Steel & fibreglass entry doors
Steel and Fibreglass Entry Doors in Scarborough
A front door has three jobs: keep the weather out, keep people out, and look right on the house. We install steel and fibreglass entry doors across Scarborough, with our own crews and a lifetime warranty on parts and labour. Fortress has been doing this from its Sheppard Avenue office since 1989.
Reviewed by Steve McCue and Steve Mercer, owners, Fortress Windows & Doors Inc.
Since 1989
Owner-run, family business
Canadian-made
Built for Ontario winters
Our own install crew
No subcontractors
Lifetime warranty
Covers product and labour
Steel or fibreglass
Steel or fibreglass?
Both are insulated doors and both will outperform an old wood slab in a Toronto winter. The difference is in how they age and what they cost.
Steel is the budget-friendly choice and it is strong. The skin can dent if something hard hits it, and a deep scratch should be touched up so it does not rust. For a side door or a door under a porch roof, steel is hard to beat on value.
Fibreglass costs more and it earns it on a front entry that takes the weather. It holds a wood-grain texture well and can be stained, it does not dent the way steel does, and it does not swell every spring and shrink every winter like real wood. If you want the look of a wood door without the repainting, fibreglass is the answer.
What to look for
The security is in the parts you do not see
A standard deadbolt holds a door at one point. When someone kicks a door, that one point is where the frame splits. A multipoint lock throws bolts into the frame at the top, middle and bottom with one turn of the key, so the force is spread along the whole edge of the door.
Sidelites are the other weak spot. Plain glass beside the door means nobody needs to beat the lock. Laminated glass fixes that. It cracks on impact but holds together, so the glass is about as hard to get through as the door itself.
Good to know
What to know before you order
A fibreglass entry in Oro-Medonte
On a whole-house job in Oro-Medonte the owner wanted a wood look with two sidelites, and did not want to refinish it every few years. We went with a fibreglass door, a multipoint lock, and laminated glass in both sidelites. The same house got a new patio door, every window, a 16-foot insulated steel garage door and 6-inch eavestrough. The full project write-up is here.
Glass, style and light
A solid slab gives the most privacy and the best insulation. A half-lite or full-lite door lets daylight into a dark front hall, and decorative or textured glass keeps that light without letting people see straight in. Sidelites on one or both sides widen the entry and brighten the hall more than glass in the door itself. A transom above adds more light again if the ceiling height allows it.
Think about the threshold too. A lower sill is easier for strollers, walkers and anyone who does not lift their feet much, and it is worth raising at the measure visit if that matters in your house.
How the install is done
A new door only seals as well as the frame it sits in. The right way to replace a door is to take out the old door and frame together, check the opening and the sill for rot, then set the new pre-hung unit plumb and square. The gap around it gets insulated and sealed, the hardware is adjusted until the door closes with light pressure and the weatherstrip compresses evenly, and the trim goes back on.
Steve McCue, one of the owners, has installed doors for 37 years and oversees every crew. Our installers work for Fortress. We do not subcontract the install.
Warranty and pricing
The True Fortress Exclusive Lifetime Warranty covers the door and the labour to fix it. Pricing comes as one written quote after an in-home measure by Steve Mercer, a former home inspector, and financing is available if you want to spread the cost.
Beyond Scarborough
We install entry doors across the east end and into Durham, including Ajax, and north into York Region through Markham. Our Barrie office on Pepin Court covers Barrie and Orillia. If you also need a patio door, see our sliding patio door page.
Our process
How the job runs
From first call to final walk-through.
Book a measure
Call (416) 291-5795 or use the quote form.
Pick the door
Steel or fibreglass, style, glass and sidelites. We measure the opening at the same visit.
Written quote
One price covering the door, hardware and install.
Install day
Old door and frame out, opening checked, new door set, sealed and adjusted.
Final check
We test the lock and the seal with you before we leave.
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
Is a steel or fibreglass entry door better?
Fibreglass costs more but resists dents, holds a wood-grain finish and does not swell or shrink with the seasons, which makes it the better choice for an exposed front entry. Steel is strong and cost-effective, and works well for side doors or doors under a porch roof. Both are insulated.
What is a multipoint lock?
A multipoint lock secures the door to the frame at several points, usually top, middle and bottom, with one turn of the key. A standard deadbolt holds at one point, which is where forced entry concentrates.
Why use laminated glass in sidelites?
Laminated glass cracks on impact but stays in one piece, so a burglar cannot simply break the sidelite and reach the lock. It makes the glass beside the door nearly as secure as the door itself.
What warranty comes with a Fortress entry door?
Every Fortress door install is covered by the True Fortress Exclusive Lifetime Warranty, which includes the product and the labour to repair it.
Do you install entry doors in Scarborough?
Yes. Fortress Windows & Doors is based at 4725 Sheppard Ave E in Scarborough and has installed entry doors since 1989. Call (416) 291-5795 for a free quote.
Get a free quote on steel and fibreglass doors
One written price, measured by an owner. Call (416) 291-5795 or book online.