Front Doors

[Gateshead2020]

What is your set up?

We currently have a white uPVC door on the porch to our house, and then a wooden solid door as you move from the porch to the entrance hall. We hate both and want to replace.

Do you two have different style doors? Two the same? Do you take the second one down?

It's all too confusing and husband and I like different options.

Please help me, wise mumnetters!

It depends on the set up of your porch? I only have one door because the outer porch is open on two sides, my dp have a large enclosed porch with a proper front door which is never left open, and a glass interior door which keeps draughts out since the porch is unheated. A neighbour has a sliding outer porch door which is never locked and frequently open, and a proper front door inside. Another friend has a patch which is really too small for two doors but still has two and is consequently annoying.

What is your set up like?

A door into the porch from outside, then a door into the house from the potch, gives best insulation and draughtproofing. In my own house I have an open porch so you can stand out of the rain while fumbling for your key, and leave parcels or secateurs there or have a boot-bench.

I am not fond of plastic doors, but some people like them.

You will need proper BS3621 locks on at least one of the doors. It must be the one you are more likely to actually lock. Usually it is the inner one which is often wooden so easy to fit. As it is out of the weather you can have stained hardwood and it will not need much maintenance. If you have a part-glazed door I now prefer laminated glass which is a bit dearer but resistant to breaking by burglars.

Do not have a letterbox near the door handle or lock as the opening can be used to manipulate it and gain entry. You can probably put one on the porch wall.

We’ve just put a replacement hardwood 2/3 rd glazed Double door on Our porch. We tend to leave that unlocked so parcels etc can be left in and if it’s raining or cold people can wait in the porch while the dog wuss at them.

got the original external Huge double wooden door as the inside doors. They have coloured obscured glass and make the hall v dark. But still prefer to keep them closed for the convenience of leaving the porch doors unlocked.

I've got a Victorian house. Small front porch which is open to the street. Other houses have put on an extra external door, but I wasn't keen on that look.

I went for a composite door which looks like wood on the outside but is plain white on the inside. It makes the hallway much brighter.

I worded that badly...it's not open to the street, it's open to my small front garden.

I have a b2l property with a portch and have 2 uPVC partly glazed doors. One back door and another identical but with different key inside leading into hall. I thought it would be good insulation and a bit more security. At home our portch is open so no portch door only front door. If I did have them I would want them identical back doors.