Changing uPVC front door and Frame for wooden. Looking for advice please

[Tigerpig]

We have been in our new house for a while now and the front door is pretty ugly - it's plastic and to top it off is completely out of place with the windows which are beautiful hardwood!

So we would like to change it for something more in keeping (wooden I think) we have a storm porch so it has weather protection. Who do we approach to do this for us? I'm not sure I want to use a big chain to do this.

We are in south Manchester if anyone has recommendations?

Is there anything we need to consider? Such as security or type of wood? I've read composite are a compromise for wood, are these any good or do they still look plastic?

Any advice would be appreciated

If it must be timber you need a good carpenter. They will be able to supply and fit the door. You will need to keep on top of painting/staining it.

I'd personally go for composite. They really do look like wood, virtually maintenance free and very, very secure. I have a black composite door.

Thanks for your reply bums

I will have to check out composite before I make any decisions.

I'm off to Google front door showrooms now

I agree about looking for a good carpenter before you do anything else, though I like wood. Nothing beats a panelled hardwood door.

Double glazing panels are cheaper than you think, and are made to order, so there is no difficulty in fitting them to windows of peculiar size. If you want windows, doors or frames made to abnormal sizes, a local joinery works can do it. They are just made of pieces of wood, after all.

We were quoted £2,600 for a new door and frame from a good joiner we've used before we're still thinking about it. I'd go for wood not composite.

Composite looks like composite imo, but it is low maintenance. If you do go for composite, be careful of the door furniture. I've seen some that would look like reasonably convincing period doors, but then have the same handles etc you find on upvc, which ruins the look.

Thanks for your responses everyone.

pigletjohn we are like you - we love wood! I'm aware that makes me sound a little strange! There is a local carpenter that I've found from researching who specialises in restoration etc. So I will give him a call and see what he says.

swedish thanks for the price estimate. It is expensive, but this is our forever home and the front door makes such a difference to the overall look.

miniwookie your point re the door furniture is a really good one. I really don't want it to look like a modern/plastic door

Thanks again everyone. Always find helpful people on this forum!

I much prefer the look of a wooden door. But our last two leaked when it rained giving us a more or less constantly wet carpet in the winter (door faces south west in a fairly rainy part of the country). So we gave in and went for a plastic one which looks like painted wood. I think you can get a good wooden door if you are prepared to pay enough for it, but I have to say I love my weatherproof plastic door and we now have a dry floor all the time!