How to Choose the Right Entry Door for Colorado's Climate

Your front door is the first thing people see when they visit your home. But in Colorado, it also needs to be one of the toughest components of your house. Between temperature extremes, intense UV, wind, hail, and the occasional snowstorm that dumps two feet overnight, your entry door takes a beating that most of the country cannot imagine.

Here is how to choose a door that looks great and stands up to everything Colorado throws at it.

The Three Main Entry Door Materials

Every entry door falls into one of three material categories. Each has real strengths and real weaknesses for our climate.

Steel Entry Doors

Steel doors are the workhorse of the door industry. They are strong, secure, and affordable.

Strengths for Colorado:

• Best security of any door material, resistant to forced entry
• Fire resistant which is a meaningful consideration in fire-prone areas near the foothills
• Most affordable option, making them accessible for most budgets
• Insulated cores (polyurethane foam) provide good energy performance
• Dimensional stability so they do not warp or sag

Weaknesses for Colorado:

• Dents from hail. This is the biggest issue in Colorado Springs. A steel door in a hail-prone area will eventually show damage.
• Conducts cold. Even with an insulated core, the steel skin transfers cold through the door. You can sometimes feel the cold on the interior surface during deep winter nights.
• Rust potential if the paint finish is compromised by scratches or hail dents. Our dry climate slows rust compared to humid areas, but once it starts, it spreads.
• Finish limitations. Steel doors can be painted any color, but they do not convincingly mimic the look of wood grain.

My recommendation: Steel doors are a great value choice for side entries, garage entry doors, and homes where budget is the primary concern. For a main front entry, I usually steer people toward fiberglass.

Fiberglass Entry Doors

Fiberglass has become my go-to recommendation for Colorado Springs front doors, and for good reason.

Strengths for Colorado:

• Hail resistant. Fiberglass flexes on impact rather than denting. It handles Colorado hailstorms far better than steel.
• UV resistant. Does not fade, peel, or degrade nearly as fast as wood in our intense sun.
• Excellent insulation. Fiberglass is a natural insulator, and combined with a foam core, these doors provide outstanding energy performance.
• Does not expand and contract like wood, so it maintains its fit and seal through our extreme temperature swings.
• Realistic wood grain options. Modern fiberglass doors can be stained and finished to look remarkably like real wood.
• Low maintenance. No annual refinishing required.

Weaknesses for Colorado:

• Higher cost than steel, though typically less than custom wood
• Cannot be easily trimmed on site. Sizing must be precise during ordering.
• Some finishes can scratch though this is mostly cosmetic

My recommendation: Fiberglass is the best all-around choice for a front entry door in Colorado Springs. It handles our climate, looks beautiful, and lasts decades with minimal upkeep.

Wood Entry Doors

There is no denying it: a real wood entry door is stunning. The warmth, the character, the craftsmanship. Nothing else quite matches it.

Strengths for Colorado:

• Unmatched beauty. Wood is simply the best-looking door material, period.
• Excellent insulation. Wood is a natural insulator with a high R-value.
• Fully customizable. Any size, shape, panel configuration, or finish is possible.
• Can be repaired. Dents, scratches, and minor damage can be sanded and refinished.

Weaknesses for Colorado:

• UV damage is severe. A south or west-facing wood door in Colorado Springs will need refinishing every 1 to 2 years to prevent UV degradation. I have seen beautiful wood doors ruined in a single season of neglected sun exposure.
• Expansion and contraction. Wood moves with humidity and temperature changes. In Colorado’s dry climate with extreme temperature swings, this movement can cause fit issues, sticking, and seal failures.
• Highest cost especially for quality hardwood or custom designs.
• Maintenance commitment is significant and non-negotiable in our climate.

My recommendation: Wood doors are worth it for homeowners who love them enough to maintain them. A covered entry that shields the door from direct sun makes a huge difference. For an exposed, south-facing front entry, I would steer you toward fiberglass with a wood-grain finish instead.

Energy Ratings to Look For

Not all entry doors are created equal when it comes to energy performance. Here are the numbers that matter:

U-Factor

This measures how well the door insulates. Lower is better. For Colorado Springs, look for a U-factor of 0.20 or lower. The best fiberglass doors come in around 0.15.

Solar Heat Gain Coefficient (SHGC)

This measures how much solar heat passes through the door (mainly through glass inserts). For south and west-facing entries in Colorado, a lower SHGC helps prevent overheating in summer. For north-facing entries, a higher SHGC helps capture winter warmth.

Air Infiltration

This measures how much air leaks through and around the door. Look for doors rated at 0.30 cfm/ft or lower. Proper installation and weatherstripping are just as important as the door itself.

Glass Inserts: Beauty and Performance

Many homeowners want decorative glass in their entry door for natural light and curb appeal. In Colorado, there are some important considerations:

• Insulated glass is a must. Single-pane decorative glass will underperform dramatically in our climate.
• Low-E coatings on door glass reduce UV damage to your entry and foyer.
• Impact-resistant options are worth considering given our hail exposure.
• Privacy glass (textured, frosted, or beveled) provides light without sacrificing security.

Hardware and Security

Colorado Springs is generally a safe community, but good security hardware is always smart:

• Multi-point locking systems engage the door at three points (top, middle, bottom) for much better security than a single deadbolt
• Reinforced strike plates with 3-inch screws that reach the framing, not just the door jamb
• Quality deadbolts rated Grade 1 or Grade 2 by ANSI/BHMA
• Smart lock compatibility if you want keyless entry options

Hardware Finish for Colorado

Our dry air and UV exposure affect door hardware finishes. Brushed nickel and oil-rubbed bronze hold up well. Polished brass tarnishes quickly in our climate unless it is lacquer-coated. Matte black is currently popular and performs well in our conditions.

Style Options for Colorado Springs Architecture

Your entry door should complement your home’s style. Here are some popular combinations we install:

• Craftsman homes: Panel door with divided-light glass inserts in warm stain tones
• Ranch-style homes: Clean-lined panel door or modern slab door with sidelight panels
• Traditional/Colonial: Six-panel door in classic colors with decorative glass transom
• Mountain contemporary: Knotty alder look with iron-accented glass (fiberglass can replicate this beautifully)
• Modern: Flush slab door with linear glass inserts and minimalist hardware

The Installation Matters

A beautiful door installed poorly is a drafty, sticking, leaking problem waiting to happen. Proper entry door installation includes:

• Level and plumb framing adjustment or correction
• Continuous weatherstripping around the entire perimeter
• Adjustable threshold for a tight seal at the bottom
• Proper flashing to prevent water intrusion
• Spray foam insulation between the frame and rough opening
• Caulking at all exterior joints

At Dream Windows, we handle all of this as part of every door installation. We do not cut corners, because a door that does not seal properly is not doing its job.

Get a Free Entry Door Consultation

Ready to upgrade your front entry? Call us at (719) 238-5419 or browse our entry door options. We will help you find the perfect door for your home, your style, and Colorado’s climate.