In short: for an arched door you will look at every day, solid wood gives real grain, takes any stain, can be sanded and repaired, and can be built to any arch. Fiberglass is the low maintenance choice for a front door in harsh weather, but it comes mostly in standard sizes with molded grain. MDF is a smooth, paint grade interior door that is stable in a dry room and does not like water. Engineered doors, a wood veneer over a composite or laminated core, sit in between. Element Decor builds arched doors in solid wood only, in white oak, Sapele mahogany, knotty alder and poplar, made to size in Los Angeles.
How the four constructions differ
- Solid wood frame and panel. The stiles, rails, arched head and panels are solid boards. The panels float in grooves so the wood can move with the seasons. Our interior doors are 1 3/4 in thick and our exterior doors 2 1/4 in; many stock interior doors are 1 3/8 in.
- Engineered wood. A core of finger-jointed or laminated wood, sometimes a composite, faced with a thin wood veneer. Stable and lighter, it looks like wood on the face but cannot be sanded deeply.
- Fiberglass. Molded fiberglass skins over a foam core and an internal frame. The grain is pressed into the skin, then stained or painted.
- MDF. Medium density fiberboard, molded or machined, made to be painted. Smooth and stable in a dry room.
Side by side
| Solid wood | Engineered (veneer) | Fiberglass | MDF | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Look | Real grain, through the edge | Real wood on the face | Molded grain or smooth | Smooth, paint only |
| Stain | Any stain | Yes, on the veneer | Stain kits for the molded grain | No |
| Outdoors | Yes, with an exterior finish and upkeep | Depends on the product | Yes, low upkeep | No |
| Repair | Sand, patch and refinish | Light sanding only | Deep damage is hard to fix | Swells when wet |
| Custom arch | Any width, height and rise | Possible to order | Mostly standard sizes | Possible to order |
| Weight | Heaviest | Medium | Light | Heavy |
When fiberglass makes sense
For a front door in full sun or salt air, where nobody wants to refinish anything, and where the opening matches a standard size. If the house is in a fire hazard zone, check the label: an exterior door has to meet the fire code through its construction, a rating or a test. Our guide to front doors in a fire zone rebuild lists the options.
When MDF makes sense
For painted interior doors on a tight budget, in dry rooms where the door will never see water. Keep it out of poorly ventilated bathrooms and away from exterior openings.
When solid wood is worth it
- The door is the first thing people see, and you want real grain under a stain.
- The opening is not a standard size, or the arch is not a standard curve.
- The door has to match an existing floor, beam or cabinet color.
- You want a door that can be sanded and refinished in twenty years instead of replaced.
- You want a Castilian grid, fluting or planks: details that are cut from wood, not pressed.
Looking after a solid wood front door in Los Angeles
Sun does more damage than rain here. An exterior rated clear or stain finish protects the wood, and a door that faces south or west needs the most care. Look at it once a year: when the finish turns dull or chalky, a light sanding and a fresh topcoat bring it back before the wood itself weathers. A covered entry or a deep overhang makes any finish last longer.
What a solid wood arched door costs
Element Decor's solid wood arched doors start from $2,500 for an interior door and from $5,000 for an exterior front door, finished and pre-hung in an arched frame and made in 4 to 6 weeks. A 36 x 96 in round top interior door in white oak starts at $3,350. Online prices are preliminary until we check your measurements. Price your size.
Questions
Is a solid wood door better than fiberglass?
It depends on the door. Solid wood wins on look, custom sizes and repair; fiberglass wins on upkeep in harsh weather. For an arched opening that is not a standard size, solid wood is usually the practical choice because it is built to the opening.
Will a solid wood door warp?
A well made frame and panel door stays straight: the panels move inside their grooves, and stable woods such as Sapele and white oak hold their shape. Every face and edge of the door should be finished, because a door sealed on one side only takes on and loses moisture unevenly.
Are your arched doors solid all the way through?
Yes. The stiles, rails, arched head and raised panels are solid wood. There is no MDF, particleboard or foam core and no printed or vinyl surface.
Related: Spanish Revival arched doors: styles, woods and finishes.
