new front door

[IHeartKittensAndWine]

I am looking to replace our front door, which is very naff and discoloured upvc. For complicated reasons we've been told by several hardwood merchants that a timber door won't work, so are looking to get another (but nicer) upvc one or a composite one. Unfortunately the door space is smaller than average by about 8cm. Can anyone recommend a company which does made to measure upvc or composite doors? I spent all yesterday on the phone to people who sounded like double glazing salesmen and am at my wits end!

Why won't a timber one work? We have vile plastic door that I'm dying to change

Why won't a timber one work?

We currently have a UPVC front and back door. Both of which we are changing in the spring for wooden ones.
We have been told we need to rip out the old UPVC doorframe (as a wooden door cannot be fitted into a UPVC frame) and fit a timber doorframe. We have been told this will leave a mess and the area around the doorframes will need to be replastered.

No biggie, I am keen to have nice painted wooden doors so will put up with the mess and work to get it right.

Are you sure this is not what they mean when you have been told 'wooden doors won't work?'

I'd get a timber door if you possibly can - I'm afraid there's no such thing as a nice uPVC one.

Behindlock - that's part of the issue. Also our door is at basement level (lower ground flat) and there is a very slight dip from the ground to the house so a wooden door is likely to get damaged easily and need a lot of maintanence. I don't mind that but it's very much a starter home and we've been told that it could put off buyers in the future when they get surveys done.

Is there absolutely no thing as a nice upvc one? What about a composite one?

You can get some very good composite doors.We have one atm and everyone comments on it and tbh they think it is wood.I am an interior designer and have always hated them and I would always say wood!Our door is black with frosted glass and a chrome knocker.It is hung like a wooden door with no funnt twidly bits like trad pvc door.It is a period house and does look fine.What sort of house is it?

Have a look at rock doors

this website does made measure. We have a composite door (not from this company) and i wouldnt go back now. Compliments from everyone. It cost us about £800 plus fitting. We got ours from here they do made to measure as well.

Interesting thread!

I need to replace my front door. It is wood at the moment and I wanted wood again, but they all keep trying to talk me out of it 9(despite selling both), I keep being told that composite is the way forward, wont shrink, rot, move and create drafts etc... but I cannot find a UPVC or composite door that looks nice enough - they all look, well.... cheap & nasty (sorry).

Off to look at Rock though Noddy/Ethalina - one of yours could well be my solution!

Good luck Iheart!!

The rock door in anthracite with plain frosted glass is about as good as it gets.I have to say the draught element is amazing and there is NO DUST in the porch now!

But you can't change the colour of a composite door though. That's what puts me off them

No you can't they are 'forever' so neutral colour probably best.The black and grey look good

noddy, can you link to the door you are talking about? I have googled but cannot find it. It sounds nice. I know I said I wanted wood but would like to have a look at yours just in case....

thanks all for your thoughts and elethina for those links - going to call them tomorrow!

this is the door I have.It has a fanlight above with clear glass and the door itself has plain san blasted.I chose traditional lock and key If you phone any local glazers they should have one to look at.

Hi Noddy

The link isn't working :(