Homeowners love the warmth natural wood brings to the interior of their home, and now that trend has made its way to home exteriors. Technology has allowed fiberglass and steel doors to mimic the woodgrain texture perfectly of natural wood so homeowners can get the look of natural wood while benefiting from a different material. With the variety of woodgrains, finishing options like stains and solid paints, and uses for wood, predictions are that wood accents on exteriors will continue to gain popularity.

When selecting a door, it's essential to understand the various woodgrains and how they can bring a natural element to your home's entrance. Waudena^® offers textured fiberglass and steel doors with 11 woodgrain finishes and 45 paint color options to fit every exterior design need.

Traditionally woodgrain symbolizes strength and how a stain will hold, but as other materials have been created to mimic natural wood, woodgrain is now a symbol of comfort and nature. A woodgrain is comprised of alternating dark and light wood that is created through the seasonal growth patterns. Woodgrain doors mimic this look with state-of-the-art processes (watch how our fiberglass skins are made). Picking the right woodgrain for your front door gives a good base for your finish and compliments the overall aesthetic of your exterior. There are a few distinct grain types that give each species its unique characteristics:

• Straight: The grain runs in a single direction
• Irregular: A varying pattern of woodgrains that can include any grain type. The patterns are often caused by knots in the wood.
• Closed: Smaller pores create a natural smooth finish
• Open: Large pores give these species distinct grain patterns

Let’s break down the different wood species in Waudena’s exterior door line: