External Door FAQs
We’re going to answer some of the most popular questions asked in relation to external doors and hopefully it will help you to make an informed decision when it comes to choosing the right type of external doors for your home, whether that’s for the front or the back of your home.
We want to make sure we include all the important information that you wonder about prior to buying so you’re not confused about your options. You need time before you buy any item, especially with external doors because they have to cover so many different factors. As you probably know, it’s not just about the aesthetics - it’s about so much more.
What material should my external door be made of?
There’s a wide range of materials to choose from and they all provide their own advantages and disadvantages.
Timber - timber is very popular because it’s such a sustainable material and also so beautiful and versatile. For one thing it’s a material that’s environmentally friendly with a long life span and you can change the colour easily by simply painting it. The downside is that it can be high maintenance with it needing treatment and weather can cause it to warp and crack over time. However, despite this it can last many years if it’s well taken care of.
PVCu - this is a weather resistant material that provides value for money in that it’s relatively low maintenance in comparison to timber and is weather resistant. The downside is that it doesn’t have quite the same beauty and sophistication as timber, but it does stand up well to the elements.
Metal - Metal is strong and very secure in terms of keeping unwanted visitors out, it doesn’t warp and doesn’t require a great deal of maintenance. It provides a contemporary clean look, so if you have a new build home, this would be ideal.
Composite - composite provides great insulation in terms of noise and warmth/cold, it’s also extremely long lasting and very secure. Again, not a particularly beautiful material but the designs are versatile and you can get some absolute gems in terms of colour and design.
What Should My Budget Be?
There’s a wide variety of doors on offer in different materials as we’ve seen and their prices vary across the board, as you’d imagine. If you have a tight budget then naturally you’re going to be cautious which you choose. PVCu might be a good choice, colours are limited to white, but you can have different panels to vary the pattern and the style of your door. Composite doors as we’ve seen do provide variety and also colour, so you have a little more choice, this might fit nicely into your budget. Timber is always going to be expensive, so if you’re on a small budget this may be something you have to reconsider until you have more to spend.
What are the Benefits of Different Types of External Doors?
There may be a variety of different things you want from your door. If security is something you’re looking for you could choose something that’s both robust with extra layers of materials, composite comes with extra layers so this may be a good choice. Keep in mind that all doors come with some security if they’re for external use, just make sure you buy from a quality retailer. You may want less maintenance and something that’s easy to take care of which more or less leaves out timber. PVCu may be an excellent choice then because they don't need any treatment, varnish, glaze or paint. Wiping them down with a damp cloth is all that’s required.
Insulation
Timber is a fine choice despite the expense and the maintenance involved. Not only will you have a great looking door, you’ll be able to take advantage of their excellent thermal properties.
Noise
This is a big factor in people’s choices and if you live in a noisy area, then you’ll be looking for some noise reduction properties in your external doors. Timber is good for this, it's solid and is far more successful at excluding noise.
The Replacement Door Company - External Door Experts
We’ve discussed materials, budget and properties, and if you still have any more questions regarding external doors, please feel free to contact us, our team of experts will be on hand to answer your queries. Why don’t you take a look at our versatile range of external doors online and see if you can find something you like after reading our guide.
