Door quality between Wickes, Travis Perkins etc?

[SunnyUpNorth]

I am looking to buy some of the cottage oak style fire doors and I’ve noticed loads of the big retailers selling them eg Wickes, TP, Howdens, b&b, lots of online suppliers. There is quite a big price variations with the Wickes ones being the most expensive and also a lot heavier.

Is it worth paying a bit extra for those, around £40-50 per door? Or are they all pretty similar?

Travis Perkins owns Wickes. I think Wickes doors are very good quality, thick and with decent hinges. Comparable to John Lewis which is more expensive. They feel satisfying to open/ close. DIY kitchens offer a similar quality/ price ratio (perhaps a bit cheaper) but they are relatively new so I’m unsure how they perform in the longer term. I have heard they also use Blum hinges but the entry level quality? Soft close is a feature that will fall victim to inferior quality after a few years. I think Symphony are pretty decent quality for the price.

Howdens and Ikea are both good value for money but they are thinner and less robust- it would still take quite a lot to damage them, but they are not as durable as thicker more high quality finished doors. They are basically budget kitchens but good nonetheless. The doors for example have poorer quality runners than Wickes/ DIY kitchens.

B&Q and Wren are not great. I would steer clear of those.

I suppose Wickes offer one of the better products on the way towards bespoke which are mega money.

But it doesn’t matter how much you spend- a bad design or fit can result in a shit kitchen.

Doh sorry!! I quickly read your OP and wrongly assumed you were talking about kitchens- ignore me!

Can you post to the product please as I’m interested in these types of doors (there’s a mish mash of styles in house I’m buying)

Thought you were going a bit off piste there. They all sell fire and non fire versions of the same doors but obv the fire ones are more expensive. Just lost all my links so will try again...

B&q

wickes

howdens

Todd doors

travis perkins

We've got these https://www.howdens.com/doors/internal/hardwood-doors/worcester-oak-internal-door-obj-sku-family-dic6460

We've got them in non fire doors on the ground floor arms fire doors on the upper floor. They are good quality. You can get these exact doors in numerous places. I googled the description when I was door shopping and found them in different places.

Thanks savoy. The style I’m looking at looks the same in all brands and I’m trying to decipher if there is any discernible difference. Might try and pop into a few of the shops.

Yesterday we bought the non fire-door version of the Wickes one you linked to. It is solid and well built and we're really pleased with the quality for the money.

Oh that’s helpful, thanks Cutesy

The fire doors Wickes sell are made by Premdor. It's a major UK maker and seems OK to me. I don't know how many mass-market UK door factories there are, but I have an idea there are only a few, and they will be supplying big chains with own-brands.

You will probably find the maker's label on the top of the showroom door (the Fire Certification reference is put there so that building inspectors can check it even after the door has been fitted. You are not supposed to plane or saw the tops of fire doors for that reason. Rather than stand on a ladder they usually hold their phone above their head and photograph it.

Sometimes you will see the maker's installation instruction leaflets showing through the protective packaging in the racks.

If you can find out the makers the other retailers sell, you can work out if it's the same thing at a different price. You can also try a local door specialist (there are such retailers) who can order from the major suppliers and is more likely to offer a deal if you buy several. local timber merchants will also carry or order them.

On the makers website you will find a much greater range of styles and sizes than any retailer can hope to stock. This can be helpful if you have less-common sizes.

BTW Travis Perkins owns Wickes and numerous other brands. Prices vary.

Thanks all. After lots of thinking I decided on the style I linked to but in white...but TP don’t do it and Wickes are sold out, typical!
I’ve found some on Screwfix for a good price, does anyone have any experience of Screwfix doors?

Otherwise Todd Doors have them but would work out about £200 more.

The Screwfix ones are the Jeld Wen brand which I think I have seen mentioned on here before as being ok?

this one?

click "how to buy"

oops, I think it has the vile "fake woodgrain" finish.

I can’t see a close up of the door on your link.

It’s this one
www.screwfix.com/p/jeld-wen-newark-cottage-interior-fire-door-primed-1981-x-762mm/8843g

I shall start searching through descriptions for the word ‘smooth’!

These Todd door ones look smooth in the close up and the word smooth features several times in the description. Might be a better bet?

Well spotted PJ, I’ve just seen the dreaded words ‘Woodgrain effect’ on the Screwfix ones 😬

Todd door

I like the look of the Todd doors. Some of them are rather dear, but it says they have an MDF skin. Some fire doors have changed to a fibreboard skin which I think is not as good or as hard. Maybe it is easier to put the graining on.

This wouldn't affect the fireproofing, which is provided by the dense inner blank panel.

Thanks PJ, I’m going with them.