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Different types of front doors

UK Home Improvement

Different Types of Front Doors

This article will discuss the most commonly available styles of front door available in the UK and help you to make an informed decision on which will be the right fit for your home.

Composite Doors

These doors are called composites because they are made of several different materials – uPVC with a solid timber core for example. By combining multiple materials, it’s possible to create an incredibly strong end product that will protect your house and last a long time.

Composite doors are available in a wide range of colours and styles and are virtually maintenance-free, will not require repainting and are much more resistant to British weather conditions than for example a wooden door, which may flake or peel after a few years. Because of the strength of the materials and the complex locking system contained within a composite door is by far the best choice for home security. The multiple materials used also allow for very good home insulation which is a big advantage during cold British winters.

The excellent qualities of composite doors are reflected in the price – they are by far the most expensive option but if your budget allows it you will get in return a very high-quality product that will add value to your property and need little to no maintenance over its lifespan.

uPVC Doors

Un-plasticised Poly Vinyl Chloride doors are probably the most common choice of the front door in the UK, and the material is also widely used in window installations. 

uPVC doors offer many of the benefits of composite doors – they can be chosen in multiple colours and designs and are very low maintenance, only requiring cleaning with warm soapy water when they get dirty. They are reasonably good at insulating the home and whilst not being quite as strong as composite doors they still offer a very good level of security. uPVC is a good insulator of sound as well as heat, with some firms quoting that their products can reduce noise levels entering the home by up to 50% compared to a wooden door. uPVC is also an excellent choice for the environmentally conscious with the material being made from mostly recyclable materials and lasting between forty and eighty years.

uPVC doors are cheaper than composite doors and this is reflected slightly in the quality. They are not as strong and will not insulate quite as well but for the homeowner, with a budget, they are a very good all-round choice.

Timber Doors

Timber doors offer an aesthetically pleasing alternative to other doors, conjuring up the image of a traditional British home. They can easily be cut, sculpted or styled with intricate details and glass to suit any style and budget and can be painted any colour you would like – the customisation is truly unrivalled with a timber door. Timber doors that have been properly treated are very durable and will easily cope with a British winter. They are also very good insulators of heat, driving down your energy bills.

Timber doors do require much more maintenance than other doors – without regular painting/treating the surface of the door will become exposed and be much more vulnerable to weather conditions, which could eventually lead to premature rotting if not kept in check. Wood is also a natural material and will eventually distort so factor this in when making a decision about how long of a lifespan you’re expecting out of your new door.

Aluminium Doors

Aluminium doors are a good way to modernise the look of a property. Aluminium has similar strength properties to steel whilst also being very light; this allows doors of this design to feature much larger glass areas while not losing any structural integrity. Because of this structural strength, they offer security comparable with a composite door. Much like timber doors, they can be painted or powder-coated in almost any colour imaginable and require very little maintenance, although purchasing a specific aluminium cleaning agent is recommended to prolong the life of the coating and prevent inadvertent damage. Aluminium doors are also very good insulators.

Unfortunately aluminium is very susceptible to water staining – not ideal for the wet British winters.  Aluminium doors are one of the more expensive options and the price can fluctuate according to the price of the metal on the open market, so keep in mind that your quoted price has the possibility to change.

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