HVHZ hurricane impact front door, aluminum or fiberglass? (Miami: oceanfront, homes)

[Acooi]

Hello all,

I'm shopping for a HVHZ (high velocity hurricane zone) Miami-Dade rated impact front entry door for a single family home, and it appears that the best options are either an aluminum or fiberglass door. I'm not necessarily looking for a door with glass, but A LOT of impact window and door companies are recommending aluminum, which apparently I cannot get without glass. I can get a fiberglass door without glass, but most dealers are giving me the impression that this is lower end door. However, fiberglas would open up A LOT of different design options, including with glass if I wanted.

That said, which material would you buy or have you bought for your home's HVHZ hurricane impact front entry door and why?

I appreciate your feedback!

[TnRusty]

It depends were you home is located, if close to the ocean, fiberglass is definitely the way to go.
While aluminum does not rust, it does corrode. In both of our homes we installed fiberglass doors over 13 years ago and they still look like new. The other advantage to fiberglass is that you can use paint or gel stain, your choice, with aluminum you don't have the choice, it's just paint.

[Acooi]

Thanks!

I do like several of the fiberglass designs without glass as well as the option to paint or stain it. Some dealers were saying that aluminum is a more secure door, because apparently a fiberglass door, especially without glass, has mostly an insulating foam core, but none of dealers said a thing about how close the home is to the ocean.

That said, what if your home were located 2 blocks west of the intercostal?

Also, if you don't mind me asking, which manufacturer did your doors come from? So far, I've looked at Jeld Wen, Plastpro, Therma Tru & Masonite.

Originally Posted by TnRusty

It depends were you home is located, if close to the ocean, fiberglass is definitely the way to go.
While aluminum does not rust, it does corrode. In both of our homes we installed fiberglass doors over 13 years ago and they still look like new. The other advantage to fiberglass is that you can use paint or gel stain, your choice, with aluminum you don't have the choice, it's just paint.

[Acooi]

Any other folks from Miami-Dade area who've installed a HVHZ impact-rated front entry door, I'd appreciate your feedback.

[TnRusty]

Originally Posted by Acooi

Thanks!

I do like several of the fiberglass designs without glass as well as the option to paint or stain it. Some dealers were saying that aluminum is a more secure door, because apparently a fiberglass door, especially without glass, has mostly an insulating foam core, but none of dealers said a thing about how close the home is to the ocean.

That said, what if your home were located 2 blocks west of the intercostal?

Also, if you don't mind me asking, which manufacturer did your doors come from? So far, I've looked at Jeld Wen, Plastpro, Therma Tru & Masonite.

My apologies, didn't see this before.

I went with Therma-Tru fiberglass. The reason being, one of the homes is a log cabin in upstate Tn and we wanted to be able to stain the doors and also have the foam core insulation. The other home is oceanfront and I felt the fiberglass doors were going to last a lifetime vs the aluminum. After 13 years, I'm very happy with the outcome in both homes.

As for the intracoastal location, I would probably still go with the fiberglass but I think you could go either way. You may wish to check with your neighbors and see what they have installed.

[Acooi]

Originally Posted by TnRusty

My apologies, didn't see this before.

I went with Therma-Tru fiberglass. The reason being, one of the homes is a log cabin in upstate Tn and we wanted to be able to stain the doors and also have the foam core insulation. The other home is oceanfront and I felt the fiberglass doors were going to last a lifetime vs the aluminum. After 13 years, I'm very happy with the outcome in both homes.

As for the intracoastal location, I would probably still go with the fiberglass but I think you could go either way. You may wish to check with your neighbors and see what they have installed.

No problem, I appreciate your feedback. Just seeking input from more folks in my area. That said, not many neighbors have bought new front entry doors since the Florida building codes introduced the more stringent High Velocity Hurricane Zone (HVHZ) guidelines.

[Acooi]

@TnRusty, Just curious, Did you get a solid panel impact with steel-plate reinforced (along with foam core insulation) fiberglass door from Therma-Tru?

[TnRusty]

Originally Posted by Acooi

@TnRusty, Just curious, Did you get a solid panel impact with steel-plate reinforced (along with foam core insulation) fiberglass door from Therma-Tru?

I know the ones in Fl are impact but not sure about the steel plate.

[Acooi]

Originally Posted by TnRusty

I know the ones in Fl are impact but not sure about the steel plate.

Thanks!

FWIW: You can see what I'm talking about here.