!) you will have either negligible, or HUGFE, cosmetic work required on all four sides of the new steel frame. So, measure what you have, and compare to the specs on various doors at Lowes.com, just to determine what type of project you really have here... The field of view of a peepsight has nothing to do with what type door it is in. At HomeDepot.com you can get a cute little combination knocker, fisheye peepsite, and nameplate holder for only $3. See 'Litra Door Knocker Antique Brass Finish With 160 deg. Viewer', Model 98617, Internet/Catalog #874159, at Lowes.com... These will fit on any door from 1.25" to 2.25" thick, by merely drilling one hole of diameter 31/64 thru that door. (I just installed these on my own front and back doors.) Another idea would be to install (instead of a normal screen or storm door) a security-type storm door which is composed entirely of wrought iron, enclosed on the outside with heavy glass, and which is opened with ONLY a key from EITHER side. Thus, even if the glass on that door is broken into, the burgler still cannot unlock it to get at your solid steel door... Meanwhile, you can use the security door, alone, to the view the outside world with good security anytime you are in the front-door room. This has some advantages/disadvantages over a peepsite during normal visiting hours... Well, hope all this helps? Warm regards, "IQ"

Additional Options and ratings are only visible when you login!