New front door

[elvislives2012]

Hi. Advice please! We live in the sticks in a house that is about 50 years old. I think it's got the original front door which is wooden and now very draughty so needs replacing.
I've had two quotes for a new one. Wooden £2k and composite £1.5k but I can't decide on what to get. I like the look and feel of wood but does to stay draughty? Composite warm but not really in the style of the house.
Any thoughts?

You can get some really nice composite ones. Good quality prob no more than £1100 ish.

Wooden. If you go down this route, then invest the time treating it several times with (Ronseal) wood preserver fluid. Make sure the frames are treated as well before installed. Joiners will tell you the wood is all treated (it is) but it doesn't last. Our old house we had to have wooden door and DH did that and they have endured years (we knew the buyers) and they are so glad we treated them.

I must admit I'm glad we don't have the fag of painting though as it is time consuming or expensive

I'm getting a new front door in a few weeks It's a Victorian house. Ordered a red composite door in a Victorian style.

A wood door will require maintenance - even a modern door and I just can't be arsed. Life's too short to be painting windows and doors ever few years.

I choose my fitter well and the windows he has put in are very very authentic. I love them. Low maintenance but look great and very warm

I paid just under 3 k for a front and back door and a small sash window South east.

Thanks for the replies. You raise a good point about maintenance. I work full time and have two kids. I can't be arsed with painting doors

I’d go for composite, the previous owner of our house put on an expensive Oak (veneered) door with beautiful glass panes.
Unfortunately they used the wrong varnish and the veneer is now lifting.

We've just got a quote for a lovely cottage style composite door for our late 1920s village house. Quite a few of the houses (all same style) in the village have similar and they look really nice. Much better than our current ugly upvc one that was here when we bought the house

I like wooden doors, which commonly last 100+ years.

They need less maintenance if they are protected from the weather by at least an open porch (often found in older houses).

They can be fitted with draught stripping, like any other door. Modern frames tend to have a groove for it. I think the furry pile type is best.

I got a lovely composite door a few months ago. It looks fantastic, it's solid compared to the previous one & it's coloured which I always wanted. Cost just under £1000

@PigletJohn

I like wooden doors, which commonly last 100+ years.

They need less maintenance if they are protected from the weather by at least an open porch (often found in older houses).

They can be fitted with draught stripping, like any other door. Modern frames tend to have a groove for it. I think the furry pile type is best.

Yes ours would be in a porch and east facing so no heavy rain/wind/sun

Wooden door will be fine then. Paint it every ten or twenty years depending how fussy you are.

I might get Accoya if I was buying again, or get a joiner to make me one in solid durable hardwood. These days, nominally hardwood doors are usually veneered.

This is the quote we received recently. We might not go for the specially designed glass to get the price down a bit but this is hand made and in an very hardwearing wood

I would go for a composite door, they come in such a wide range of styles and colours you are bound to find one that suits your house.
They are very secure, virtually maintenance free, a bit cheaper and have good insulation.

I went for wooden as much cheaper than composite and will last longer. TBH composite aren't as long lasting as people think. I do have a porch as older style house and the door was under £500

Good quality composite will be £1350 at least with door furniture and fitting. I have one that is 12 years old on the Cornish coast and is still perfect. I would be inclined to have composite for a 1960s/70s house.

I have a big oak door that is 10 years old at home and they need tlc. Yes, it will last but it was mega expensive. Cheap softer wood won't last that long and can shrink, hence draughts. Composite does not.

I’m with @PigletJohn - wooden door every time. Same with windows.
Our front door is an 130 year old wooden one and apart from needing painting now as it probably hasn’t been painted in 30 years it’s in excellent condition. We’re also about to have new stained glass window pains and top light as someone has unfortunately put plain glass at some stage over the years.