Front Doors

[Reed88]

Ok so if I'm not mistaken - I can't find a front door thread.

What do you guys look for in a front door - appearance being the most important obviously but what else?

Security - locks. Glazing? What colours are people opting for at the moment?

Composite or plastic upvc? Wooden?

I was actually surprised at all the different options out there.

There are quite a number of threads - they tend to be about specific types/brands/suppliers. Starting point for me would be the age of the property, what you have at the moment and why you want to replace it.

We're in the process of renovating and have just had ours fitted, we've gone for a composite, the front of the house will be rendered all white (eventually) and we have black windows so we fancied a bright door, I had a couple of wobbles after the order went in but I'm made up with it now.
Granted it isn't to everyone's taste but who cares it's brightened up the street 😂

It’s certainly done that! Hopefully you are not selling the house soon!

If the house is older, think about what would suit it regarding when it was built. Go for a Victorian style if it’s Victorian. Ditto Edwardian. If it’s 60s, there are some great options that suit that period. Vertical glass and thinner panels for example. Look at manufacturers web sites. Houzz too. Full of ideas.

Where I have a flat in London, (Victorian) it’s still very pale grey or pale stone with chrome door furniture in the neighbourhood and most doors are wood. Have your number on the door and a door knocker as well as the lock and letter box. It finishes the door. Don’t go for fancy glass unless the house screams out for it or had it originally. I just have opaque in my door for the flat.

If you choose wood, you’ll have to paint it every few years. Don’t go too cheap. The best composite doors are £1200 plus but you are buying kerb appeal if you choose appropriately and tastefully!

Security is top of the list.
We replaced our manky wooden door with a solid steel one, and a high security lock, steel frame. You can get these doors to match the style of the property, however I would not ever use the company again, wish I had used someone else, as they are appalling (Matadors). There are others which are much better.

I have noticed that a lot of the houses now have modern doors that look like offices or spa entrances, they don't fit with the houses at all as it is not permitted to change the appearance of the front of the house, so it looks rather odd, even if it does reflect the style of the interior.

We got a composite one from reputable local firm. They were doing an offer at the time.

It's nothing amazing, looks a darn sight smarter though!

I would want a door that was in keeping with the property. Older houses demand wooden doors - not cheap pine ones though. It’s how you greet visitors and make a first impression at selling time.

Oh that looks beautiful mommatotwoplus! Oh no I absolutely love the colour.

I remember reading somewhere that coloured doors are really on trend at the moment.

Wowfudge - I didn't realise haha! Well we can start a new one :-)

It's for my parents, not myself. They are rubbish with technology so have asked me to do some research online.

I think the house is from the 1930's but I'm not sure. At the moment they have a dark green (composite?) door but are looking to replace it. It looks a bit outdated I think they said.

Thats really good advice BubblesBuddy! And whoahhh had no idea front doors cost that much?! But I guess it is the front of your home and needs to be secure!

Yeah I can't see my parents painting the door that often haha so definitely not wood!

ToadOfSadness - I noticed that too and came across these doors - they are so futuristic and just wow but expensive and not for my parents small terraced 1930s home.

But look how gigantic these doors are!!!! They are freaking huge. Would look good on a bigger property though.

www.arkaywindows.com/product/pirnar

MissMarplesKnitting - great username by the way! I do like the new composite doors - way slicker.

CherryPavlova - ok another great username, mine is really boring. I agree with keeping in line with the aesthetics of the property. But hmm not sure about the upkeep of wooden doors.

Ok someone please teach me how to do that reply and quote thing.

Oh I also found these ones: endurancedoors.co.uk/

Very pretty and would be in-keeping with a 1930s house? Although I think this is the brand - would have to find a local company who has them.

Bubbles funnily enough a lot of people have complimented the door and some have asked us for the companies name to do theirs, so no I don't think it'll knock £££ of an asking price 🙄

Mommatotwoplus I love your door - did you get it done by a local company or a bigger company? Cost wise was the door a reasonable cost? I want to get a composite door but have been put off by thinking they cost in the region of £2 or £3k

Think of your postie and avoid low letterboxes. These seem to fashionable on modern style front doors at the moment and there are more and more appearing. It's not always easy getting back up when you have a heavy bag on your back!

Thumbcat - that is a very good point! How low are we talking?! I haven't come across any low ones before!

We’ve just had a new composite door and coloured frame fitted this week

It cost £300 extra for the frame to be sprayed to match but we are very pleased with it

We got our resprayed by a specialist firm, it cost about £300 and has transformed the front of our house. We could never have done it ourselves.

We had a new door a few months ago. It is red with the house name etched in the glass. We have a separate post box on the wall so no letter box so no drafts.

I would prefer a wooden door, but we will probably be renting the place out (reluctantly) for a while at least, so I think we will go with a composite door.

I’m finding it difficult finding a door I like that suits the house too. I’ll probably go with grey, I’m boring like that 🤣

Rock door has always been praised a lot on MN. We got one 18 months ago it is lovely and so much more nicely made than any others we have seen.

We got ours from a local firm who I couldn't recommend enough! They're in the NW of your near?
It cost £1300 for the door and the front with the glass panels, it was that bit more because it was off the higher end colours.

Not made of plastic.

We just had a new door put in. Made by a local carpenter in maghogany, it’s gorgeous, two side lights and a fab light at the top and cost far less than a composite equivalent and we got to draw out exactly what we wanted.