Doors to any building, especially your home, are a vital element to protect what’s inside. They keep you and your personal items safe while keeping all types of weather out of your home. Due to this, it’s no wonder that when replacing doors for your home is essential to get them right. Not only do the look and design have to match your aesthetics, but the safety elements and weather protection need to be high-quality.
Picking doors for your home can be tricky with lots to consider, at Diamond Windows we are here to help. Discover which door is best for your home in the extensive guide to composite vs UPVC doors. We outline what they are, their pros and cons and the differences between each.
Composite doors
Composite doors are more modern-day doors that come in a variety of classic and contemporary colours and styles. They provide good insulation and prevent draughts from seeping into your home. Discover everything you need to know about composite doors below.
What are composite doors?
When asking what’s better between composite vs UPVC doors, it always comes down to the design, materials, benefits and cost. The ideal factor with composite doors is that they are made from durable and long-lasting materials. The term usually only includes front and back doors and has a glass-reinforced plastic skin. This allows for the door to be moulded, allowing for a wide range of styles and designs.
The glass-reinforced plastic also allows the doors to be extremely resistant to weather conditions and crime as it is tough, rigid and waterproof. The base of the door is usually steel or metal with a polyurethane foam core. However, at Diamond Windows, our composite doors are even tougher and high-quality as they are made with a timber internal structure. You can choose composite doors that have an extra insulating double rebate or a simpler single rebate too.
How much are composite doors?
A huge difference between a composite door and a UPVC door is the cost. People often wonder how much are composite doors? Well, they are on the more expensive side as they are a premium alternative to wood and UPVC. This is because of their construction and the materials used. Even though a composite door is usually higher, you do get a high-quality, durable, secure and stunning door for your home.
However, all of these prices can easily fluctuate depending on the design, brand, size of door and level of glazing you choose. You can get a quote from us for your new composite door to get a better understanding of prices. Contact us to discuss your needs and see how much a composite door is for your requirements.
Benefits of composite doors
Composite doors are twice as thick as UPVC and have a solid timber or condensed GRP core. This means they can take more impact than a UPVC door. They are impressively durable, versatile and weather-resistant too.
Composite doors are available in a wide range of stylish and bespoke designs, so you have a lot of choice to decorate the outside of your home. As well as this, composite doors offer you more security options too, ensuring your home is secure against crimes, weather and other potential factors.
They are easy to maintain too as they only need an occasional wipe-down to keep looking like new. Putting a drop of oil on the hinges also maintains the door to make sure it works perfectly every time. They won’t ever react to seasonal changes, so they won’t fade or discolour over time. Due to this, they are very long-lasting and professionally fitted composite doors can last up to around 30 years!
Composite doors are an environmentally friendly choice as well as the majority of them have an A or A+ energy rating through their efficiency in retaining heat and reducing heat loss.
Disadvantages of composite doors
The manufacturing process for composite doors is complicated as it involves lots of various materials. This is the leading factor as to why they are more costly than UPVC doors. It can be seen as a disadvantage as people are searching for cost-effective solutions, particularly due to the ever-increasing rise of products because of the cost of living.
The process of making these doors also causes them to expand and contract more than UPVC alternatives. They naturally swell when exposed to long periods of sunlight, making them harder to open and close.
Composite door installation
At Diamond Windows, our wide range of composite doors offers stunning and unique designs in a variety of colour finishes to suit your preferences. You can easily match your décor taste and transform the front of your property with a composite door.
Our dedicated experts can provide you with an excellent composite door installation service to fit your new door with ease. We ensure that everything is perfect during the process, leaving you with a quality and long-lasting front or back door.
UPVC doors
UPVC stands for unplasticized Polyvinyl Chloride and is a popular choice of front and back doors for homes. When it comes to a composite door or UPVC door, many opt for UPVC due to its low cost and easy accessibility. Explore the benefits, disadvantages and what they are below.
What are UPVC doors?
UPVC is a different material from PVC as its non-plasticized and highly durable. This means that it can withstand environmental factors such as moisture exposure, sunlight and temperature variations more effectively. They have a fully insulated steel frame that is encased in UPVC and make a perfect front or back door as it protects with ease.
It has versatile properties and is lightweight and easily managed. It has soundproofing capabilities, insulation properties and low maintenance requirements.
How much are UPVC doors?
So, how much are UPVC doors? Well, they are typically cheaper than composite doors as they are a lower quality and a more budget option. They are a cheaper option but still have a high level of durability, offering you good quality for an affordable price.The price can fluctuate due to various elements that can boost the cost.You can contact us for a quote for UPVC doors to see if it’s the best choice for you.
Benefits of UPVC doors
The main benefit of UPVC doors is that they are cost-effective which is ideal for homeowners who are on a tight budget. They also require little effort to keep looking brand new and are super easy to clean. All you need to do is wipe it down with warm water and soap.
Another massive benefit is they’re highly thermal. They trap heat indoors during cold temperatures and keep unwanted heat out during the summer, which reduces energy consumption and bills.
Security is robust with UPVC as they are very hard to break because they are built with a galvanised steel core. The majority of these doors include a 5-point high-security locking system, which offers a higher level of defence over a traditional single-point locking system.
They can also provide longevity as they can survive extreme weather conditions, due to the mechanisms being concealed within the frame. If a UPVC door is looked after, it can usually last for around 20 to 25 years!
Disadvantages of UPVC doors
A key disadvantage of UPVC doors is that they are typically suited for more modern builds. They can easily look out of place on a traditional or period property. There’s also a limited selection of styles and colours compared to composite doors. They usually all tend to look the same, meaning your home won’t be able to stand out.
They are robust yet lightweight which can make them prone to sagging. If it is exposed to too much heat, it can rupture the UPVC frame too. Over a long period of time, they can discolour and look yellow as well which makes the door look old and unappealing.
Fitting UPVC doors
At Diamond Windows, we have a large selection of UPVC doors for you to choose from. They are high-quality and triple glazed and have been manufactured with precision in mind. We offer an Energy Rating band of A as standard for all our UPVC doors. Choose from traditional styles to modern contemporary looks.
Our experts can easily install your door, ensuring that the fitting of UPVC doors is to the highest standard and working to perfection for years to come.
Composite door or UPVC door?
When choosing the right door for you between a composite door or UPVC door there’s no one that is better than the other. It really is just a personal choice and what suits your budget. Both UPVC and composite doors offer you fantastic protection from the elements, as well as robust security options.
If you’re looking for composite door installation or considering fitting UPVC doors to your home, then contact us at Diamond Windows for a high-quality door service.
