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Looking to replace my (wooden, dark-stained) front door.
What are the pros and cons of composite? From what I can see, they're fairly pricey (looking at around £1200).
I did want an oak one, but the front of the house has dark-stained windows/frames, as do all my neighbours, so it'd look out of place I reckon. I guess I'll stick to the same/similar colour, but either wood (which I guess will still need ongoing maintenance) or composite (that looks 'fake' to me)...
as do all my neighbours, so it’d look out of place I reckon. I guess I’ll stick to the same/similar colour,
The best thing we did was to take the architect's advice and ignore this thought process. Assuming that you don't live in a conservation are or Listed building put whatever door you want. I never want a door (or window) with a wooden exterior ever again. We've gone for Al clad and so glad we did. Looks great, has the thermal performance of wood as that's what the main construction material is, but has Al on the outside meaning the maintenance is zero. There is also the benefit of having almost any colour you could possibly want. Not cheap but how often do you plan on changing a front door.
thanks - hadn't considered alloy - are they better/worse than composite?
I do quite like the look of my current front door, but it's tired, the sill has come off and its draughty as hell!
I had a composite door fitted a couple of years ago, looks great but cost around £1700 in the end I think. Had to compromise a bit on the design to as my first few choices would have had the letterbox at the bottom and I didn't want my postman to hate me. The main issue I read about was a dark colour with a door that gets a lot of direct sunlight could lead to warping but my door is mostly in the shade so wan't a concern for me.
If its south facing then white external is the best option as dark colours will make the door swell and become impossible to use.
Anyone who has fitted a composite door will tell you they are bloody heavy compared to standard upvc doors.
Edit, echo from above
looks great but cost around £1700 in the end I think
About the same price we paid for a bespoke wooden front door. Does need maintenance (re-paint) every few years though. Extra thick (60mm) to accomodate leaded glass and a double glazed panel behind that for insulation / security.
But matches the Victorian house...
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We've just had new composite door and side panel installed.
It was £1100 from local supplier in Stirling (side panel added £200+).
I painted the trims myself to keep costs down, we choose a frame and door the same colour blue.
A neighbour fitted it for us with his brother for £400.
We got 2 Apeer 70mm composites. with side panels and was about 4k fitted (from memory). Seems a lot now I think about it. But it has made a huge difference to the warmth of the house and sound proofing. The thickness is something else and they feel really solid. Would I do the same again? Yes, without question.
Top tip though: don't shut your finger in it. friend told me. sounds wise.
Composites are very tough and have massively improved our sense of security over our original UPVC "wafers."
We live in Salford where some folk are happy to kick your door in for a pedal bin and half a Twix.
Look at Value Doors UK. Crap name I know but really good service.
Ummed and ahhed about shelling out for composite rock door but glad I did for aforementioned reasons of heat retention, security and appearance.
We live in Salford where some folk are happy to kick your door in for a pedal bin and half a Twix.
In that case you would deserve it. What sort of pervert leaves half a Twix behind?
Seventeen hundred quid for a door?!
**** my old boots, I'm in the wrong line of work.
We went for a rock door in our last house. One thing to bear in mind for these is that the glazing is part of the door skin so if you break the glass then you need a new door. Decided that was unlikely as the style we went for had Only a small panel of glass. However, if you’ve got a lot of glass then maybe worth checking if it can be replaced separately.
If you are happy to measure and DIY fit, 6 or 7 hundred will get you a good quality composite door and frame made to fit your opening. Cheaper if you have a standard size opening.
DIY fitting is not hard but may cause issues when you sell as it should be fitted by a FENSA fitter with a certificate. As I don't have certificates for any other doors or windows in my house (fitted before I moved in) I just did it. Will worry about it if and when we ever sell. I assume it can be taken care of with an indemnity insurance policy of some sorts.
Certainly won't be to everyone's taste, but bought from B&Q in 2014 for £89. Solid/heavy and no issues. No way I'm paying over a grand for a door
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Obviously veneer, but no issues, just has a coat of varnish every couple of years - about ready tbh
The wood door looks fine, but the plant on the right needs a trim
I’m just about to start looking for new doors and windows, evidently I cannot afford a composite door!
Upvc will be fine right?
The wood door looks fine, but the plant on the right needs a trim
Believe me, it's doing a lot better than the one on the left #whenwillthewiferealiseplantsneedwater
We got a new composite door fitted just before lockdown. It was no more than 900 - I can't be arsed to find the receipt. Edit it was 700, we had a new bedroom window at the same time
I used a neighbour who runs a Windows and Door fitting business do may have been a bit of mates rates.
Link to a thread I started asking same Q
https://singletrackworld.com/forum/topic/new-front-door-how-much-2/
In the market too to replace a wooden front and it's frame on a period house- bit shocked at some of the prices (£4k for two doors!).
Those composite one's would presumably resist the sw facing sun and rain better but not sure about the sizing. Any recommendations for cheap good supplier of wooden doors for DIY install (can't be that hard can it?!)
I had a composite door on this house originally. Solid, stained to a wooden oak colour, easily locked, couple of deadbolts on the inside for night time, etc. Occasionally it would swell a bit in the sun, being south facing, but heyho. Came home from work one day to find it had been ripped out and replaced by a horrible UPVC wafer. Nearly caused a divorce, not the least because Mrs Lawman didnt think to keep the perfectly serviceable previous door and frameset so it could be retrofitted to my brother's (north facing) house about 100 yards away. He and I were not impressed
Came home from work one day to find it had been ripped out and replaced by a horrible UPVC wafer. Nearly caused a divorce,
You and the Mrs don't seem to communicate too well
We have an early composite door and it's stress cracking from all the corners around the glass panels. Window guy tells me they have improved but I'm reluctant to replace like for like.
I did drill the cracks, filled with flexible body filler and repaint etc and it really came up well but after a year the cracks have started appearing again.
£400 to fit a door? Surely didn't take more than a day at £50/hr , I'd have thought one joiner on his own could hang a door
You and the Mrs don’t seem to communicate too well
Correct. She anticipated I'd resist (which would have been correct) so she took the JFDI approach. Then wonders why I do the same 🤔
£400 to fit a door? Surely didn’t take more than a day at £50/hr , I’d have thought one joiner on his own could hang a door
Removed rubbish, trims internal and external, expanding foam, multiple screws and fixings, glue and sealant in two colours, a wooden trim indoors where it all overlaps our stairs. I think that was well north of £100, bearing in mind ours was door and side panel.
And then yes, thier labour out if which they run a van, tools, tax etc before they've taken pay home.
If its south facing then white external is the best option as dark colours will make the door swell and become impossible to use.
I don’t think this is true any more. We’ve had a dark blue composite door facing south for 6 years. It’s triple glazed and much warmer than the hardwood door that preceded it. Was less than a grand fitted
And was about £100 more than the white Composite back door we had fitted at the same time.
Upvc will be fine right?
Nowhere near as good quality.
If you can fit it yourself, or get someone to do it for you, then Facebook marketplace has a lot of composite doors for sale. Some from builders who have ordered the wrong / too many etc.
£250-350 is a typical price.