What is a composite door?
Originally published in May 2019. Updated 14th August 2020
You’ll see an increasing number of homes now with new, stylish front doors made up of a composite material, as opposed to traditional wood or uPVC doors. Composite doors are designed taking into consideration the limitations, or common flaws, often associated with singular material doors.
Both wooden and uPVC doors are significantly limited in regard to quality and design in comparison with a modern composite door. Composite doors are made up of a combination of different materials, each selected for their individual beneficial qualities. There are a number of reasons why you should consider installing composite doors in your home, including economic, environmental and superior safety and security benefits as well as a great aesthetic appearance.
Here are a few facts about composite doors and their benefits:
What composite doors are made of:
Composite doors may vary slightly in design and composition from manufacturer to manufacturer, but they all basically consist of an uPVC outer frame, a composite uPVC sub-frame and a hardwood inner frame. The outer frame is reinforced with galvanized steel. This inner frame provides torsional rigidity, whilst the sub frame ensures stability. Composite doors will all have an insulating polyurethane foam core.
Benefits & advantages of composite doors
Thick steel clad frame
Composite doors are sturdier than other door types, and more secure than a traditional timber door. The thick, solid frame, blended with the other materials combination, enable composite doors to be able to withstand potential violent pressure from intruders, providing safety and security for your home and family.
Thermal efficiency
Different manufacturers may design composite doors differently from each other, but they will all be furnished with an insulating inner foam that provides exceptional thermal properties, which will help you ensure that your home retains as much heat as possible, thus saving on heating costs.
Variety of door and frame finishes and styles
Composite doors are available in a wide range of finishes and colours. More traditional wooden and uPVC doors are often restricted in the choices of colours because of the singular nature of the material composition.
High resistance to abrasion and weathering
Composite doors are finished in a weather-resistant outer skin providing durability and a longer lifespan. The glass-reinforced plastic surface prevents any warping, twisting, cracking and bowing you may experience with other door types.
Low maintenance
Whereas wooden doors require regular maintenance by way of wood treatment, and both wooden and uPVC doors will periodically require fresh paint, you can easily maintain the appearance of your composite doors by simply wiping them down with a cloth when dirty. Composite doors have a longer lifespan than any other type of front door.
Back to basics
Value for money
Composite doors have a reputation for being long lasting as well as low maintenance.
Most composite door manufacturers agree that the average lifespan for a composite door is somewhere around 35 years. When you take into consideration the low maintenance costs, and the cost of replacement – both in terms of parts and labour – it is easy to see how a premium quality composite door equals excellent value for money. That’s without calculating the additional savings from heating costs generated from the thermal efficiency of composite doors.
Location and purpose
When you are considering the use of composite doors you may want to consider in which locations the doors are to be used as this may influence not only the type of composite door you wish to pick but also the design of the door itself.
If you are looking for composite doors for a range of new homes for example, you may want to consider the style of the houses when you consider the design of the door. From urban chic, to a more traditional looking Victorian or Georgian style, right through to a rural style, there are many options and colours to choose from that will enhance the look of your properties.
Your composite door manufacturer will be able to advise you further on the types and styles of composite door that will be best suited to your project.
Quality is everything
As with everything else in life the quality of the composite door manufacturer you pick will reflect in the composite door you received. A dependable composite door manufacturer will produce a door that will provide all the benefits listed above and will last for years and years.
If you are unsure which is the best door for your needs try consulting an expert who will gladly be able to give you their professional advice on the door type you need and any building regulations information that may be important when you are considering purchasing new composite doors.
Enfield Doors
Our team of experts is always on hand to guide you and give you sound and pragmatic advice based on years of experience and successful installations.
If you would like further information on our company please click here, or please contact us and we will respond as quickly as possible. We look forward to helping you.
