People think finishing a door is difficult to do on their own. They worry that they could ruin the door. It''s clear that the new Classic Craft model was created to assuage that concern. The door comes with a red oak-styled grain pattern, detailed panels with shadow lines, solid oak square edges and an adjustable oak sill. The pre-finish is available in the two most popular wood stain colors today, according to Niderberg: natural oak and cherry. Maintenance is simplified, because fiberglass doesn''t have to be restained. All that''s required, he said, is a new polyurethane top-coat every three to five years. The pre-finished Classic Craft costs an additional at retail versus the unfinished model. Both models cost less than a comparable wood door and come with a lifetime warranty. This was intended for those accustomed to buying wood," Niderberg said. "But we wanted to add some extra features and benefits. Chosen for the entrance to the NAHB Show Village 2001 D.R. Horton home is an elegant Classic-Craft fiberglass Raised-Panel door from Theram-Tru. Available in nearly 150 raised or deeply embossed panel designs that produce dramatic shadow lines, Classic-Craft doors give you all the premium touches you''d expect to find in the finest wood doors, plus more.

Now the nation''s leading producer of steel doors, Therma-Tru helped build the market for interior door that product category. the effectiveness of that pioneering effort door is reflected in the market home interior designs share steel currently holds. for the past two decades company has focused its commitment to quality fiberglass and innovation on doors, the fastest-growing segment within the exterior door category. we were door interested in differentiating ourselves from the rest of the market -- that''s interior the only way to be profitable in the long term recalling hiscompany''s motivation for pursuing fiberglass. therma-tru recruited a ream of engineers and assigned them the mission of developing a new product that would put perform both wood and steel. the team blended fiberglass and resins to invent a sheet-molding compound, as well as the tooling to transform those supplies into a door skin. after extensive laboratory and field testing, the fiberglass industry''s first door hit the market: the fiber-classic.

other alternatives are made of a polyurethane foam insulation core - offering six times the energy efficiency of wood - faced on both sides 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 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 door 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.

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