Are you looking to get exterior doors for your home? Whether you are planning to rework your home or just setting up, exterior doors are something you have to consider for sure.
Most importantly, you have to choose a high-quality door to get the best impact.
Choosing between Jeld-Wen vs. Masonite exterior doors can be a bit without proper knowledge. That’s where I come in.
I will give you an in-depth comparison overview of the two exterior doors, so you can find out which one is the best for you. Let’s not waste a second and get right into it.
A Quick Comparison Between Two Exterior Doors
Here is a quick comparison table for the two exterior doors for those running out of time. You can see the basic differences between the doors in a general sense.
| Specifications | Jeld-Wen | Masonite |
| Expertise | Doors and windows | Doors only |
| Variety | A lot of colors and styles | Offers various patterns, designs, and textures |
| Energy efficiency | Good rating | Impressive |
| After-sales service | Good | Better |
| Cost | Affordable | Higher |
| Availability | Lacks proper inventory | Excellent inventory management |
| Durability | Great | Good |
Let’s get real here; you can hardly decide on which one is a better option solely based on this table. That’s why I would suggest you stick till the end and go through all the details I am about to discuss.
Key Differences Between JELD-WEN And Masonite Exterior Doors
The best way to choose an option between two exterior doors is to go through some factors both the doors provide. While the basic functionality of the doors is the same, there are some differences in the build and other factors that may impact your decision.
So, let’s get going with the different factors and see what kind of value you get from them.
- Materials
The first thing you have to go through is the material of the door because the material will determine the durability factor along with the looks and other possibilities.
Now, coming to Jeld Wen, they use a method called Aura Last Wood.
Their secret technique of making them wood has protection against wood rot, water saturation, and even termites.
The method uses a vacuum pressure process to strengthen the wood fibers. You just end up with excellent durability out of the wood in the bigger picture.
As for the Masonite doors, you get to see a different kind of processing in their woods. They use the process of heating and steaming, and applying pressure.
This also provides the Masonite wood with great endurance and ends up with good durability.
With utmost honesty, I can tell you that none of the doors will disappoint you with the material quality. Having said that, I think Jeld Wen will be a bit better considering the protection it provides as an exterior door.
- Design and versatility
A great thing about these exterior door brands is their versatility. You don’t have to stick to a certain pattern or style with any of them. So, now the question is, how do you choose one of them?
To start, Jeld Wen comes with various styles, designs, and patterns on its exterior doors. For the basics, you get fiberglass doors, steel exterior doors, and of course, wood doors. In the fiberglass door option, you get to see two choices.
One is Aurora, and the other one is design pro.
For the wood, you get two options IWP wood and authentic ones. And then you have the steel doors option as well. Within these options, you get different choices of patterns and colors too.
Are you already impressed? Wait till you see the collection from Masonite. They have 6 kinds of exterior door collections.
Within that, you can find paintable options and stainable options. As for the surface, there is a smooth option and a textured option.
You know what? That’s not even the best part. You get almost 10 wood species options and textures for your Masonite exterior doors.
So, you can see that in terms of choices in your exterior doors, Masonite is the winner here. You can always rely on them to deliver versatility in terms of the looks and feel.
- Availability
Here is a factor that provides a clear difference between the two exterior doors.
One is very readily available, and you have to struggle a little for the other one.
I won’t keep you in the dark too much; Jeld-Wen is the door that isn’t readily available.
Most of the time, when you check out their options, you just see that they are out of stock.
To put this into technical context, they seem to have difficulty managing their inventories.
On the other hand, you get Masonite doors available at all times. The inventory management from the company is phenomenal. You will never have to worry about not getting the preferred option.
The question is, does this matter? Well, yes, if you are in urgency of getting a door for your home, you can rely on Masonite without any second thoughts. But with Jeld Wen, you will have to think about the availability factor first.
- Brand value
In terms of brand value, both are pretty much equal. They both are well known for providing quality doors.
However, if you are considering specialty, I have to say Masonite has an advantage over Jeld Wen in exterior doors alone. They specialize in making doors of high quality.
As for Jeld Wen, you get quality doors for sure, but they also emphasize windows. So, considering that, I would say Jeld-Wen will be a good pick for both windows and doors.
But if you are looking for specialists, then Masonite is the pick.
Exterior Door Performance Comparison
Beyond curb appeal and security, choosing an energy efficient exterior door saves money over time through better insulation. Properly sealing out air infiltration makes temperature regulation easier for HVAC systems lowering costs too.
Both JELD-WEN and Masonite engineer high performance exterior doors but achieve efficiency and structural integrity through differing means:
JELD-WEN Door Performance
- Foam-filled doors prevent convection while retaining structural rigidity
- Advanced weathersealing with proprietary triple-seal technology
- Durable finishes that won’t rapidly degrade from elements
- Moisture management allowing natural contraction/expansion movement to avoid cracking
- Most fiberglass models rate R-5 to R-6 insulation factor
- Impact resistant doors certified to withstand years of use
- 100% of products extensively tested acrossreal-world environmental conditions
Masonite Door Performance
- Structurwood composite material delivers thermal efficiency up to 50% better than wood
- Effective air sealing with perimeter weatherstripping
- Lasting protection in coastal regions susceptible to humidity/salt air
- Minimal shrinkage/expansion through biting seasonal extremes
- Fiberglass skins offer durability across climate zones
- R-5 to R-6 insulation value on standard models
- IZE Series optimized for net-zero energy home efficiency
- Third party certified as sustainable product for green builds
For coastal climates and heavily seasonal regions, Masonite’s patented Structurwood holds up phenomenally well against weather fluctuations thanks to densely bonded polymer construction.
But JELD-WEN matches this with lasting finishes, proprietary sealing and structural reinforcement allowing contraction/expansion to prevent cracking.
Both feature insulated, impact-resistant fiberglass models achieving similar R-5 insulation ratings for energy savings. Interestingly Masonite touts specialized IZE Series doors (not available from JELD-WEN) boasting even higher efficiency.
Ultimately both brands engineer resilient, tightly-sealing exterior doors that withstand punishment. We give a slight advantage to Masonite for their Structurwood innovation minimizing seasonal wood movement. But pick JELD-WEN if easy customization is important for an otherwise high performance barrier.
Costs, Warranties & Availability Comparison
Two final factors that sway exterior door purchasing decisions are upfront investment, long-term guarantees and local dealer accessibility.
Let’s explore how JELD-WEN and Masonite compare on costs, protection plans and distribution:
JELD-WEN Cost
- Sold through third-party distributors including home improvement warehouses
- Pricing varies by region averaging $400 – $2000+ installed
- More affordable than custom millwork; premium wood models fetch higher prices
- Added customization like mixed materials increases costs
- Specialty series like impact-rated doors cost more
Masonite Cost
- Also sold via third-party retailers including builders/contractors
- Slightly more affordable overall than JELD-WEN with average installed prices ranging $600 – $1800
- Standard fiberglass models compete favorably to bottom-tier JELD products
- Special orders with premium upgrades increase budget needs
JELD-WEN Warranties
- Good-Better-Best tier system based on product line
- Comprehensive “For Life” warranty includes finish, component and labor coverage with transferability
- Mid-grade Bach and Vintage policies strong too
- Budget Builder’s Choice carries only 1 year finish/5 year component guarantee
Masonite Warranties
- 10 years coverage across door slab, finish, components and labor
- Limited lifetime plans on many fiberglass models
- IZE Series qualifies for a 15 year finish warranty
- Warranties transferable to subsequent homeowners
JELD-WEN Availability
- National distribution network with dealers & home improvement retailers
- Order through local distributors, independent dealers or big box retailers
- Some specialty models only available regionally
Masonite Availability
- Offered nationally through authorized dealers
- Purchase via local lumberyards, builders, contractors and major retailers
- Showcases featured in regional Parade of Homes frequently
Which Exterior Door Will Be The Perfect Pick For You?
After comparing every facet from structural composition to warranties and dealer networks, how do you choose between JELD-WEN or Masonite for your next exterior door?
Consider JELD-WEN Exterior Doors If:
- You prefer natural solid wood aesthetics—they offer the widest species variety
- Seeking creative customization like contrasting wood types and iron accents
- Want the high-touch support of an independent door showroom specialist
- Appreciate choosing sustainability certifications on many eco-friendly wood models
Go With Masonite Exterior Doors For:
- Low-maintenance durability from proprietary Structurwood composite
- Coastal climates/environments prone to shrinkage, heat and humidity
- Streamlined purchasing experience through big box retailers
- Attractive styles without breaking the bank
Ultimately both JELD-WEN and Masonite deliver exceptional quality, style variety and tested longevity that resists punishing conditions over decades.
Narrow your priorities around budget, maintenance, customization wishes and material preferences to pick the ideal exterior door brand for welcoming guests and sealing in comfort.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
The basics of the doors are pretty much the same. But they do have some differences in the looks. While Jeld Wen tends to be a bit darker, the Masonite doors tend to have better textures.
Masonite exterior doors are one of the best options you get when you have to match the interior style. They are excellent in quality and durability.
Yes, Masonite is a top-notch choice for doors especially when you think of exterior doors that require the most durability out of any other doors.
Masonite fiberglass doors are pretty good in terms of the assortments you get to choose from. They are perfect when living in a non-severe sun area where the air is somewhat salty.
Conclusion
After going through all that, in summary, I would say Masonite is a better pick overall when you are thinking about Jeld Wen vs. Masonite exterior doors.
But if you are thinking about money, then Jeld Wen will have the upper hand there because they are much more affordable than Masonite.
Thank you so much for your in depth explanation of these two name brand doors. I was pulling my hair out with frustration trying to figure out what material and brand of door would match my budget. Thanks to your article I have made my decision on which door to purchase.