Choosing the right doors for your home

Whether you want to replace your front, back, garage or interior doors, there are a variety of styles and materials to go for. Choosing the right doors for your home will not only make it look great but will provide you with security and keep you warm.

Exterior doors

Good doors provide security
and insulate your home

Your external doors are the most important in your home. They are the main points of access to your property so it is vital they are secure.

According to Home Office statistics, two thirds of burglars gain entry to a property through an exterior door. Guy Phethean, from Raven Windows Ltd in Northampton, confirms this: “The front and back doors are the major points of entry for intruders in your home, so it is important that they are secure. We fit doors with standard security Yale locks, but you can buy all kinds of extras.”

External doors also take a battering from the weather, so choosing a durable, weather resistant material is advisable. Choosing an insulating material for your external doors and making sure that they are draught proofed will also help to conserve heat and save money on your fuel bills.

Here are some of the options:

• Wood doors – wood doors are good insulators and provide sound security if installed and sealed correctly. They also look great. However, Graham Dear, who installs doors for Addlestone windows in Surrey points out their drawbacks: “Wood needs to be maintained and repainted otherwise it can rot and warp,” he says. Real wood doors are also an expensive choice.
• UPVC Doors – “uPVC is the most popular choice of door because it is strong, cheap and keeps the heat in. Our doors come draught proofed and with standard security locks,” says Tom Rawcliffe, a window and door specialist who works for Dee Windows in Cheshire.
• Composite doors – composite doors are made from a mixture of materials like wood shavings and glass fibre which is pressed together with glue under a very high pressure. These doors are coated with an outside skin which can be made to look like real wood, for example. Guy says: “Composite doors are actually stronger than timber and they won’t warp or need repainting.” Composite doors are becoming more popular but are slightly more expensive than uPVC.

Interior doors

Style is, for many people, the main priority when it comes to internal doors. You also need to make sure that they are fitted and installed correctly by a professional. Here are some of the main styles available:

Flush doors – this type of door is completely flat on both sides and can be solid or hollow. Flush doors are simple in design and can be painted or customised if need be.

Panel doors – these doors are divided into panels, creating depth to the door in a variety of designs.

Glass doors – glass can be a good design choice for your property and also allows for light to flow through to different rooms.

Security doors

Security doors are usually made of steel or wrought iron material and are set in a frame of the same material. So, it is highly unlikely that intruders will be able to smash through them without removing the whole door and frame. Security doors are often installed in industrial units or offices but can also be used in your home. Adding security could also bring your home insurance down and increase the value of your home.

Hiring a FENSA registered door installer
will ensure that you comply with
building regulations

Fire doors

Fire doors are made up of a mixture of materials like steel and timber, which is what makes them fire resistant. Building regulations state that loft and garage doors must be fire resistant. Fire doors are usually between 44-54mm thick and are rated in terms of how long they resist fire for – between 30 minutes and an hour. If you choose to install more fire doors in your home it is important that they are installed by a professional as they need a strong frame to support their weight.

Hiring a door installer

Building regulations state that new windows and doors installed in homes must meet current thermal performance standards so that, as a nation, we reduce energy wastage. This applies to doors which are made up of at least 50% glass. To comply with these regulations it is best to hire a FENSA or similarly registered door installer or log the work the local authorities yourself.

Guy explains: “Hiring a FENSA registered door installer is important to prevent heat loss and reduce carbon emissions.” A FENSA registered installer will provide you with a certificate to show that your doors comply with building regulations and inform the local authority of this. A certain percentage of each FENSA recognised installers work is inspected to make sure that they maintain high standards.

How much do new doors cost?

You will need to consult a professional door installation company to find out exactly how much your new doors will cost, most will give you a free consultation. To give an indication, door and window fitter Guy says: “A uPVC door will cost around £550, whereas a composite door may cost about £650.”

AB