Factors to Consider in the Mountain West
A diverse climate that includes plains, mountain ranges, and everything in between, the Mountain West tends to be a dry region with abundant sunlight and large fluctuations in temperature. The summers may be brutally hot, and the winters tend to be equally frigid. Expect substantial snowfall in the winter, especially if you’re in the Rockies, and blistering heat in the summer, especially if you’re in the southern portion of the region.
Styles for Durable Doors
The Mountain West’s rugged landscape lends itself well to a charming rustic style. For an authentic rustic aesthetic, a wood door is the obvious choice. To get a classic, weathered look, leave your door unpainted and use a simple stain finish.
If, however, you seek durable doors with more insulation and less maintenance, fiberglass is a good choice. Add a faux wood grain finish to your fiberglass door to mimic the look of a real wood door. However, wood is prone to fading, which is bad news for anyone living in a sunny climate like the Mountain West. It’s estimated that Colorado alone gets about 300 sunny days per year, which is great for avid hikers but bad for a wood door.Try pairing your beautiful wood door with a covered exterior entryway–this covering can help protect your wood door from the harshness of direct sunlight.
Durable doors for the Mountain West should be able to withstand extreme temperatures. | @ fotolia.com / Yarek Gora
Materials for Durable Doors
In choosing durable doors for your home, there are a few materials you should consider. Since rugged and rustic styles are popular in the Mountain West, wood is a good stylistic choice for durable doors. Classic and classy, a wood door can be a great addition to a down to earth cabin or ranch-style home. However, wood is expensive and requires considerable maintenance.
Fiberglass is much more resistant to fading and is a great material for durable doors. Fiberglass has many beneficial qualities, such as its strength, but the excellent insulation qualities of fiberglass make it a great material for durable doors in the Mountain West. Unlike wood, fiberglass is resistant to warping, which means that it will hold up well in the Mountain's West extreme changes in temperature. Though wood is also an excellent insulator, fiberglass has more potential to reduce energy bills and keep you comfortable during extreme temperatures.
Bottom Line: Energy Efficient Materials and a Rustic Look
All in all, the Mountain West is a sunny region with extreme temperatures and the occasional, but regular intense storm. Homeowners should choose durable doors that can stand up to prolonged exposure to sunlight and resist dramatic temperature changes. Wood doors can provide excellent insulation and a beautiful rustic look, but require a lot of maintenance. Fiberglass may not have the rustic aesthetic of wood, but it tends to make for more durable doors.
