How to Save Money When Buying is fiberglass natural or synthetic

Today, the options you have for home materials are staggering. Just for something as simple as your exterior doors, you can choose from fiberglass, wood, steel, or even iron in a massive variety of sub-styles.

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So, which one should you go with? Which type of door is going to look great while also providing enough advantages to warrant its cost?

Today, we’re going to go over the two most common door types: Fiberglass vs wood doors. We’ll compare all their different traits, prices, and more so you can decide which one is right for you. Let’s get started.

Fiberglass Doors: Pros and Cons of Fiberglass Doors

Fiberglass doors are relatively new compared to the age-old wood doors everyone is more than familiar with. The fiberglass door is yet another advancement in technology, and in some ways, it far exceeds traditional options. However, it’s not perfect, and it quickly falls behind in certain areas.

The Pros of Fiberglass Doors:

Fiberglass is a synthetic material, and it lends several pros to the doors made from it. To start off on a positive note, we’ll go over all the pros and cons of fiberglass doors.

Low Maintenance:

Fiberglass doors require practically zero maintenance. This is because a fiberglass door is made from polymer that is reinforced with glass fiber to add to its tensile strength and overall durability. Like most plastics, fiberglass is highly resilient to wear and tear, and you typically won’t have to worry about maintaining it at all. 

At most, you’ll have to touch up the paint job if you purchase a painted door, but even that’s a rarity.

Durability:

The same qualities that make a fiberglass door so low maintenance also make it resilient to damage. It’s virtually invulnerable to water damage, can take massive impacts without suffering a scratch, and ultimately, it can outlast you.

Unlimited Customization:

One of the advantages of using any form of plastic is that it’s fairly easy to shape, color, or design in any way imaginable. That’s true about fiberglass, too.

You can find premade doors that look like various wood species, metal varieties, vibrant colors, and a variety of other things. If it’s commonly seen for a door, there’s a good chance you can find a manufacturer producing it in bulk.

However, it doesn’t stop there. Let’s say you have a unique design in mind for a brand-new home you’re building or a renovation you’re doing. If you can’t find a door that matches that design style, you can easily hire a custom service to make the exact door you want. It doesn’t matter if you want a standard door that looks like Teak, or an imaginative, nontraditional door. It can be made without too much fuss.

Given the natural limitations of carving wood or working with various metals, this is probably where fiberglass doors stand out the most. 

Energy Efficient:

One money-saving benefit of fiberglass doors is that they’re 6x as energy efficient as wooden doors. This means that they can help trap heat and cool air – depending on how you’re controlling your home’s temperature – inside of your house more effectively. This can lower your energy bill by allowing your HVAC system to work less, and who doesn’t like saving a bit of money each month?

This can also be an appealing feature if you’re aiming to live a “greener” lifestyle. While the door is essentially plastic, its energy efficiency, and extremely long lifespan more than make up for its manufacturing process.

The Cons of Fiberglass Doors:

After reviewing all the pros, you’re probably gearing up to order your new fiberglass door as soon as possible. However, you might want to think twice. There aren’t many cons to fiberglass doors, but the few that do exist might be deal-breakers.

Price:

This is the biggest drawback of buying a fiberglass door. They are expensive. A lot of work goes into reinforcing the base polymer with glass fiber, and the materials aren’t cheap in the slightest. In fact, you can expect more than twice the price of a premium wooden door for just a stock fiberglass door.

However, you will only need to buy the fiberglass door once; granted no extreme elements or events affect it. So, you might pay twice as much, but you might also have to replace a comparative wooden door multiple times depending on how well you maintain it. In the end, it might be cheaper. Of course, that depends largely on the wooden door you compare it to and how much care you put into it.

Faux:

Fiberglass doors can be manufactured to look like the finest wood species, and they look beautiful. However, there will always be that little difference that gives it away as a “fake” door. It’s kind of like a leather jacket. PLU leather jackets can be on par with the top of the fashion world; they’re still noticeably not real leather.

This is such a minor detail that you probably won’t care, but if you absolutely want a traditional door, fiberglass might not be the best choice for you. 

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Availability:

This is a very minor con. You can find tons of online retailers selling fiberglass doors, and you can usually find them at specialty stores that sell doors and other home renovation products. However, you’re not likely to bump into a massive selection of them at a store like Home Depot. So, driving to the store, selecting a door, and quickly taking it home for installation isn’t quite as convenient.

Wood Doors: The Pros and Cons of Wooden Doors

Wooden doors are about as traditional as they come, and they have several pros and cons you should consider.

The Pros of Wood Doors:

It’s easier than ever to find a mattress without fiberglass due to growing awareness about the safety of the material. The best mattresses we've tested use alternative materials to fiberglass, such as plant-based flame retardants. However fiberglass is still used in many low- and mid-cost mattresses — and manufacturers aren’t always upfront about it.

Fiberglass is a synthetic, heat-resistant material consisting of fine strands of glass and resin. It’s used as a fire barrier in some mattresses because it’s cheap to make. While fiberglass is safe to sleep on if your mattress is securely sealed, it can cause skin irritation and breathing problems if you're exposed to the material.

Here’s what you need to know when shopping for a mattress without fiberglass, and how to spot them in the upcoming Presidents’ Day mattress sales.

The top red flags to look for

The most obvious sign that a mattress contains fiberglass is if it explicitly says so on the product label. But what are the less obvious indicators? Here are a few red flags to watch for when shopping for a mattress without fiberglass:

• The brand uses alternative terms: If the label or product page mentions “glass wool,” “glass fiber,” or “fiber reinforced plastic,” that means the mattress contains fiberglass. “Silica” may also be used to describe fiberglass as a way to mislead consumers.
• You’re advised not to remove the cover: This is particularly telling if the mattress has a zippable, removable cover. In most cases, this is to prevent exposure to fiberglass.
• The details about the fire barrier are vague: If a brand isn’t direct about the type of fire barrier used in its mattresses, there’s chance it could be fiberglass. You’ll have to contact the company to be sure.

While some brands are open about the materials they use for their fire barriers and put it on their labels, others tend to keep this information vague or bury it on an FAQ page. If you can’t find definitive information about the type of fire barrier a mattress uses, contact the brand’s customer service department.

Do all mattresses contain fiberglass?

Not all mattresses have fiberglass, with many brands now relying on other flame-retardant materials that pose fewer health risks. Alternatives to fiberglass include polyester, rayon, wool and plant fibers like cotton, thistle pulp and linseed.

Some manufacturers claim to use silica when they mean fiberglass (silica is used in the production of fiberglass). However, some brands truly use silica — just be aware of the type. Hydrated silica powder is generally considered safe.

If the mattress is meeting your sleep needs, you don’t have to replace it. But we highly recommend wrapping it in a mattress protector designed to trap loose fibers. Never open the mattress cover.

You’re likely to pay more for a fiberglass-free mattress. Most cheap mattresses use fiberglass to help keep costs low. Some mid-range mattresses-in-a-box may also include fiberglass, but it’s exceedingly rare among luxury mattresses.

Opting for one of the best organic mattresses with certified organic and non-toxic materials is a bonafide way to ensure you won’t be sleeping on top of fiberglass. You’ll need to stretch your budget for a natural or fully organic mattress, but we think they're worth it for longterm good sleep health.

Safe alternatives to fiberglass

As more consumers raise concerns about fiberglass in mattresses, many sleep brands are turning to safer materials that still comply with the Flammable Fabrics Act, which says that all mattresses sold in the US must have a fire barrier. Popular alternatives to fiberglass are wool, cotton, polyester, and rayon.

Some brands take an extra step by blending materials for their fire barriers. Saatva — which makes the best hybrid mattress we’ve tested — uses a natural, plant-based thistle made of pulp bonded with polyester or wool in most of its beds. Bear mattresses contain WhisperShield, a specialist material made without toxic chemicals.

Mattress brands that don’t use fiberglass

To avoid any unpleasant surprises, we’ve compiled a list of brands that have confirmed (either on their websites or directly to us) that their mattresses don't have fiberglass. Note that this isn’t an exhaustive list.

• Avocado: The premier organic sleep brand uses GOTS-certified organic wool as a fire barrier. Its vegan mattresses swap wool for natural graphite powder or hydrated silica. Learn more at Avocado
• Awara: Awara’s organic mattresses use 100% organic New Zealand wool fibers plus a natural silica-based fire retardant. Learn more at Awara
• Bear: Every Bear mattress features WhisperShield, described as an “environmentally friendly, inherently flame-proof rayon” made without toxic chemicals. Learn more at Bear
• Big Fig: One of the best mattresses for heavy people, Big Fig uses a blend of linseed, cotton, and flax. Learn more at Big Fig
• Birch: Birch uses 100% organic wool as a flame barrier in its eco-friendly mattresses. Learn more at Birch

• Casper: A Casper Sleep Specialist confirmed to us that current Casper mattresses use rayon-based fibers. Models produced before have a knit fire sock with single-strand fiberglass. Learn more at Casper
• Helix: The brand behind the best mattress for side sleepers opts for yarn made from cellulose-derived rayon. Learn more at Helix
• Nectar: A spokesperson for Resident Sleep (Nectar’s parent company) says that the current Nectar lineup uses rayon (mainly derived from wood pulp) or a rayon and polyester blend. Previous-gen Nectar mattresses have fiberglass. Learn more at Nectar
• Nolah: This top-rated mattress-in-a-box brand boasts that all of its mattresses are fiberglass-free but doesn’t go into detail on its website. A Nolah representative told us its mattresses use a hydrated silica sock, while the Nolah Natural uses wool. Learn more at Nolah
• Saatva: Most Saatva mattresses use a natural, plant-based thistle bonded with polyester or 100% GOTS-certified organic New Zealand wool. The all-foam Contour5 has a Greenguard Gold Certified flame barrier, while the brand’s latex-based mattresses use 100% GOTS-certified organic New Zealand wool. Learn more at Saatva

Toxin-free certifications to look for

Shopping for a mattress without fiberglass is one way to ensure healthier sleep. Another way to do this is to look for mattress certifications that guarantee a mattress is free from harmful chemicals. These aren’t always a guarantee that a mattress is fiberglass-free, but are usually a good indicator.

These aren’t limited to organic mattresses — the best memory foam mattresses and hybrids can earn certifications for using materials that are low in emissions and screened for carcinogens, mutagens, and reproductive toxins.

Based in Philadelphia, USA, freelance writer and editor Alison Barretta has been sharing buying advice and retail news for over 15 years. Since she's been helping Tom's Guide expand its robust library of sleep content by researching the latest trends, speaking with renowned experts, and going behind the scenes at Saatva, Casper, Sleep Number, Tempur-Pedic, and 3Z Brands. Alison has reviewed everything from budget memory foam mattresses and luxurious innerspring beds to immersive sound pods and $7,000 smart beds that automatically adjust to your every move. When she isn't reviewing mattresses or searching for great deals to save you money, Alison can be found practicing yoga and martial arts, experimenting with recipes, getting too invested in the Philadelphia Flyers, and snoozing with her cat / assistant mattress tester Alex.

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