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[Closed] Composite doors, can you recommend me a good one?

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Its for a Victorian terrace.


 
Posted : 11/12/2012 11:03 pm
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Composite door on a Victorian terrace
Nooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooo


 
Posted : 11/12/2012 11:44 pm
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It'll look much better than the cheap white thing that's there! And after 27 years of living in Victorian terraces, always with a wood front door I fancy something less drafty. The neighbours have Rockdoors, in black and the look superb.

We put wood windows and doors on the house we are about to leave but we are renting it out and I will now have to go back and paint them. They look good though & in 27 years I've never had my back doors kicked in by burglars 🙂


 
Posted : 12/12/2012 7:33 am
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The back of our house faces west over open fields so gets hot sunshine in summer and lots of driven rain and wind in winter. We knew we needed a good door and one that was secure as well because it is quite private. We got a steel/wood/steel sandwich door, which has grooves pressed in it to look like planks. It has stood up to the weather fantastically well, it's warm in winter and cool in summer and very stable, there is no sign of deterioration and the paint I applied eight years ago is still perfect (a matt dark green from Little Green Paint Co). The only downside has been the threshold, which is an aluminium extrusion with drain holes. The holes need to be enlarged to allow it to drain and the extrusion must be installed with the correct adhesive/sealant to hold it down onto the wooden sill, otherwise it leaks. I should really fit a lip to the door so as to direct rain off the sill but that would look awful and would destroy the integrity of the actual door.

The door was quite a snug fit in the opening so we got a carpenter to make us a new frame specially and install the door.

This is the door: http://www.ianfirth.co.uk/index.php/external-doors/steel/cottage/cottage.html


 
Posted : 12/12/2012 9:38 am
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Why not buy a modern wood one, it will be draught proof? Would fit the house style better.....


 
Posted : 12/12/2012 10:14 am
 olie
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Rock door make some excellent repro Victorian doors. Fitted a few on returns in the past.

Probably best on market but a bit pricey


 
Posted : 12/12/2012 10:28 am
 cb
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There's a guy fitting Rockdoors for us right now. Not cheap but recommended by the local window / door company. I'd have no hesitation in recommending him at verysecuredoors.co.uk He fits only Rockdoors.

He returns calls, is quick, competitively priced and basically does everything he says he will do. I wish I could say the same for the numerous other tradesmen I've been trying to deal with in the last 3 months...

Pretty sure Rockdoor have some wood looking options as well.


 
Posted : 12/12/2012 10:29 am
 olie
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Should have said refurbs stupid auto correct


 
Posted : 12/12/2012 10:30 am
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Cheers guys. So does anybody do a product that competes with Rockdoors or are they unbeatable?


 
Posted : 12/12/2012 11:09 pm
 cb
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Can't help on that one but can confirm that the doors I had done today appear top notch! Bloody heavy!

Your budget I guess is what will determine your choice! I was directed towards doors less than half the price I paid by one company. I then watched the Youtube videos of the Rockdoors being smashed in and how they compared to a standard composite door - decision made. The vids also show how long it takes the Fire Service to break one in - nearly two minutes with an angle grinder! Admittedly that has downsides as you're buggered if you 'need' to get in - fire inside or something. I was focused on keeping scrotes out though.

EDIT: Rockdoors do three quality ranges btw. I went for the Ultimates.


 
Posted : 12/12/2012 11:30 pm
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Door-Stop International do lovely composite doors. We've got a red one.


 
Posted : 13/12/2012 8:14 am
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Hi,
Just had a door fitted which was made by a company called solidor, very good quality and not a bad price. £777 fitted by local company.


 
Posted : 13/12/2012 8:23 am
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i could be inside one of them within two minutes, no angle grinder, just drill the handle and snap the protruding lock, the multilock then flicks up with a screwdriver-- done it countless times-- will keep opportunists at bay, but any determined person no-- fire brigades and police not very adept at breaking in, they go for brute force-- not the best...


 
Posted : 13/12/2012 8:29 am
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As usual, you get what you pay for.


 
Posted : 13/12/2012 3:24 pm
 cb
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rudebwoy - assume you are a locksmith? Am I being naive in believing the blurb...

"Ultimate Series Rockdoors feature Secured by Design anti bump, anti pick and anti drill cylinders. In addition, Zinc cylinder guard protectors (which are fitted as standard on all Rockdoor Ultimate Series doors) provide a layer of security to the locking barrel ensuring it can’t be snapped by burglars."


 
Posted : 13/12/2012 5:35 pm
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anti drill cylinders

No such thing, just depends on how powerful your drill is and how tough the drill bit.


 
Posted : 13/12/2012 5:48 pm
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However, most tea leafs don't carry large drills with them. Most common burglary method is find an open shed, nick a spade / fork and prize lock out of frame - which won't work on a decent UPVC / composite door.

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Posted : 13/12/2012 5:54 pm