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Are Composite Doors easy to install?

Your Composite Door Questions Answered:

Are Composite Doors easy to install?

  The answer to the above question is itself a question – how confident are you in your own DIY ability?

As anybody who is not a tradesman will tell you fitting a door can be awkward but it is a far from an impossible task for the competent DIY enthusiast. The Composite Door manufacturers even make it that little bit easier by pre engineering the door and frame as “a door set” which in the simplest of terms means they pre- rehang the door in the frame during the manufacturing process so everything should be guaranteed as square and plumb – which with predrilling of screws means when your door arrives all you have to do is remove the door from the frame – install the frame square and plumb and rehang the door – it should be easy. But there are a number of pitfalls and items to check that you may not have considered.

Problem 1 – measuring a door opening is easy or at least it is to a professional but its quite surprising how many amateurs actually end up getting it wrong.

Problem 2 – when you measured your opening did you check for other obstructions – gas pipes and electric cables set in the plaster next to the door frame are probably more common than you might think. Did you check for a lintol (the concrete or steel thing that holds the brickwork above the door up) the law says you have to have one and lots of older properties have problems in that department.

Problem 3 – you have of course chosen the correct cill profile to stop ingress of water into your home and you have considered the necessary adjustment for your door and frame opening size

Your good – you have overcome all of the above and your door is in your possession.

Problem 4 – setting a frame square and plumb is frequently not as easy as it would seem, if the bricklayers straight line wandered just a little you may have more problems than you anticipated – what if the cavity was only closed with a damp proof membrane how do you seal the cavity and get a good solid fixing. The fixing – the drilling and placing of plug fixing in brickwork if carried out with care can cause the spalling (the face coming off) of the brickwork (not easy to repair. Worse still – loose plaster on the inside of the door frame can simply “fall off” when disturbed requiring more remedial works.

It done its installed – but the door is not sitting square in the frame – the frame is out of square or something worse maybe its not quite that easy.

And the often-forgotten job sealing around the door frame its so easy that even a tradesman can make a mess of it.

Why would you put yourself through all of the above when generally for the addition of two – four hundred pounds (dependent upon where you live and excluding the South East) someone else can take the pain – you can complain if they get it wrong (which rarely happens) and in the main you can stand admire a job well done when it’s all completed.

When you purchase your Composite Door, most suppliers will offer a fitting service that should include all of the above – many advise what the service incudes when you are placing your order or it could be as a page on a web site ( Our premium installation explained )if you are buying on line and frequently door suppliers will include items on their “blogs” pages extolling the benefits and pointing out the pitfalls of DIY installation i.e “Why correct installation matters”

If the manufacturers , suppliers and installers want you to have your door perfectly installed so it will look great and function well for years to come there has to be a reason – yes you can install it your self but invariably the professionals who do it all day every day will do it just that little bit better.

      Are Composite Doors easy to install? was originally published on Composite Door Prices

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Are Composite Doors Fireproof?

Your Composite Door Questions Answered:

Are Composite Doors Fireproof?

The easy answer is NO unless you specifically specify a Fireproof door –

The use of and positioning of Fire Doors in buildings is governed by the legal requirements as set out in the Building Regulations should you wish to check out all of the requirements applicable to fire doors they are available at –www.planningportal.gov.uk/uploads/br/BR_PDF_ADB1_2006.pdf , the guidance note requires that a building is divided into compartments, protecting escape routes, such as corridors and staircases and that protection is to be provided by Fire Doors.

Fire doors are put in their respective positions for a purpose and that purpose is not to STOP fires it is a CONTAINMENT measure to prevent the spread of flames and smoke and allow as safe as possible an exit from the building which is a very good reasons why Fire doors should never be propped open and should be fitted with Door Closers (that work, have not been disconnected etc.)

A Fire door is not designed to stop the spread of smoke and flame indefinitely – every fire door will be rated as to length of time 30 minutes – 60 minutes etc that it will resist the spread of smoke and flame and it will only achieve these ratings if it has been independently tested by a certified third party testing organisation

If you do specify a fire door it should come with a certificate that looks something like this –

BWF (The British Woodworking Federation) is only one of a number of organisations who provide “third party” testing of Composite Doors, they take samples of the doors from the manufacturer and independently test them to ensure that they will meet the required standards of preventing the spread of fire for the prescribed time – normally 30 minutes in the case of a Composite Door.

The normal method by which Fireproof doors are categorised is by a logo such as that below where in this case the FD represents Fire Door and the 30 represents the number of minutes that the door is certified as capable of preventing the spread of fire and the “s” endorses the 30-minute prevention of spread of smoke.

The logos may vary between manufacturers but they should appear both in the companies advertising and when your door is delivered the package should contain the appropriate certification, normally a sticker to one edge of the door confirming its specification and a Third party fire certification document.

The BWF have produced an excellent video “freely available on YouTube” which provides a checklist of exactly what to look for when choosing a fire door.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nbX1wXeEFWU#action=share

As highlighted in the video the correct installation of a Fire Door can be essential in ensuring that it operates correctly, it is not a job that should be undertaken by a DIY enthusiast and for the safety of your family and your home, the use of a professional installation service is advised.

The most common criticism of fire doors was that they were bulky, unattractive and had obtrusive door closers and the Georgian Wired Glass where used was considered “ugly”

this is no longer the case as Fire Doors are available to match the styles of many front doors, this rather attractive blue two panel two square is a fire door –

Composite Fire Doors, that are FD30s

Composite Fire Doors, that are FD30s

they are all available in a large choice of colours

the obtrusive surface mounted door closer can be replaced with a “concealed closer” which is inset into the door frame and body of the door jamb

the Georgian Wired glass has been replaced with 7mm Pyrodur (or similar) fire resistant glass as standard – available in in clear or obscure and 100% wire free.

Composite Fire Doors can now be equally as attractive as any other Composite door.

Are Composite Doors Fireproof? was originally published on Composite Door Prices

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Are Composite doors soundproof?

Your Composite Door Questions Answered.

Are Composite doors soundproof?

When it comes to listing all of the benefits of Composite doors their soundproofing credentials sometimes get a mention but they are not normally very high on the radar. The reason is simple soundproofing is not a main design criterion such as strength and durability, stylish good looks, low maintenance and longevity, for a Composite Door enhanced soundproofing is an add on benefit.

Only when you come to install a Composite Door do you actually realise just how much of the noise of the outside world it blocks out, suddenly the internal hall, lobby of your home seems a little more tranquil and peaceful.

It may not be a design critical item, but the very construction of a Composite Door comprises a number of elements that enhance soundproofing –

The typical Composite Door at 44mm thick is a little thicker than comparative front doors, the closely bonded relationship between the core of your door whether it be a CFC-free insulating polyurethane (PU) foam or laminated hardwood core and the external skins of minimum 2mm thick GRP create a dense block which assists in the prevention of sound transfer.

As all Composite doors are factory manufactured under stringently controlled quality conditions this also enhances their soundproofing qualities, when a composite door leaves the factory, it does so as a “Door Set”. A “Door Set” it is a pre-assembled unit of door and frame which not only guarantees that the door and frame will fit snugly when installed it also ensures that all draughtproofing can be installed in the factory guaranteeing that it will work and when you have quality draughtproofing the sealing of any gaps/voids around your door and such items as your letterplate will minimise / reduce the transfer of sound.

For years we have all benefitted from double glazing which we know reduces heat loss and sound transference and any glazed panel in a Composite Door benefits from this technology – glazed panels which will be a minimum of double glazed and quite commonly triple glazed will arrive with your door as pre-manufactured cassettes. This means the unit is sealed at the factory, it is then clipped and bead installed from the interior of the door for enhanced security providing an attractive feature which again enhances the sound transference quality of your door.

Composite Doors are not designed to be soundproofed but their very construction ensures that your home will be that little bit quieter on the inside.

        Are Composite doors soundproof? was originally published on Composite Door Prices

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Can Composite Doors Be Broken Into?

Your Composite Door Questions Answered.

Can Composite doors be broken into?

Given time and the freedom to create as much noise as you like using whatever tools power or otherwise, then, the answer would have to be that any door can be broken into even if it means blowing it off its hinges. In the real world most of us live in areas where although we may ignore the sound of a burglar alarm going off, we would surely notice (and call the Police) if we witnessed and heard someone taking a sledgehammer to a neighbour’s front door.

So, maybe the question should be where, do Composite Doors stand, in the risk of being broken into when compared with other types of door – for example

A timber door may be equally as robust as a Composite Door but as it normally only has one locking point this can be an area of weakness.

UPVC doors may have multi point locking systems similar to Composite Doors but their construction is such that their weakness lies in their panel construction – panels that can often be easily “kicked in “with a well-aimed boot.

A Composite Door has a number of features which make it just that little bit harder to break through –

The construction of external skins of 2mm GRP are pretty resilient to attack by the average burglar’s tools of hammer, chisel etc. the core of the door be it a CFC-free insulating polyurethane (PU) foam or laminated hardwood core whichever core is set in a reinforced timber / metal frame and all locking/hinge blocks are set in the manufacturing stage giving a solid base for the connection of accessories

Multi point locking system – engage and turn the handle/key in the lock when the door is open and you will see hook shaped dead bolts emerge from top, centre and bottom of the metal strip which runs for the height of the door these are the same deadbolts that engage with matching slots on the door frame when the door is locked/closed – with three locking points the door is harder to force.

The locking cylinder which operates the multi point locking system, these have become increasingly sophisticated as they have evolved and where picking, bumping or snapping of the lock were a common form of illegal entry, there are now a number of cylinders available that advertise that they have eradicated this problem. One cylinder in particular which is out there as the market leader is the “Ultion” lock a lock whose credentials stand up to the test as shown in the video attached to this article lock snapping dispelling the myths” where would be thieves are seen giving up on trying to break into an Ultion lock.

A quality Composite Door with quality locks has all of the above as standard thereby significantly reducing the risk of break in.

The only other area burglars will attack if are not afraid of making noise is to break the glass panel where one is installed in the door, fortunately the door manufacturers are wise to this and in Composite doors the glazing comes as a cassette which is bead fixed from the inside making it impossible to force and where laminated glass is used in the external skin of the double glazing, the glass simply will not break as witnessed by the experience of the family in this article Imagine being awoken at 4AM by two intruders smashing a brick into your front door?

Can Composite Doors be broken into – maybe but only after a long hard struggle which is normally sufficient to make the would be thief look elsewhere.

      Can Composite Doors Be Broken Into? was originally published on Composite Door Prices

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What is a GRP Composite Door ?

Your Composite Door Questions Answered.

What is a GRP Composite Door?

A Composite door as the name suggests is composed of a number of products in its manufacture and the reference to GRP Composite doors is simply a recognition of the most visible of the component products – the 2mm thick through coloured cladding which forms the external skin of the door. The term GRP Composite Door could be used for any Composite Door as they are all constructed in basically the same manner and the only component material that is generally subject to change is the core material which can be either a CFC-free insulating polyurethane (PU) foam or laminated hardwood core whichever core is used it is set in a reinforced timber / metal frame and clad each side with 2mm GRP which forms not only an impervious weather barrier , which is completely immune to sun fade and bleaching. As GRP is a high impact and durable product the through coloured skins are very to resistant to both every day wear and tear of scratches or blemishes and also creates an impressive physical barrier to the burglar’s normal tools of hammer, chisel, crow bar etc When the two GRP skins are clamped and bonded to the core during the factory manufacturing process they provide the door with the rigidity the prevents it from warping or twisting when exposed to extreme weather conditions.

A typical composite door is 44mm thick of exceedingly strong construction, high in its security rating security, easy to maintain, provides excellent thermal efficiency with an anticipated lifespan of at least 35* years all of which means it represents excellent value for money.

The easy to maintain aspect of the 2mm GRP cladding is a major benefit – no annual/bi-annual repainting or re staining maintenance of the door comprises a simple occasional wipe with a damp cloth and maybe a little bit of polishing of the accessories, handles, letterplate etc.

The majority of manufacturers are now able to provide Composite Doors in circa eighteen colours, some giving the option of a white interior and a coloured exterior and if you love the touch and feel of wood a woodgrain option is available from many suppliers. The colour options combined with the multitude of styles in which Composite Doors can be manufactured means that invariably there is a door to suit everyone’s taste with in a typical range of composite doors, which is why Composite doors have now become the preferred choice of front doors for so many people

    What is a GRP Composite Door ? was originally published on Composite Door Prices

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How Are Composite Doors Made

Your Composite Door Questions Answered:

How Are Composite Doors Made?

The simple answer is, in a factory, in quality-controlled conditions, using state of the art technology and a selection of compatible materials that are married together to create a perfect solution for every home.

That is the easy answer, the harder answer is describing the component parts and their individual purposes as the name suggests – Composite – means it has to be manufactured from a number of constituent parts. When a composite door leaves the factory, it does so as a “Door Set” which means it is a pre-assembled unit of door and frame which not only guarantees that the door and frame will fit snugly when installed it also ensures that all draughtproofing can be installed in the factory guaranteeing that it will not go missing in transit.

Every door requires a frame and this is normally a steel or timber reinforced 70mm UPVC frame normally available in a choice of colours to compliment the door and complete with a cill / threshold of your choice either raised or a low version for wheelchair access which is normally Part M compliant to meet with Building Regulations

The door leaf starts with either a with CFC-free insulating polyurethane (PU) foam or laminated hardwood core set in a hardwood/ steel reinforced frame with locking and hinge blocks pre located during construction, banded at the edges with either a 2mm PVC or metal edging strip edging and faced each side with a 2mm GRP or similar cladding clamped and bonded to the core to produce a rigid construction, the GRP cladding ensures the skin of the door will not crack and the door itself will not twist or warp or require any redecoration – ever. The GRP cladding which comes in a range of colours is through coloured so it is highly resistant to any scrapes or scratches

All of the above sounds extremely boring, the exciting part about the construction of a Composite Door is the choice that they offer as the selected core and the GRP cladding can be cut to templates to match any door style your Composite Door is available in a huge range of styles, traditional, contemporary, cottage, etc the frames van be adapted to create door and sidelights and /or French Doors – add in the choice of door colours and textures (woodgrain effect) available the multitude of glazing and accessory choices and the versatility and adaptability of Composite Doors are virtually unlimited.

Solid Core Composite Door Construction

How Are Composite Doors Made was originally published on Composite Door Prices

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Can Composite Doors be painted?

Your Composite Door Questions Answered:

Can Composite Doors be painted?

The somewhat obvious question is why you would want to, with most manufacturers supplying between a dozen and eighteen colours there is surely one that would suit with the individuals preference when purchasing a new front door.

As a part of the manufacturing process every composite door has a coloured glass-reinforced plastic (GRP) or similar skin, a skin where the colour is intended to last the life of the door where it is not likely to lighten or fade or wear away the way the colour on other painted doors does. The GRP cladding does not provide a suitable base upon which you can simply pick up your can of gloss and your brush and paint away, it will not work and if you should be fortunate and get the paint to adhere it is unlikely it will last or that you will like the results of your efforts. The GRP cladding is not intended to be painted – which does not mean it is impossible to change the door colour it means it is something which can not be achieved by the typical DIY enthusiast.

Bespoke Composite Door Colours

If you should be desperate to purchase doors of a none standard colour such as the one above, or if you are so “out of love” with the colour of your existing Composite front door there are specialist companies available who utilise techniques with bonding agents and spray and bake technology that that allows you to select any RAL colour and have your door recoated to your desired colour. The painting of doors is a service which many manufacturers offer as an option at purchase see “All the colours of a Rainbow” which is fine if you are looking for a bespoke colour when you come to purchase a door and already have a door in place. However, if you are one of the “out of love” with your front door colour the option is not quite so simple, as the coating requires that your door be removed and taken to the specialist coaters premises you will be left without a front door and unless you have a spare in your garage this could be a source of inconvenience – the provision of a temporary spare from your manufacturer would be more expensive that a new composite door.

The answer to the question Can Composite Doors be painted – is one of three parts –

Not by normal DIY means

Yes, if your door manufacturer offers colour bonding as an option

Only if you can take responsibility for your own actions and suffer the inconvenience if you are “out of love with “with the colour of your existing front door.

    Can Composite Doors be painted? was originally published on Composite Door Prices

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Where can I find a company to supply and install all of my doors and windows?

Your Composite Door Questions Answered:

Where can I find a company to supply and install all of my doors and windows?

There are companies that manufacture doors, there are companies that manufacture windows, and there are companies that install either or both and there is the odd company that does it all supplying and installing quality windows and doors. One such company is WarmCore Homes recommended by Composite Door prices for their excellent aluminium BI- Fold doors they are there on the top banner of our web site along with the Composite doors we recommend – simply follow the link to discover their exceptional range of products –

Bi Fold doors is only part of the WarmCore range which also –

Residential doors,

Patio Doors

French doors

and Windows

Even with the scaffolding still in place and the landscaping not yet started it is clear to see this property with its Anthracite finish doors and windows is going to look pretty stunning when complete.

This was a client who placed his faith in the know-how of a specialist company he first contacted WarmCore in June 2017 and they have guided them through all stages from advice with planning, technical details, choosing the right product and even assisting with building control after the install (providing the right documents etc)

The result a full self-build house comprising 13 windows, x2 bi-folding doors and x1 set of French doors all supplied and installed by WarmCore Homes.

And what did the client think of the completed project – in his own words –

“The new windows and doors have completely made the building come to life after seeing it as a shell for so long! We couldn’t be happier with the finished result and the frames look even better than we imagined! The anthracite grey looks stunning in aluminium, and we are so glad we went with the flush sash. All of the tradesmen we have on site have commented on the quality of the windows.

Special thanks to our Warmcore project manager who took the time to go through all the options in detail and kept in contact with us throughout the project. We were worried after the survey as one of our openings was too small for the French doors the architect called for, but Warmcore found a great solution with some tilt and turn windows that we absolutely love! It is refreshing to deal with a company that really know their stuff and care about the customer’s needs.

We must also praise the fitting team who were superb, working tirelessly and showing attention to detail with all finishing off. We have saved for years to build our dream home and we are so pleased we chose Warmcore Homes. Thank you again.”

 As our name Composite Door prices implies, and the philosophy by which we operate dictates, our role is to provide our clients with quality products at quality prices again to take the clients words –

“The quote came in 10k cheaper than leading local firm in the South West”

WarmCore Homes operate throughout the UK so if you are looking for a company to supply install a complete house of quality doors and windows they may be the company for you.

    Where can I find a company to supply and install all of my doors and windows? was originally published on Composite Door Prices

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Which is best Composite or wood?

Your Composite Door Questions Answered:

Which is best Composite or wood?

  There are very few of us who would not agree that well maintained wooden front doors look terrific, but those good looks come at a cost particularly if you are considering a quality hand crafted hardwood door. Although your local DIY outlet may have what appear to be very competitively priced wooden doors they are unlikely to be quite what they seem, they are frequently of Far Eastern origin maybe softwood rather than hardwood and they are less likely to be able to withstand an English winter. A point worth remembering is that all-natural wooden materials of a single source are subject to climatic changes so if a handcrafted quality hardwood door can warp and twist when subjected to the British weather, the problems will generally be far worse with the door from your local DIY outlet. To ensure that your wooden door always looks good requires a regular maintenance programme, re painting or varnishing every couple of years minimum if you want it to maintain its appearance, for many this is a joy but for far more of us it is a chore we could happily do without. In respect of strength and durability you can be pretty certain your family will be safe and secure behind a solid wooden door; their locking systems may not be as sophisticated as the multipoint locking systems of Composite Doors but there are now some very secure deadlocks available which with the appropriate bolts render a wooden door at least as secure as a Composite Door.

Selecting a new front door for your home should really not only be about price, but also about quality, security, looks, durability and thermal efficiency with a high-quality composite door with a stylish design you get all of the above at a price which is generally more competitive than a quality timber door. Composite doors are low maintenance, robust and weather resistant, plus they do not rot, warp or crack, nor ever need painting. The texture of a composite doors tends to hide minor scratches, and a damp cloth is all you need to keep it looking good. Whether you choose a rigid polyurethane core or a timber core Composite Door you will have a multitude of style and colour choices to choose from so there should always be a door to match your budget.

Composite or Timber the correct door in the correct location will always look good there is no easy answer to which is best it is all down to the individual’s personal preference because both doors look good and perform well.

Which is best Composite or wood? was originally published on Composite Door Prices

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How secure are Composite Doors?

Your Composite Door Questions Answered:

How secure are Composite Doors?

Any door is secure until someone tries to force entry – it is only then that you find out exactly how secure it is – as the Composite Door is the relative newcomer on the door scene it has arrived at about the same time as tests on doors for strength, durability, security and thermal efficiency have become the norm rather than the exception.

Anyone currently thinking of buying a Composite Door can be assured that at some stage in its development the door will have been rigorously tested by “third party testing houses” rather than the manufacturer themselves, to ensure that it reaches certain required standards and when you receive your door it should have the appropriate certification to confirm it has met the standards. The three items you should be looking for are-

PAS 24 – a specific accreditation which is recognised by both Police and Insurance companies for enhanced security and is a requirement for composite doors in order to meet the current Building Regulations.

The CE Mark- (the abbreviation of French phrase “Conformité Européene” which literally means “European Conformity”. The term initially used was “EC Mark” and it was officially replaced by “CE Marking” in the Directive 93/68/EEC in 1993)

-with PAS24 -2016 certification and you can pretty much be assured of a quality purchase

Secured by Design-which is the official UK Police flagship initiative supporting the principles of ‘designing out crime’? Secured by Design focuses on crime prevention of homes and commercial premises and promotes the use of security standards for a wide range of applications and products including the supporting of PAS 24

It is fairly true to say that all Composite Doors are designed to be secure, from the basic construction to the accessories that come as options.

The basic construction – whether it be a with a CFC-free insulating polyurethane (PU) foam or laminated hardwood core they are both supported by a reinforced frame and clad each side with 2mm GRP which forms not only an impervious weather barrier but also creates an impressive physical barrier to the burglar’s normal tools of hammer, chisel, crow bar etc

The locking system – this comes in two parts – the multi point locking system and the locking cylinder –

When you look at the locking edge of any Composite Door you will notice a metal strip that runs from top to bottom- engage and turn the handle/key in the lock when the door is open and you will see hook shaped dead bolts emerge from top, centre and bottom of this metal strip these are the same deadbolts that engage with matching slots on the door frame when the door is locked/closed.

The locking cylinder is the part of the locking cylinder where you turn the key – the bit burglars normally attack first by picking, snapping or bumping your lock – there are numerous locking cylinders available and different ones are used by different manufacturers – many of these cylinders make claims as to resistance of their cylinders to attack but the one which is currently the market leader with proven credentials and which has been adopted by many of the leading manufacturers is the “ULTION” this article “lock snapping dispelling the myths” showcases the credentials of the Ultion lock and actually includes a short video of thieves failing to force an Ultion lock.

The article “What does security mean to you” provides further information on the locking systems and Certification Standards that are typical for most Composite doors

Glazing Units – no matter how sophisticated the glazing you choose may be it will almost certainly come in the form, whether it be double or triple glazed, of a pre formed “Glazing cassette” which is slotted into your door from the inside (no exposed glazing beads) and securely clipped with beads from the inside. The option to upgrade to a laminated outer skin (the same glass as a car windscreen) which crazes but does not break is available from most manufacturers. To illustrate the strength of modern door glazing this article “Imagine being awoken at 4AM by two intruders smashing a brick into your front door?” shows exactly how resistant they can be.

 The accessories – the two most common and the most useful are –

The security Chain – which allows you to open your door only to a controlled distance allowing conversation and the passing of letters or small parcels but prevents the individual on the outside gaining access.

The Spy Hole – just like a small telescope which passes through the core of the door and allows you to see who is outside which gives you the option of whether or not to open your door.

How secure are composite doors? – answer “VERY secure” when a composite door comes with all of the above features, no other door on the market can match the security and durability that composite doors provides.

        How secure are Composite Doors? was originally published on Composite Door Prices

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Are Composite Doors Draught Proof?

Your Composite Door Questions Answered:

Are Composite Doors Draught Proof?

Draughts are a pain at any time of the year – in the winter when they come roaring in under, over or around your door cooling the inside of your home as you watch your money burn while you try to eradicate them by notching up the heating. At least come the summer and the occasional balmy summers day, the draught can feel like a cooling breeze, which could for the more optimistic of us be considered a benefit.

Either way none of us want them but many of us have them – so will purchasing and correctly installing a new composite door actually remove the offending draught. Answer – yes and we underlined “correctly installed” for a reason firstly your door as any new door should be and must be square both in its installation and in the manner, it is set in the frame – the door should be properly adjusted and square in the frame. In the rare instances when Composite doors have a draught it is more likely to be poor installation and adjustment rather than a fault with the product, the hinges on a composite door give ample adjustment to ensure that the door is aligned so that it engages with the draught proof strip.

The numerous different manufacturers use a variety of types of draughtproofing but all composite doors have one thing in common, the draughtproofing is installed as a part of the factory construction process where the door and frame are pre-assembled as a “door set” prior to leaving the factory. The benefits of this are two-fold –

As the draughtproofing is preinstalled it can not go missing in transit.

The messy time consuming (and frequently irritating) job of trying to install the draughtproofing at site is eliminated.

With draughtproofing installed at manufacture (and it is all done under stringent Quality Control procedures) and your door correctly installed you should instantly start to feel the benefit in your pocket – no draughts means no cranking up the heating. One of the often forgotten benefits of Composite Doors which is frequently overlooked is their thermal insulation qualities, because they are a little thicker than timber of UPVC front doors and because the cores of the doors have excellent thermal characteristics it is likely that less heat will be lost through the door itself.

Are Composite Doors Draught Proof? was originally published on Composite Door Prices

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We keep on checking and vetting

Virtuoso & Virtu-Al Composite Doors

We keep on checking and vetting!

  The Composite Door market has been steadily growing over recent years and although we may not have added any new products to our site in recent months there is a very good reason for this – checking and vetting takes time. As we pride ourselves on providing our customers with a service which they can trust we would not wish to lower our standards.

It may have been a little while in the waiting but Composite Doors are pleased to present not one, but three new doors to our checked and vetted range.

NEW: Solid Core Timber Composite Doors

The first of our three new doors comes from the tried and trusted Door Stop stable. The Door Stop Composite door with its CFC-free insulating polyurethane (PU) foam has been a mainstay of our site since its inception but now the Door Stop Composite Door has evolved into something new a more durable and stronger big brother with the arrival of the “Solid timber core Door stop door” – same superb construction, styles, colours and accessories but the core has changed to laminated veneer lumber as an alternative to the a CFC-free insulating polyurethane (PU) foam which will still be available in the standard Door Stop Composite Door

Solid Core Composite Door Construction

The unique, cross-bonded structure of our doors improves the lateral bending strength and stiffness of the panel.

The introduction of this competitively priced alternative brings a little bit more competition to the current sold timber core market.

NEW: Virtuoso Composite Doors

The second and third of our new doors come from a company with a name that may be new too many – “Virtuoso Doors” – the name may be new but the company is not, previously known as WB Doors the company has been around for a good number of years and recently re branded itself. The two doors selected from Virtuoso range are the – Virtuoso Composite Door and the Virtu-AL Composite Door.

The former the “Virtuoso” is a door built in the best traditions of a Composite Door quality materials and precision craftsmanship twenty styles seven base colours and fourteen superior colours plus the option to have your door manufactured in the RAL colour of your choice. Add in the extensive range of glazing options and accessories and it is easy to see why we found this door so attractive. Plus, the “virtuoso “range is very competitively priced, a factor which we know is very important to our customers and with examples such as these it clearly represents excellent value for money.

Virtuoso Composite Doors

NEW: Virtu-Al Composite Doors

The “Virtu-AL” composite door provides something a little different from the standard in composite doors – it looks like an aluminium door and it feels like an aluminium door an effect which is created by the ultra-smooth superior quality tastefully grooved 4mm thick GRP cladding either side and its aluminium edging to all glazed panels – you have to look closely to realise that it is not the real thing.

With four stunning designs to choose from –

As you would expect for doors with so much class and style they cost a bit more than the “virtuoso” range but they are still very competitively priced for this much door. Available in five basic and thirteen superior colours, again with the option to customise your door to the RAL colour of your choice, designer glazing choices and a range of contemporary hardware there is nothing not to like about the “Virtu-AL” composite door.

It may have taken us a little while to come up with new doors but when they have this much quality it has to be worth the wait, we are already looking at new additions to our recommended collection and hope not to leave it quite so long until our next addition. For quality information about quality doors from a company you can trust – watch this space.

Virtu-Al Composite Doors

We keep on checking and vetting was originally published on Composite Door Prices

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How Much Should A Composite Door Cost?

Your Composite Door Questions Answered

How Much Should A Composite Door Cost?

Composite Door Prices are no great mystery like so many other complex multi choice products it’s a question of knowing what you want.

Around about the Millennium something changed in the UK door market and revolutionised the industry forever that change was the arrival of the Composite Door – pre-Composite front doors were timber /PVC or aluminium each of which had merits and demerits – that which made the Composite door different was that eliminated the de merits and enhanced the merits. More styles, more colours, more glazing options and an improved choice of accessories. It is this very availability of so many options that makes giving a precise price for a Composite Door so difficult and all have to be considered in the price structure –

First – there is the quality of the door – Composite Doors dependent upon manufacturer come with a CFC-free insulating polyurethane (PU) foam or laminated hardwood core the latter generally being more expensive than the former.

Second – style – as the manufacture of differing styles require amounts of work (setting up templates/ waste etc) many manufacturers will price differing styles at different prices – if one style is particularly popular and produced in large quantities it may well be discounted.

Third – colours – the majority of manufacturers do not adjust their price for choice of colours unless you require something non-standard that requires the colour bonding capabilities of a specialist company – an expensive choice.

Four – glazing – clearly there is a huge difference in price between a clear double-glazed panel and a coloured leaded glass double glazed panel and there are many variables between these two extremes.

Five – accessories – a minefield of choice with so many styles of handles, knockers, letterplates in a choice of at least four colours for most manufacturers

Six – locking systems – multi point locking systems are pretty standard but the choice and price and security of the lock cylinder can vary considerably.

Seven – geographical location, particularly if you are having your door installed – there are certain areas in the UK where attempting delivery or finding the correct tradesmen comes at a premium and is reflected in the price.

Eight – the choice of company and the service – it is a competitive market and some manufacturers /installers will offer discounts whereas others will stand by their reputations for quality product and service.

Nine – manufacturer marketing – some manufacturers spend a fortune (which the customer ultimately pays for) on advertising particularly on line but they do not always represent the best value and it pays to be thorough in your review of the various websites.

When all of the above is taken into consideration it is easy to see why it is impossible to say a Composite Door costs X £ pounds – the majority of on line manufacturers/installers web sites do try to make it somewhat easier for their customers by providing “door designers” where the prospective customer has the opportunity to design the door they want and where upon design completion they will be provided with either an instant or an “email” call back price.

As we said at the beginning its easier “if you know what you want” but when faced with so many options   we all are prone to changing our mind which is why most “door designers” allow multiple opportunities of editing the chosen door until you are happy with all of the component parts.

There is one web site Composite Door Prices which goes the extra step to assist customers and is a very good place to start in your search for a new Composite Front door. It does not represent a single door manufacturer but comprises the doors of a number of manufacturers all of whom have been vetted by the company involved to ensure that they provide the quality and standard of product that through their years of experience they have found to be consistent and reliable for both supply and service and competitive in price. The site provides guide prices for a number of products and “door designers” to allow the customer to develop the door of their choice and each has a pricing/ quotation service either direct or mail back.

So how much should a composite door cost as a guide we would suggest that the range of prices would fall somewhere between the following –

For Supply only Composite Doors–

A budget price door with minimum cost accessories   circa £550 – £600

A top range door maxed out on quality accessories circa £1200- £1400

For Fitted Composite Doors –

In most of areas of the country this should be achievable for circa £300-£400

For certain prominent post codes all of the above could be at least doubled.

How much should a Composite Door cost really comes down to two things – personal preference and budget and only the customer can control these items.

How Much Should A Composite Door Cost? was originally published on Composite Door Prices

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Why fit a Composite Door?

Your Composite Door Questions Answered:

Why Fit a Composite Door?

  The door you choose depends on a full range of circumstances – your style of home – your budget – the exposure of the door to the elements ���maintenance – your alternative material choices etc.

Your style of home – certain doors look good on the right property but if you get it wrong it can be a disaster– because of its unique factory manufacture and choice of component parts whether you go for the normally cheaper rigid PVC core or slightly more expensive timber cored door each has the benefit of being cut to a template which means that the choices of style are numerous, which is why most manufacturers are able to offer, traditional, contemporary, cottage etc as independent ranges –and they are all Composite Doors. The style of home is no longer a problem as there is always a Composite Door Style to suit the external façade of your property all you have to do is pick the correct one.

Your budget – as with most purchases in life – you get what you pay for – but even the most expensive of Composite doors is not in the same expense league as a handcrafted hardwood door equally they are normally a little more expensive than ordinary PVCU double glazed doors which can be limited in style choice. With door prices for the average home ranging from £750 -£1200 Composite doors provide a good mid-range quality product.

The exposure of your door to the elements – many of us have found to our cost that although natural timber doors can look great, but when exposed to the full fury of the British winds rain and snow they can be prone to warping and twisting, sticking in the winter and creating draughts in the summer. This is a problem that disappears with a Composite door, because of the way the components are bonded warping and twisting are all but eliminated, your draughtproofing stays in place and you stay warm and dry.

Maintenance – No annual /bi annual painting and varnishing a wipe with a damp cloth approximately once a month is all you need to keep your door in its pristine condition for its anticipated thirty plus years lifespan. For more information on maintenance of your composite door see “How to look after your Composite door”

Alternative Materials – Solid timber as noted above when well maintained looks terrific but for quality doors you pay a quality price, add in the maintenance upkeep and the possibilities of warp or twist and unless you are prepared to pay the price and enjoy the DIY – Composite is a very cost-effective alternative.

UPVC – doors have served us well for many years but they are limited in style and colour choice and they are both less secure and thermally efficient than the Composite equivalent.

Aluminium doors are having a resurgence with new styles and new colours due to the introduction of powder coating techniques and low maintenance stronger and more durable than UPVC they can look very stylish but generally they are more expensive than the Composite equivalent.

Why fit a Composite Door?

  Why fit a Composite Door – styles and colours to suit any home, strong, durable and thermally efficient and best of all you can probably find one to fit any budget.

  Why fit a Composite Door? was originally published on Composite Door Prices

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How to look after your composite door

Your Composite Door Questions Answered:

How to look after your composite door

  With the spring that should have arrived by now hopefully just around the corner the thoughts of many of our customers turn to spring cleaning and right up there at the top of our list of FAQ’s is the question of “how to clean and look after your Composite Door” and it is one of the easier questions we get to answer.

Every composite door is designed and constructed in a way that means you get security, insulation, and style in one easy-to-care-for package, no need for paint or varnish or brushes and best of all no tedious decorating, just a few minutes a month is all you need (for most doors cleaning once a month will suffice) to ensure your composite door always looks good and will last a lifetime. It could not be simpler, there is no requirement for either specialist cleaning materials or equipment – taking the component parts individually –

the door frame, use a bucket of warm, soapy water and clean all around the frame using a soft cloth if there are difficult dirt encrusted or stained areas a uPVC cleaning product may be useful but be careful not to get the fluid on the surface of the door.

the door leaf, a fresh bucket of warm soapy water a clean cloth to remove any grit and grime which may have built up as this can and cause problems when the door opens and closes. Once satisfactorily clean simply wipe the door leaf dry with a soft cloth.

For any external glass in the composite door with repeat the warm water and soft cloth treatment to remove any dirt, and finish the windows with a little glass cleaner for extra shine

For the handle and door knocker, wipe with a clean cloth using a mild soap or detergent and then wipe clean with a dry cloth and buff to a shine

Regular maintenance of locks and hinges – by regular we mean circa once every six months add a little lubricant or oil to the hinges, locks and the hardware of the door r in order to keep everything in top working order.

What could be easier – a bucket some warm soapy water some soft cloths and a little lubricant regularly applied and your door will always look good and continue to function perfectly for many years to come.

How to look after your composite door was originally published on Composite Door Prices

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Price Comparisons and ongoing service –

Price Comparisons and ongoing service –

You definitely will not find doors like this on our web site even if such a door did exist ?

At Composite Door Prices we realise that for many of our customers the choosing of a new front door can be somewhat stressful which is why we try to take the pain and hard work out of the selection procedure – we trade in composite doors we have the knowhow and experience to sort the good from the bad and that is exactly what we promise and deliver on our web site.

We do not feature cheap foreign imports that will warp, twist or shed their cladding and we do not feature doors that are so outrageously priced that they are beyond the reach of the average individual.

The Composite Door Prices web site offers quality doors at competitive prices, doors that look good on your typical UK dwelling that are tried and tested, doors that we would be, and are proud to have on our own homes.

Composite Door Prices are one of a number of companies which form the GFD Group of companies along with Timber Composite Door, Global Door and a number of others and one of the things that we at GFD Group take great pride in is our “CUSTOMER SERVICES” we are there to help all of our customers, not just with the sale of the door but also with any ongoing problems that may develop. When we say “customer service” we do not just mean on going teething problems or even product or installation warranty problems we are here to assist whatever the eventuality.

A recent case involved a customer for whom we had installed a new Solidor front door some two years ago through our Timber Composite Door subsidiary – imagine the horror of our customers when they were awoken at 4am in the morning by two intruders smashing a brick into the glass of their front door in an attempt to gain entry. Fortunately, the intruders did not gain entry the customer was not hurt and the Solidor door withstood the impact of the attack, although upon inspection in daylight it clearly showed signs of the assault upon it.

This door as with all doors supplied by Composite Door Prices was fitted with the Ultion lock (The lock that is recognised by the industry as the safest and most secure currently available for the domestic market) as well as the glass surviving the intruders also failed to break the lock.

In our customers own words –

“We were awoken at 4am this morning by 2 men in balaclavas trying to force entry to our house by smashing the glass in our front door.

They repeatedly smashed a brick into the glass – which held firm and prevented them gaining entry to our house.

It was the most terrifying experience my family has ever experienced.  The force and noise was such that it awoke neighbours 4 doors away.”

  Throughout our web pages we feature items about the strength and durability of all the doors we provide and this customers experience provides the clear evidence that the doors are as good as we have always maintained they are.

At GFD Group we know that all of our doors when teamed with the Ultion lock make a pretty formidable team and we have actually previously featured a blog on our Timber Composite Door site called Quality doors; Quality locks: Solidor and Ultion where a customer’s door video camera shows two would be burglars giving up after trying to break an Ultion lock on a Solidor door. After this most recent incident maybe we should rename that blog Quality Doors; Quality locks and Quality Glass?

When the customer became aware of the severity of the damage that their door had incurred they contacted our Customer Services team for help in assessing the repair / replacement requirements and the tricky issue of informing Insurance company etc.

We have been assisting the customer every step of the way in liaising in order to make this difficult period as bearable as possible. In this instance “Toni” our very own GFD Group Customer Services Manager is singled out for special commendation – to quote our customer –

“I must praise Toni Lorriman, who my wife has been dealing with. She has been great in helping work out what is required”

We shall be continuing to assist in this matter for as long as it takes because that is the sort of customer service we want to provide.

As Toni, head of customer services at GFD Group commented,

“it may sound a bit clichéd, but the ethos of the company and all the team here is simply to supply the best products at the best price to our customers, and if there is a problem at any time, treat it as we would if it was our home. I can really sympathise with Mr & Mrs W, I’ve worked hard with Solidor and our fitting team, along with the customer’s insurers to ensure we can get a new door made to their exact needs and installed before Christmas. I’ve also taken the liberty of giving the family free Ultion locks for the other doors in their home, so their family can enjoy the festivities, safe in the knowledge, their home is protected.”

And that’s the kind of service you can expect when you purchase a door from Composite Door Prices and when the prices are as competitive as these with guaranteed quality service why would you not make Composite Door Prices your first place to look for that new front door particularly when prices are as good as these.

GFD Group incorporating Composite Door Prices quality products backed up by quality service you can trust.

                Price Comparisons and ongoing service – was originally published on Composite Door Prices

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For When you Just have to Have the extra touch of style

For when you just have to have that extra touch of style.

You can design the interior of your home to make it look like a photograph from a trendy magazine – which is great but what about the all-important focal point where the interior meets the exterior. The majority of us want to maximise the view of our garden or exterior areas because when you get it “right” it makes your whole home feel bigger, lighter and airier. The easiest solution to this dilemma is to whip out your existing patio doors / window knock down a few bits of wall, remembering to put in a new extended lintel and swap the old for something new and that something new is a bi-fold doors here at GFD HQ (Composite Door Prices is part of the GFD Group) when we talk Bi folds we do not mean just any old Bi fold we mean the superb WarmCore Homes Bi fold. We have already extolled the virtues of this superbly engineered door in a couple of previous blogs where we concentrated more on the aesthetics and the fact that it was the latest acquisition to our group, but we have not waxed quite so lyrical about the quality of engineering and the high specification of these doors – that is until now.

Some Bi- folds are made from UPVC, some are made from aluminium and some are made from timber but the WarmCore Homes bi-fold door benefits from the continuous development of technology and is a truly Warm -Cored door being a composite of two materials, the wider than usual multi chamber orange resin thermal core- which is hidden away in the finished aluminium framed door – is key to why WarmCore Homes doors are 25% more thermally efficient than traditional UPVC or aluminium single component doors.

Specifically engineered for British weather- guaranteed to keep out all that driving wind and rain and anything else the elements can throw at them these doors are triple weather sealed at all sash locking points and use run through rubber gaskets to create continuous weather seals.

A door that performs this well also needs to look good – and this range of doors has to be one of the most aesthetically pleasing ranges currently available – nothing has been forgotten from the anodised colour coded frames,

the stylised stacking handles the beautifully engineered runners on the bi-fold doors – detail is key.

  Then you have the choice of Door configuration – opening in over to draw the outside into your room or out over which can greatly enhance your internal living space and as our doors come in widths up to 6.00metres and heights up to 2.40metres and we can produce them in any manner of configurations and glazed pane sizes (and that includes triple glazing) you specify we provide as either a “delivery only” service or as the majority of our customers prefer you can request our excellent installation service where you can be assured that the doors will be installed correctly.

When you need to add that extra touch of class to your home make our sister company WarmCore Homes your first point of call, or simply give us a call here at Composite Door Prices and leave the organisation to us – as they are our sister company we have the inside track on getting you the best possible deal.

For When you Just have to Have the extra touch of style was originally published on Composite Door Prices