Looking to buy a new front door? With so many different types on the market, we know choosing the right one can be tough. After all, the front door is one of the first things people see and a wrong choice can ruin kerb appeal or even take a chunk off your home’s selling price. Fortunately, we’re here to help you make an informed decision with our quick guide to buying the right front door.
Front Door Checklist
Checklist
- A front door should:
- Add value to your home
- Have high-quality locks
- Be easy to clean
- Made to measure for a perfect fit
- Reduce noise from outside
- Be up to industry standards
- Keep out draughts and have a high energy efficiency
Of course aesthetics matter but make sure the above are ticked off your list before making a purchase. You may regret it later down the line.
What Type of Door Should I choose?
Timber:
For an elegant and timeless appearance, choose timber.
Doors made of timber have been around for centuries and still extremely popular today. They’re considered to be the best looking and can have a stained or painted finish. However, be prepared to put time aside for maintenance as timber doors definitely take a bit of looking after.
Make sure they’re treated for rot and fungus to significantly lengthen their lifespan. Check the door you’re buying also comes with guarantees before making a purchase as timber doors are typically more expensive than other types.
With a bit of love and investment, a well-maintained, beautifully designed timber door could be the envy of your street!
uPVC:
Reasonably priced with low maintenance required, uPVC doors are great all-rounders.
uPVC is a very popular material, especially in modern homes thanks to its ability to mimic expensive materials such as timber. They used to have a reputation for being cheap and flimsy but that is no longer the case thanks to new manufacturing techniques.
uPVC doors are weatherproof and made of insulating materials to save energy. If you’re looking for a great value front door which still maintains a high-level of quality then uPVC is a good choice.
Aluminium:
It wasn’t long ago that aluminium doors were seen as cold, sterile with very little design variation. However, today’s doors come in a range of different looks without sacrificing the incredibly strong construction.
Aluminium doors will never rust and are great for supporting large windows and glass areas. Thanks to modern manufacturing techniques, they come in a range of colours and designs. They don’t even have to look metallic.
Insulating plastic mean they’re comparable to uPVC when it comes to keeping in heat, and they need very little maintenance. If you live in a modern build then aluminium is a very good choice for a front door.
Composite:
Introduced 10 years ago, Composite front doors have quickly grown in popularity amongst home owners. In fact, sales have doubled every year.
They were designed to mimic the appearance of timber doors while benefitting from the use of modern materials. Typically, composite doors have either a foam or timber panel core which is then covered with a glass reinforced plastic. The result is a hard-wearing and robust option with excellent resistance against the elements.
Composite front doors also require less maintenance than wood and come in a range of designs-including timber effects. They’re also a lot thicker than regular front doors and the frame overlaps the edges (known as a ‘double rebate’) so are very energy efficient. They can be expensive but tend to look great in modern or traditional style homes.
If you’re ready to replace your old door, contact the experts at SWR.