Many people believe that their front door should be a reflection of themselves as a homeowner. It is the first impression people will get of your home so quite often people will be willing to spend more than they would for other doors in the building. This is why a lot of people are now looking at composite doors rather than the more cost saving alternatives.
Not everybody wants the cost efficiency of a fully uPVC door, which is the most common option for modern doors and windows. UPVC front doors are certainly efficient, they look great, come in a variety of styles and are very affordable. However, for those looking for something a little more grand, composite doors offer style, durability and security all in one package.
Composite doors are the newest type of door commonly used in homes. They are designed to remove the common flaws of other alternatives by using a combination of materials rather than a single material. All materials have their strengths and weaknesses, and this is where single material doors such as uPVC can fall down. By combining the best aspects of each material, composite doors offer an unrivalled quality.
Key elements of a good composite door include:
– A uPVC outer frame with galvanized steel reinforcement.
– Composite PVC subframe for improved strength
– Hardwood inner frame for further reinforcement
– Polyurethane foam core
– 2mm GRP grained surface to ensure the door skin does warp, twist or ever need repainting.
As you can see this offers all of the benefits of a single uPVC door, but with a lot more rigidity and surface protection. Composite doors are easily customized to order, this means you can essentially design your own front door. Wood grain finishes are among the most popular but there are many other styles to choose from. The wood finish can add a more natural feel to the front of your house and become more of an extension of the home. If you want windows in your door, you can choose the size, number and shape accordingly.
uPVC itself is still a very durable material, although constant exposure to direct sunlight and other weather conditions can cause some discolouration to the surface. The protective GRP skin applied to composite doors can lengthen the lifespan of your door by up to 35 years and prevents signs of discolouring and weather wear.
The composite of materials all work together to give the door the strongest structure possible. The additional timber frame often makes them double the thickness of regular uPVC doors. As well as this, it is the polyurethane foam layer that really makes the difference. Its high density results in a far heavier door, compared to uPVC doors which use a weightless Styrofoam. This provides unbeatable protection from even the most aggressive force. It also reduces noise filtering through as well as stopping heat from escaping.
All in all, if you are looking to spend a bit more money on your front door, the composite option offers the best results imaginable, by taking the best qualities of the alternatives and removing their flaws.. conservatories cardiff