Anyone bought oak fire doors?

[whataboutbob]

We're having a loft extension and have to replace all our doors with fire doors. To make it less grim I am going for oak doors ( in reality oak veneer). I m finding out it s quite hard to determine price as joinery places don t quote prices to buyers, you have to go via your builder and he needs an account. Our builder quoted £220 per door, today I went over to Howdens and squeezed a rough quote of £160+VAT out of them. But I couldn't even see the doors as they were all wrapped up and stacked on top of each other.
If anyone can share their experience and recommend a retailer/ particular for I' d appreciate it. Thanks!

Oops that' s a " particular door" not particular for!

Have used these www.ukoakdoors.co.uk/. Good value and been OK.

When you say you need an account...are you taking about places like Travis Perkins, Jewsons etc? If so then just create your own cash account - you don't need to be a builder. But find a cheap price online and get them to match - you don't want to pay their initial prices as tend to be high.

www.distinctivedoors.co.uk

I've used these people before. Not for fire doors but the service was fine and prices seemed to be on a par with other providers.

Thanks both. Yes RCheshire I think it s the same system as at jewsons etc. I didn t realise anyone could open an account. The websites look good and it's useful to know our builder is quoting roughly the same sort of price.

they are quite likely to be Premdoor brand or similar. If buying several you should expect a discount.

I often get doors from Wickes but there may be a door specialist in your town. Fire doors are identified by coloured plastic inserts on the edge that the buildings inspector (and you) can look for. Beware of unmarked imports.

BTW fire doors are very heavy, and I strongly recommend having them hung on three stainless, or stainless with PVD brass plate, lift-off hinges. Being able to lift them off makes it much easier to fit and remove e.g. for painting or carpetlaying. Fire hinges are stamped with a Euro mark.

here are some examples, with prices

Despite being badged own-brand, the ones I got have Premdor (?sp?) instructions inside the wrapping, for fitting and maintenance.
www.premdor.co.uk/downloads/fire-certificates

BTW veneered doors can be stained or varnished, but not oiled or waxed.

Wow a post from PigletJohn! I have arrived. Are the wickes doors decent quality? Our builder showed us a catalogue for an outfit called XL joinery- do you know them?

nope. but look for evidence that their doors have been fire-tested and certified. You will almost certainly need new door linings ("frames") to suit. Some people use painted linings with veneered doors, which is a bit cheaper.

the Wickes ones seem OK to me. I have seen solid oak fire doors in an office fit-out that I was told cost over a thousand. They were stupifyingly heavy.

Thanks PigletJohn that is very useful. I will speak to the builder about the door linings.

we have these

Just a point, if they have to be cut, you need to be careful if it slices into the bit that isn't oak, because then you can see it's not solid iyswim?

Thanks PPaka I noticed those in Howden's catalogue. Do they look as good as on the pic?

Also PPaka can you remember roughly how much you paid for them?

I think about £200 each, it was a couple ofyears ago.
I love them, they are very solid and strong looking.
Everyone comments on them

I especially like the solidity and weight of firedoors. They feel substantial.

They are also good for blotting out noise, due to their density. Put them on the bathroom and WC, even though you can probably get a matching lightweight door for a bit less.

I expect they will be fitted with furry smoke strip on the frames, which is actually a good draughtproofer. It has the side benefit of preventing teenage daughters from slamming the doors noisily.

I'm sorry to jump on the thread but I am also picking doors ( non fire) is it worth paying the extra for solid oak or are the oak coated ones ok? The price difference isn't huge but adds up for 8/9 doors!

Interesting that you say they shouldn't be oiled or waxed Piglet John. We have used osmo oil on ours and they came up perfectly. the www.ukoakdoors.co.uk
appears to recommend oil/wax. What has your experience been? Thanks

I have never put oil on a veneered door, the manufacturer's instructions usually say don't.

My guess is that they think it will attack the glue holding the veneer, or possibly it will soak in and make the door flammable.

You could write to the manufacturer and ask if it applies to yours.

Piglet john I only have sons,but the youngest at only seven is already fond of slamming doors if things don't go his way. He s going to get a shock then with the new fire doors!

Our fire doors are very "slammy". Really annoying. Shakes the house. We've tried adjusting the tension in the chain thing (as per google), to no avail.

Mine have Perko closers on them.

but have you got furry pile smoke strip on the frames?

Hi whataboutbob,

Not sure if this will help, but I stumbled across this company recently whilst searching for 'period' doors for my house. I didn't buy a fire door, but the one I did buy is of good quality at a very competitive price- cheaper than buying an original door (which need tons of work to refurbish/fit)

www.todd-doors.co.uk/internal-doors/fire-doors/oak-fire-doors/

Don't know where you are located, but they have three branches in the South/South West. I believe they deliver nationally, though I collected mine from Northolt, saving on the delivery costs.

Thanks Nootychoo. They look good and funnily the ones we want are exactly the same price as our builder has quoted for his XL Joinery ones (£220) so I suspect we will go for his ones, just for convenience sakes.
I had no idea there was such a world of fire doors out there!

I sometimes get the feeling that, like dishwasher tablets, and freshly squeezed fruit juice, they are all made in one big factory and just get different brand labels stuck on them.

No doubt I am wrong.

Just an update- our builder couldn t get the doors we wanted (Victorian 4 panel Shaker) so I have put in an order with Todd Doors. No going back! Helpful young woman on the phone.