Which Front Door Material is Best?

If you’ve decided that you’re in need of a new front door, you may be undecided as to what’s right for you. At the end of the day, you must choose well as it all adds to the final curb appeal, with the potential to add value to your property. However, at the same time you should choose carefully and in your own time, because if you buy in haste, you could repent at leisure as they say. With so many styles and materials on the market now, which one is right for your home?

In our post today we’re going to be looking at which front door material is best for your home. Read on, and hopefully, you’ll be able to pick-up some hints and tips which will help you make a decision.

We’ll focus on just a few of the main materials available and see which one is most suitable.

UPVC Front Door

UPVC is popular as a material for front doors and increased in popularity during the 80s and 90s. It’s made of plasticised polyvinyl chloride and is used for a variety of different purposes as well as doors, such as window frames, plumbing and drainpipes. Because it’s so versatile and durable it’s a natural choice for many as a front door.

With a front door being on the external part of your house, it needs to be tough and it needs to be secure. What you will find with UPVC front doors is that it’s durable against all weathers, it needs minimal maintenance and upkeep, it’s cost effective, it provides noise insulation, and keeps heat in and cold out during the winter months. UPVC front doors can be difficult to repair however, and they can become discoloured in time. Some UPVC front doors are also compromised where security is concerned.

Composite Front Door

Composite front doors are made up of different elements which combine to make a really secure door, materials include woodgrain and a foam core. They help to create a door that’s built to last with no rotting or bowing. They have all the curb appeal of a timber door, and they’re both strong and durable, and that’s without the ongoing maintenance you get with wooden doors. They’re weather resistant and come in a range of colours and styles.

Composite front doors are pretty good, although it really depends on the finish, and not all composite doors are made as well as they should be, it largely depends on where you buy your composite door from.

Wooden Front Door

Wooden front doors are the most traditional and well known of all doors. They’ve been around a long time and are likely to be around for much longer. If you’re a bit of a traditionalist then perhaps a timber door is for you, they can look magnificent, and with cuts and moulds in the door have a recipe for a great statement door to add to the curb appeal of your home.

However, you must also consider the fact that they need quite a bit of maintenance and they’re prone to bowing, warping and buckling in extreme weather. We’re also talking shrinkage and rot. Therefore, as you can imagine, regular maintenance and upkeep are important, as is keeping up with paintwork and varnishing. That aside, you’ll have a beautiful door, but it really is up to you whether you’re happy to manage this side of things with a wooden front door.

The Replacement Door Company – Front Door Specialists

If you’re looking to replace your front door and you’re still torn between which material would make the best door for you home, then get in touch with us here at The Replacement Door Company and one of our team will be glad to help.

Front Doors Buying Guide

If you’re looking for a new front door because your old one is starting to look a bit tired, then look no further than our post today, which is a guide on buying front doors. Don’t impulse buy, choose carefully, because a front door should offer many different functions, functions which need to be considered when shopping for a good quality front door.

Front Doors are Better Made Than Ever

Because front doors are on the exterior of your house they are vulnerable to poor weather conditions, and are in constant use. However, the good news for those of us out to buy a new one, is that they have significantly changed for the better. There’s a selection of materials used which are much stronger and offer your front doors greater protection.

Measuring and Preparing For Your New Front Door

You need to measure the doors width and thickness when you’re replacing a door, and if you’re replacing the jamb as well as the door then you’ll need to measure the jamb too, and this will be from the outside of the moulding to the inside. Check which side the knobs are on, whether it’s a right hand or a left hand door.

Wooden Doors – Good Finish and Quality Wood is Essential

If you’re buying a wooden front door, make sure you look for ones with excellent finishes and really good quality woods. Detailing is important too as a wooden door is all that more attractive with carvings and mouldings, keep in mind curb appeal if it’s the front door rather than the back one.

Entry Systems, Insulation and Seals

Entry systems need all components from the same manufacturer, and make sure that all seals are tight. Steel and fibreglass doors will have an insulated separation and this will help to keep the cold out and the heat in, cleverly making sure the heat is conducted right through the door’s frame and skin. This really good for areas where a cold climate is imminent.

Invest in Home Security and Curb Appeal

If you find yourself buying a new front door, consider it an investment because it will serve you well in terms of security, insulation, noise control and low maintenance. If you have a good quality door with even the minimal amount of details and mouldings, you’ll give your door some excellent curb appeal which could add significant value to your property in the long-term.

Get in touch with us today if you have any questions or would like to explore the options available to you for a new front door.

Internal Doors Guide

It seems far easier to choose your external doors than it is internal. Firstly, there's less doors to worry about, so it's simply choosing front and back, secondly for some reason it just seems so straightforward, think security, hard-wearing materials and curb appeal, that's it. Internal doors? Well, there's more of them to start with, and we're in and out of them far more than external ones, so one would imagine they have to be hard-working too. So we need internal doors which are durable, resistant to sound and add character to a home's internal design.

What type of internal doors are there?

Naturally, you'll want most of your internal doors to match, but how do you find good internal doors that do all of the above, but are also stylish and fit in with your décor? There are different types, but which one is right for you? We have flush doors, panel doors, hinged, folding, bypass and pocket and if that weren't enough, there are the different materials they come in, wood, UPVC and composite. It's enough to give you a headache, but we're going to try and go through each of them quickly to see which one might be right for you.

Flush Doors

Flush doors are flat and smooth and are then stained or painted over. They're the type of door that blends in perfectly with the rest of your home without taking any of the attention away.

Panel doors have either raised wood panels or flat or glass panes. They often cost more than flush doors but if you choose MDF over traditional wood it may be significantly cheaper. Wooden ones will be unfinished so you'll have to stain them yourself, however MDF are ready to paint as they come already primed.

There are standard doors sizes, all of which should fit your door frames, if you do have unusually tall ones then you may have to pay more for your door. Pre-hung doors are popular simply because they're much easier to fit.

Internal Door Frames

Frames are usually all the same, there'll be jambs, stops, casing, threshold and sills. A hinged door is what you will normally find in most homes, with either the door being right or left handed. Right handed is when the door opens towards you, left is when it opens away.

Other Types of Internal Doors

Folding doors are great for confined spaces where a door that swings open would be restrictive. Bypass doors are usually used for storage areas or for closets. They hang from rollers attached to an overhead track. There's usually more than one and they bypass each other, hence the name, these are also quite good for closets. Pocket doors are like bypass and folding, in that they're great for spaces without much room, a pocket door will slide into place that's already been installed in the wall.

The Replacement Door Company – Quality Internal Doors

If you're spoilt for choice and you're unsure as to what type of internal door is right for you home, then get in touch with us here at The Replacement Door Company where we have all types of internal doors, and we'll be more than happy to talk you through each one to help you make an informed decision. 

Secured By Design Composite Doors

If you're concerned about security in your area, then your exterior doors are of prime importance to you. It's crucial that you provide a secure protection for your home that is impregnable from burglars so both you and your family have peace of mind.

Keeping Your Home Safe Isn't Easy

How do you go about this? More locks perhaps, or maybe a thicker door? If a burglar is trying to get into your house, then perhaps there's no door they can't break into, but you can at least try to make it stronger. You can always buy burglar alarms and they may be the most sophisticated on the market, but your door doesn't have to be the weakest link.

Secured by Design – What is it?

You can order composite doors that come with SBD assurance. SBD stands for Secured by Design which was established in 1989. It's the title for national police projects that come under this umbrella title with a focus on the security and design of refurbished and new homes, commercial properties and car parks. It also acknowledges the quality of security and crime prevention projects. Secured by Design believe that crime can be designed out by ensuring sophisticated processes and physical security.

Working on Crime Prevention, Working on Security

SBD work with the industry and test domestic properties working towards a higher level of security and looking at and responding to the latest trends in crime. They also give valuable input to many key standards. It's proven that with the input of the SBD, there's been a reduction in the risk and fear of crime. Naturally, their aim is to see the absence of crime and disorder and with their trailblazing work, this is surely a step in the right direction.

How can you benefit from Secured by Design?

But how does that affect you and the security of your home? Well here at The Replacement Door Company we supply composite doors that are Secured by Design. Our composite doors are designed with all the advice, guidance and support from the Secured by Design team. This means our composite doors are safe, strong and offer occupants the kind of security and peace of mind they need. Our composite doors are perfect for commercial properties too, and if you stock valuable items or equipment your staff need to carry out their work, then you're going to need tough doors as well as clever alarm systems. Why make it easy for criminals?

Composite Doors Designed to Resist Crime

If you like the idea of Secured by Design composite doors, and you'd like them for your home or property, then get in touch with us here at The Replacement Door Company and one of our team will be more than happy to help.

Reasons to Switch to UPVC Internal Doors

Today we're going to talk about internal doors and the reasons why you should consider UPVC internal doors as a viable alternative to wooden or composite doors. UPVC is a robust and durable material and can be used successfully indoors as well as externally.

If you've had wooden doors in the past, then you'll be familiar with the amount of maintenance they require. Keeping them in good condition is hard, and it takes a great deal of care to stop them from deteriorating. Wood can also warp and rot, whether it's from damp or heat, unless it's been treated beforehand. A UPVC internal door on the other hand will give you a lifetime of warmth, noise protection and durability.

Maintenance

As opposed to wood, UPVC is quite resilient to deterioration and therefore requires little in the way of maintenance. It doesn't rot or decay like wood does and doesn't need to be painted or varnished, so you can simply wash it occasionally to keep it clean. It's also a really stylish alternative and can fit in with any kind of interior style you have in your home.

Security

UPVC is a great material for internal doors especially when it comes to security. Such is the strength of the material, because they've been reinforced with galvanised steel, they're pretty hard to break through. This makes them a real deterrent for would-be burglars because getting past any locked internal door, even if they've managed to break in to the house, is going to be terrifically hard without making enough noise to alert you to the fact they've broken in, giving you enough time to call the police.

Insulation

UPVC internal doors offer great insulation so your home is really warm all year round. This will save you money in the long-term on energy bills. They keep their shape year in year out and because they're made a particular way, and by using internal chambers, it means they're ideal for providing great insulation. This heat retention is a real bonus for your home and you can start switching those radiators off.

Noise Reduction

UPVC internal doors are great for keeping your home noise free and if you want to play music or play games in another part of the house, then you can shut the door of the room you're in and have some well-earned privacy.

Replacement Door – Great Choice of UPVC Internal Doors

Have we convinced you of the virtues of UPVC internal doors? If we have then get in touch with us here at The Replacement Door Company and let us show you our wide variety of stylish UPVC internal doors and we'll be happy to help you choose. Whatever the style of your home, we're bound to have a style of door that'll fit in nicely with the internal décor of your rooms.

Wooden Front Doors are a Great Choice For Your Home

As you know there's nothing quite as beautiful as a wooden front door. It's one of the prime materials used to make them, and each type of wood comes with such character and individuality that it makes it an excellent choice for front doors.

Which Type of Door?

You may be wondering what kind of door to have and if you choose wood then you'll have made a good choice. There are many different factors that will come into play when you're choosing a door such as aesthetics, the value it gives the property, how durable it is, what the maintenance costs are like, and of course the cost of the door itself.

UPVC or Wooden Front Door?

UPVC is sometimes the first choice for buyers and there are plenty of good reasons why, after all it is cost effective, easy to maintain over the years and extremely durable as well as offering great insulation. However, although UPVC has all these qualities in spades, what it doesn't have is the aesthetic appeal of wood. If you're not bothered about this then all well and good, but if you're a big wood fan, then it may push you towards a hardwood door rather than UPVC.

Versatility, Style, Colour

The range of different hardwoods available make wood a very attractive choice. There are so many different grain effects and so many different colours from which to choose. A solid wooden door that 's been put together by craftsmen is a natural attraction and of course offers real curb appeal, with the potential to add value to your property.

Also a wooden front door has such authority, it's so authentic and feels absolutely beautiful to the touch. The weight of a wooden door gives you a sense of security and they're not so easy to overcome for any wood-be burglar.

Cost Effective?

The cost of a wooden door can vary, although they can be expensive the higher up the market you go. Of course it does depend on what you want and what you're prepared to spend, but most wooden doors are quite reasonable in cost. The lifespan will be long, for a wooden front door will last many years, so you'll get your money's worth out of it.

Great Insulation

Wood is a great insulator so you could save on energy bills in the long run. They're great at keeping the cold out and heat in. Wooden front doors are also good at keeping noise as well as cold out, so if you live on a busy street, you can keep the hustle and bustle that goes on outside away from the inside of your home.

You'll find that your door is great at keeping it's condition over the years as wood is an extremely durable natural material. If you treat it with care and of course get it well-fitted by experts, it should last you a number of years. You can easily repair wooden front doors as wood is extremely easy to work with. If you have a problem you'd rather not work on yourself, then you get a well trained joiner to carry out any repairs for you.

Wood is Environmentally Friendly

Wood is a good choice of material because front doors are usually made from wood that's come from sustainable forests.

Curb Appeal and Property Value

With a good quality wooden front door you're likely to increase the value of your property by giving it what is known as 'curb appeal,' giving it a more attractive and luxurious feel that is an attractive option for home buyers.

With a either a contemporary or classically designed wooden front door, you're going to be investing in your property, as well as giving your home security and insulation. First impressions count and a good quality wooden front door is the best first impression you can give. 

If you are interested in wooden front doors for your home or premises or would like to find out more, get in touch with us today.

What are the benefits of Sliding Wardrobe Doors?

If you're replacing bedroom furniture in an attempt to renovate your bedroom, then perhaps you're looking for different ways of capitalizing on space, and creating a more minimalist area that's smoother and more sleek than before. It helps to get all those things you're having to leave on the floor and on chairs into a clean storage area, so you have more room to move.

You'll have invested, or are considering investing in, a more spacious wardrobe with shelving and good shoe storage, but what about the doors? If you invest in a wardrobe with doors that open out then we're talking less space to manoeuvre.

Why choose sliding wardrobe doors?

Whether you're remodelling an existing wardrobe or you're planning a new one, you will have the lucky option of being able to choose what type of doors you have. You can have bi-fold doors, traditional ones with hinges, or you can opt for sliding wardrobe doors and naturally we think this is a perfect choice. They have clear advantages over their hinged competitors with a certain minimalist style and efficiency you won't find with any other type of door.

Space

As sliding wardrobe doors don't extend out like hinged ones, you can easily maximize space in your bedroom and this is on the inside of your wardrobe as well as the outside. The doors operate smoothly allowing you to reach all corners of your wardrobe and to make the most of storage space within.

Minimal, Sleek and Stylish

Sliding wardrobe doors can look extremely elegant and you can personalize them so they fit right in with your personal taste and interior décor. There are also different styles so there's plenty of choice, and with concealed tracks they can be customized to exactly how you'd want them.

You can have them styled into a modern look or perhaps into something more classic. Keep in mind that you don't have to have them with solid panels if you don't wish, you can have coloured glass panels instead, giving you an alternative look.

Sliding Wardrobe Doors – Adding Value, Space & Style

As you will have already seen, sliding wardrobe doors offer great space saving ideas, helping you to create more space within the wardrobe and certainly provides space outside it. Because of this, you can customize the space within the wardrobe, organizing your shoes, clothes and any other accessories within the wardrobe itself, allowing you to eliminate the need for any other furniture in the room.

They certainly add value to your home too, because if they're part of an inlaid wardrobe, they will be part of the fixtures and fittings too, so they're a great investment.

Colours and Finishes

You can choose different colours and finishes, have glass panels fitted or just block panels, they're your sliding doors, so you can have them whichever way you want them.

The Replacement Door Company – Quality Sliding Wardrobe Doors

If you're looking to refurbish your bedroom and you're looking to make it look even better than before AND make the most of any available space, then contact us at The Replacement Door Company, where our valuable team of experts will be more than happy to discuss your options. 

Advantages of Glazed UPVC Internal Doors

If you thought that glass fronts for doors was purely for the exterior part of a home, then you couldn't be more wrong. Glass doors are becoming increasingly popular on the inside and there are plenty of reasons why. Apart from the fact they're elegant, sophisticated and really add a different dimension to the interior of your home, there are plenty of functional reasons why a glazed UPVC internal door might be just the thing you've been looking for.

Bringing Light Where it's Needed

If you have a home where light is rare, then glass doors will really bring in the light. They can really help a small room seem much bigger, and help to maximise the space in your home.

The light can spill out from a glazed door that opens out on to a hallway from the living room, allowing sun and light to flow through the house. They work much better than panelled doors in really bringing rooms together beautifully.

See Where You Need To

There are other advantages to having glass in interior doors, you can also see from one room into another, and if you have young children around the house, then this has its own advantages. It works really well for an open plan effect too, if that's what you're looking for. Parents will certainly benefit from glazed doors because while you're in another room in the house, you can still keep an eye on the children.

Great Sound Insulation

If you have a games or media room or family room where everyone listens to music or play games, then having glass in your doors is a real bonus, because it reflects sound. This will really insulate the area from noise, so everyone else can have some peace and quiet!

Contemporary Modern Look to a Home

Glass internal doors put a really modern stamp on a home, giving it a fresh, contemporary feel that will make the entire house feel much lighter and give it a more modernistic look. If you're home is quite old and you're ready or a more contemporary make over, then having interior doors with some glass panelling could be just the think to modernise and freshen it up, giving it a new lease of life.

Great Communication

Glass in your doors can aid communication, giving you less isolation from everyone else on the family home. People can see you approaching and that can be useful if you have someone in your home that's hard of hearing. This is great in offices, if you have one, but it can work in a family home without one too.

The Replacement Door Company – Doors That Work For You

If you would like to explore the idea of having glazed upvc internal doors in your home, then get in touch and we can talk you through our versatile range. You can also come and see them for yourself at our showroom. There's so much to choose from, and we'd be more than happy to help you choose the type of internal doors that are just right for you.

UPVC Doors vs Wooden Doors

Are you unsure as to what type of doors to have for your home? Whether they're internal or external, it's not just the style you need to worry about. You need to think about what material you want your doors made from, and you may be unsure as to which one is best.

We're going to explore both UPVC doors and wooden doors to see which might be best for your home.

UPVC Doors

Why would you want UPVC doors?

There are many advantages to doors made from this versatile material. They are great for insulating against noise and help keep heat in. They're also low maintenance, which means you don't have to do much to keep them in great condition apart from clean them. They're made from a variety of strong materials, which means they offer great security and they're a real stumbling block for intruders. They're weather proof as well as burglar proof too, and they come in a variety of colours and styles.

Wooden Doors

Wooden doors offer great insulation with the finishes we give them, the wood is allowed to breathe giving you a beautiful door that only requires maintenance every 7 to 10 years. You can paint your door with any kind of paint, although naturally you need to make sure you choose outdoor paint for exterior doors and interior paint for interior doors. They can be repaired easily at home without the need for a professional.

What will a wooden or UPVC door cost?

This will really depend on the type of door, the size, style etc. If you contact us here at The Replacement Door Company we can give you a quote.

The Replacement Door Company – for your internal and external doors

We hope we've given you something to think about it when it comes to choosing either wooden doors or UPVC doors. You need to give careful consideration to your budget, the type of door you're after and which material might be best. Your house may be sitting directly where the elements hit, or you could be in a more sheltered area. If you have any questions, then just give us a call, we're here to help.

Wooden Front Door Maintenance

If you’ve bought a wooden door recently then you may be under the impression that you need do nothing more. However, this isn’t the case at all. It’s important to make sure you maintain exterior wooden doors so they give you more life. A wooden exterior door is a beautiful thing, and it can really increase the market value of your property. But every few years you need to check that it’s still in excellent condition.

A Full Inspection of Your Door Every Few Years

You need to carry out a full inspection of the door regardless of whether you’ve painted over it or just left it with a good finish. Of course it helps if you know what to look for when you’re carrying out an inspection. It’s only natural that the weather will have a great impact on your door and especially if it doesn’t have the protection of a porch.

Keep an eye out for the following:

• Large cracks

• Peeling surfaces

• Dark streaks

What’s next, what can you do?

The best step is to make sure your door is prepared for your repairs. Clean it thoroughly first before you do anything else. You can also give your door a new lease of life by painting over any spots, stains or chips to the door.

If you find there are some major problems, then dealing with them will have to be carried out by removing the door from the frame. Remove hinges, door knobs, and any locksets before starting work.

Remove, Strip, Primer, Repaint

Remove the old finish thoroughly with a paint stripper and then sand it using a grain. Once stripped, clean it again and let it dry. Once you’ve done this you can place primer on the door first, much as you would if you were to paint the interior walls of your house over a bright colour. This is only if you are going to repaint it of course. Always follow the manufacturer’s instructions when using any primer, finish or paint stripper, if you’re unsure, ask someone.

Once you’re door is nice and dry you can rehang it to the door frame.

Ask a Professional to Hang Your Door

Even if you have a pretty good idea how to hang, prepare and install a wooden external door, it is a good idea to let a professional joiner to fit it. It is a challenge to put one up yourself and that’s fine if you want to give it a go, but keep in mind that if anything goes wrong you may find it difficult to undo what you’ve done.

Keep Checking Your Front Door Regularly For Damage

Once you’ve repaired your door that’s not quite the end. It’s important to keep checking your wooden external door as often as possible. This is especially important after bad weather. It’s a good idea if you recoat your door every few years and wash it regularly, as often as you would your internal doors.

We hope you found our post this week on maintenance for wooden front doors helpful and interesting. If you have any further questions on this or any other matter, get in touch with us here at The Replacement Door Company, we’ll be happy to help.