Alternative to Solidor?

[EarSlaps]

We're looking for a new front door and have had quotes from a couple of places for Solidor. We are after the Palermo with a long handle inside and out, a letterbox and a frosted panel either side.

The quotes from both came to just over £2,500 . One company hadn't used Solidor before and was shocked at the price.

Does anyone have a recommendation for a stylish, contemporary composite door that might come in a little bit cheaper? A lot of the brochures seem to be full of more traditional styles that wouldn't suit our house.

This picture shows the sort of thing I like, but it must be able to have a letterbox, I don't want to have an external box.

I would go for a wooden door and frame. At that price you could have solid hardwood with diamond-encrusted knobs.

Would solid wood need lots of upkeep and repainting though? Really trying to avoid anything that will need too much work!

does it have any protection, such as a porch or canopy?

I haven't done my door in 20 years, it is beginning to look a bit dull on the outside.

No, no protection at all and it gets some pretty full on western sun. There is currently a 'delightful' traditional style, wood effect uPVC number there which has buckled and cracked (and needs to be shut about 3 times on a sunny day before it closes properly). Plus I'm in the South West where we get biblical amounts of rain at times. Hence my desire for something solid and low maintenance. But not £2,600 worth of solid...

Wouldn't be room to put a canopy on either.

Have a look at endurance doors.

We were after one of Italia range too, but couldn't justify the cost.

We're getting one of the endurance ascent collection now, it has similar spec to solidor in terms of security and composition. I didn't want solid wood (too much work!) or upvc foam filled (not very solid) do a composite seemed right for us

I think their Bredon one is similar to what you are after, and you can upgrade to the pull handle and auto lock

Ours should be installed in the next few weeks so fingers crossed I still love it!

I just had a solidor for £850 including fitting. Is your door larger than normal?

Good tip thanks cujo. I'll have a look into those.

Yes, Jean, we have two side panels so it is basically the width of two doors. Plus I think the Italia range are more expensive than others. And that long handle I like.

There's a house a few doors down that has a door almost exactly like the one we want but a different colour. Would they think I'm bonkers if I knock on the door and ask where they got it? They have a Porsche though so maybe they did spend £2600.

This job should have been no more than £1,700.00 supply & install..

I've been looking for a stable door and am really struggling. Have you looked at rockdoors?

Oh bloody hell, zombie thread

I'd go for rockdoors, stylish and secure. Have to disagree with piglet John though. Wooden doors are not as secure and will up your insurance premiums.

why do you think that?

My insurance policy demands external doors with BS3621 locks, or multipoint if it's a door that can't have them.

Wooden doors can take BS3621 locks.

Sorry John but, I know it for several reasons. I fit all kinds of windows and doors, my mates wife works for and insurance broker and I have tested it out on a couple of compare the market sites.
A BS3621 lock is the best lock for a wooden door and I would recommend it but, insurance companies prefer multi locking systems.

My new Rock door was fitted yesterday, I'm really pleased with it as it is so solid, shuts noiselessly and looks very elegant. DH processed the order so I can't remember the name of the model, it is a 6 panel door with the top two panels in frosted glass, and it is green - a really good colour. The fitter ( Value Doors) was great and finished the surround beautifully.

We got a Rockdoor fitted last year, had looked at Solidor first and the door that we ended up with looks just like the Solidor one we wanted but £600 cheaper. Really happy with the Rockdoor. There are probably cheaper options though, it still wasn't cheap!

Searching for Solidor doors here and found this thread and have the same questions. They are expensive to install but prepared to pay for the opening to my house! Solidor composite doors have layers of timber composite making it very robust.
About Rockdoor mentioned in this thread- I love their designs more than Solidor - they have exactly what I want - BUT their composite doors are just foam filled with UPVC over this. I just cannot see it lasting longer than a wood door!

@Villagernumber9

Sorry John but, I know it for several reasons. I fit all kinds of windows and doors, my mates wife works for and insurance broker and I have tested it out on a couple of compare the market sites. A BS3621 lock is the best lock for a wooden door and I would recommend it but, insurance companies prefer multi locking systems.

I would change the insurance company. There is nothing as long lasting than a solid wood door with BS locking ystems!