We are looking to install a 36 in front door, with either 3/4 or 1/2 view windows, and 12 in side lites for our brick Georgian home.

We want to paint the door black and are torn about which material and texture to go with. We are leaning towards fiberglass and perhaps opting for a textured finish so that it looks more like a wood door.

1) Is having the texture on the door not worth it, since we are painting it black?

2) Do you recommend 1/2 or 3/4 lite for the door? We are thinking the 1/2 lite might look more traditional for our home, which we prefer. The side lite windows would extend all the way down.

3) Has anyone had experience with Home Depot's Steves & Sons brand? We are between this and Therma-Tru. The Therma-Tru quote was around $6,000 from Lowes, while the Steves and Sons was about $2,300...both primed and unpainted. Therma-Tru has a mahogany texture, while the Steve and Sons is smooth.

4) Do you recommend Low E or Clear glass? We don't want to have a tinted look on the exterior, and the front door area has plenty of shade. Does Low E look much different from clear glass?

5) Our contractor is estimating $2,500 to paint and install the door, plus replacing the header to fit the new door dimensions. Is this a reasonable quote?