I wasn’t sure I was going to post this one. The exterior photo wasn’t exactly my best shot—but then again, not every project gets the lighting it deserves. What did deserve the spotlight though, was the surface texture on this fiberglass door: a beautiful, knotty alder wood grain that caught my eye and hasn’t let go.
What really struck me was how far fiberglass door technology has come in the past decade. The wood grain texture on this one is so well replicated, you could easily mistake it for real alder at a glance. With the right finish technique, fiberglass doors can now reach an aesthetic that—until recently—was exclusive to natural wood.
That said, wood still reigns supreme in terms of design flexibility. When working with wood, the possibilities are endless: custom panel layouts, deep grooves, layered finishes, metal inlays, specialty hardware—you name it. That’s why high-end, one-of-a-kind homes still turn to custom-crafted wood doors when they want something truly unique, often spending tens of thousands to get there.
But fiberglass has always been the underdog chasing innovation—and it’s catching up fast. What’s especially fascinating is how quickly high-end wood trends trickle into the fiberglass world. You’ll see a stunning modern door on a $5M custom home, and within a year or two, a similar design is available in fiberglass—at a fraction of the cost.
It’s not unlike fashion: what debuts on the runway eventually finds its way into everyday streetwear. And just like in fashion, there’s something satisfying about seeing those elevated looks become more accessible—without sacrificing style.
This door may not have had a perfect photo day, but it definitely deserves a place on the feed.