Therma-Tru Doors have extremely strong brand name recognition with homeowners -- which translates into greater recognition for the builders who use their product. Builders know they can turn to Therma-Tru catalog of Doors to build a new home with curb appeal that starts at the door for the front. Today''s most successful builders demand doors that can withstand the wear and tear that occurs both during installation and over time. The ability to stand up to these demands is one of the main reasons builders are increasingly turning away from wood and steel and selecting doors for the interior. Eliminating builder callbacks, doors save time and money in the repair and maintenance of wood and steel doors.

Other alternatives are made of a polyurethane foam insulation core - offering six times the energy efficiency of wood - faced on both sides frenchdoors with vinyl or aluminum. These typically cost for a 6-foot-wide door. All well-made nonwood doors are designed with thermal breaks (separations between indoor and frenchdoors outdoor surfaces that block the conduction of heat or cold.) Glazing options Of course, the largest part of a glass sliding door is glass. To make a door truly energy efficient, high-performance glazing is key. Fortunately, this is standard with most high-quality sliders. You''ll find double-paned glass with low-E (low energy) coating and, in some cases, argon gas filling. Low-E reduces heat transfer and protects against ultraviolet damage; argon gas filling provides greater insulation. Some manufacturers let you specify the glazing you want when you order. Where sun-caused fading or damage can e a serious problem, you may want to opt for glass with a solar bronze or solar gray tint to reject ultraviolet rays. In addition, some companies offer decorative stained or beveled glass with true brass caming (leading). For bathrooms or other places where privacy is a concern, obscure glass is available.

Three Attractive Options Fiber-Classic combined the strength of steel with a wood-grain finish that could be stained or painted. Carrying a lifetime limited warranty, the product was well-received and continues to be a strong favorite among builders. In fact, more than 37% of builder respondents a study said frenchdoors they had used the Fiber-Classic during the past year. That usage rating is higher than the rating for any other brand of door on the market. Classic-Craft: As the market embraced the new technology, homeowners began asking for a door that projected even more of the handcrafted look of a high-end wood door but still with fiberglass. Therma-Tru responded with the Classic-Craft, a premium product duplicating the rich grain of a solid-core red-oak door but without any shrinking, splitting or warping inherent in conventional wood doors. Also backed by a lifetime limited warranty, the new line emulated the best aspects of wood. Like its predecessor, the Fiber-Classic, the new Classic-craft has built a strong following among builders during the past seven years: 36% of respondents to the BRAND STUDY have used the Classic-craft within the past year.

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