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Selecting the right door material is one of the most important decisions you can make when protecting and enhancing your building. The material you choose affects everything from security and fire resistance to energy efficiency, maintenance requirements, and long-term cost. Whilst wood has traditionally been the material of choice, increasing numbers of building owners, specifiers, and contractors are turning to steel for its superior combination of strength, durability, and value.
This guide compares four of the most common door materials across the criteria that matter most.
| Steel | Wood | Aluminium | Fibreglass | |
| Appearance | Available in smooth, textured or wood finishes in endless colour combinations, including extra life paint warranty | Traditional high end appearance which can be painted or unpainted, but finish will fade over time | Lightweight and slim line with an aesthetically pleasing appearance, available in a range of finishes with no limitation on glazing | Attractive finish, able to convincingly mimic almost all grains of wood |
| Endurance | Won’t shrink, crack or warp | Can peel, bubble or delaminate | Weather resistant and unlikely to dent and rust | Finish may fade when exposed to sunlight |
| Energy Efficiency | Highly efficient andprovided with weather seals | Not energy efficient | Typically energy efficient, dependant on glazing | Good insulation values and won’t conduct heat to touch |
| Security | The best solution for those concerned with home or business security. Steel doors are available with the benefit of added third party certification | For adequate security, wooden doors must be of solid construction but most are weak around the hinge area. Wooden doors are available with third party certification | Suitable for low- medium risk locations | Not particularly secure due to a wide lack of reinforcement in door frame, best suited to low risk domestic properties |
| Maintenance | Low maintenance if purchasing a quality product, cheaper options may rust if not properly primed and painted | Requires regular maintenance | Low maintenance if not fully glazed or in a marine environment | Very low maintenance and impervious to rot, usually comes with a good warranty |
| Cost | Cheaper on average than wooden doors, and more cost effective when taking into account the projected lifespan | Generally an expensive option, however cheaper models will be flimsy and won’t provide adequate security | Most variations are more expensive than steel, but still more cost effective than wood | Inexpensive in comparison to wood but less cost effective than steel and aluminium |
The visual appearance of a door matters, particularly for commercial premises, residential developments, and public-facing buildings where aesthetics contribute to the overall impression.
Steel doors are available in a wide range of colours to suit individual requirements, including smooth, textured, and wood-effect finishes. Bradbury Group products feature a high-quality polyester powder coating which is hardwearing. This means steel doors can become an attractive feature on any premises, offering endless possibilities to customise and personalise orders.
Steel doors are available in various thicknesses depending on specification, and the range of available finishes means they suit environments from industrial estates to contemporary residential developments.
Wood doors offer a traditional, high-end appearance with natural grain patterns and a warm aesthetic. They can be painted, stained, or left with a natural finish, and options range from oak and mahogany to walnut and cherry. Each door has distinctive character, and wood can be carved or feature raised panels for a bespoke look.
However, that finish will fade over time without regular maintenance, and exposure to the elements can cause the appearance to deteriorate noticeably.
Aluminium doors have a lightweight, slim-line profile with clean lines that suit modern architectural styles. The strength of aluminium allows for slimmer frames and larger glass panels, maximising natural light and providing expansive views. Frames can be powder-coated in virtually any RAL colour, offering significant design flexibility. Aluminium is particularly well suited to fully glazed doors where aesthetics and light transmission are the primary concern.
Fibreglass doors can convincingly mimic almost all grains of wood, providing an attractive finish that replicates natural timber without the associated upkeep. They are available in various styles and can be painted or stained.
However, the range of designs and configurations is more limited than steel or wood, and the finish may fade over time with prolonged sun exposure unless UV-protective finishes are applied.
A door’s ability to withstand daily use, weather conditions, and the passage of time directly affects its long-term value and reliability.
Steel doors won’t shrink, crack, or warp, making them one of the most dimensionally stable options available. The life expectancy of a steel door ranges from 10 to 20 years depending on the level of usage. All Bradbury doors are available with a Cromadex ‘Extra Life’ paint guarantee which preserves the door for an average of ten years, and up to 16 years depending on the situation of the site.
Steel doors are constructed with a steel skin over an insulated core, providing a structure that withstands heavy daily use across industrial, commercial, and residential settings.
Wood is susceptible to warping, swelling, and shrinking with changes in moisture and temperature. Without consistent maintenance, wooden doors can peel, bubble, or delaminate. They are also vulnerable to insect damage and rot, particularly in exposed locations. While solid hardwood doors can last decades when maintained, their durability is heavily dependent on ongoing care, making them less practical for high-traffic or exposed environments.
Aluminium is naturally resistant to corrosion and rust, making it particularly well suited to coastal environments and exposed locations. It does not warp, rot, or require frequent maintenance. The material is lightweight yet structurally strong, providing reliable long-term performance. However, aluminium can be susceptible to dents and scratches from impact, though the surface finish is generally resilient in everyday use.
Fibreglass doors are resistant to moisture, rot, and insect damage, and they maintain good dimensional stability regardless of temperature and humidity fluctuations. They are unlikely to warp or crack under normal conditions. However, fibreglass can crack under extreme impact, and significant damage may be difficult to repair. The finish may also fade with prolonged sun exposure, requiring UV-protective coatings to maintain appearance over time.
Thermal performance is an increasingly important consideration, particularly in commercial and residential buildings where energy costs and regulatory standards demand effective insulation.
Steel doors have significantly higher insulation values than wooden and aluminium alternatives, resulting in lower heating and cooling costs for your building. Most steel doors are fitted with weather seals to prevent heat escaping, and the insulated core contributes to effective thermal performance. Selecting a door with a quality foam core further enhances insulation.
Wood provides some natural insulation but does not match the consistent thermal performance of modern insulated steel or fibreglass doors. Gaps caused by warping or shrinkage can compromise energy efficiency further. By comparison, engineered steel doorsets are typically provided with integrated weather seals as standard.
Aluminium is a natural conductor of heat and cold, which means it performs poorly as an insulator without the addition of a thermal break. Thermally broken aluminium profiles significantly improve energy performance, but the overall efficiency remains dependent on the glazing specification and frame design.
Fibreglass doors offer good insulation values and won’t conduct heat to the touch. Many fibreglass doors feature a foam core insulation that enhances thermal performance, contributing to lower heating and cooling costs in buildings where security requirements are lower.
Windows and doors tend to be the primary point of entry for intruders, making security one of the most critical factors in door selection. The level of protection varies dramatically between materials.
Steel presents the strongest security solution of the four materials. Steel doors provide a powerful visual deterrent to potential thieves, especially when installed on industrial estates or business premises that tend to stand vacant in the evening. For sites at a high risk of break-ins, third-party tested and certified steel doors offer the highest assurance.
The most widely accepted accreditation is LPS 1175, with security ratings from 1 to 7 indicating increasing levels of resistance. For example, to achieve LPS 1175 SR3, Bradbury Group’s M2M3 doors were exposed to a prolonged attack for 20 minutes with an array of tools. These ratings make it straightforward for the buyer to select a product in line with the anticipated level of attack, with the added assurance that the door is guaranteed to perform as expected. Domestic buildings benefit from Secured by Design accredited doorsets, developed with the principle of ‘designing out crime’. Steel doors also often come with reinforced lock blocks, making them significantly more resistant to forced entry.
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