Composite front doors - how do they hold up?

[PattyPan]

Trying to get a new front door as we currently have a wooden one which doesn’t fit in the frame properly. It seems like composite is probably the way forward but when we went to a showroom this morning the guy was telling us about how there are composite doors with a foam core and some with a wooden core and because our door gets the sun (west facing, no porch) we would need a wooden core one to prevent it from warping.

Naturally the wooden core ones are more expensive (he said about £2k for them whereas we have been quoted £1.6k for a foam core one) so MNers, can you tell me about your composite door experiences? Do they actually warp? Do I really need to pay £2k for a decent door?

Anyone?

We’ve had one in a rental for over 10 years now. Dark blue, cost at the time was about £1k so presumably not a wooden core. Still fine and looking very nice.
I’m not sure how much direct sun it gets though.

We are having a white composite door put in for £860 so your price does seem a lot. Unless you have side windows and having all singing and dancing colours and accessories.

I have a composite door, gets full sun all day, had it for 4 years now - still ok.

Occasionally hear it make a noise - maybe expanding or contracting?! - but doesn’t seem to have warped in any way. (Keeping my fingers crossed now - I hope I haven’t tempted Fate!).

Oh and our one cost £900 back then - 2017

I hate ours. It may have a totally impenetrable lock, but you can put a hand or coat hanger through the letterbox and open the door. Sometimes it just blows open. I'd prefer a wooden one with two old fashioned locks.

They are ripping you off!!

I have had both my front and back doors as wooden core composite doors, fitted last year and it was less than 2k for both, and that included having the super expensive security locks.

That said they are worth it, I live on a main road and the noise reduction is amazing and they keep the heat in loads better than the upvc ones

We are looking to get a new composite door too. We have been quoted £2.6k. We have side panel and a top panel too. I thought it was expensive but after getting three quotes they were all the same.

Can I ask the brands that you have all used?

Watching with interest! We went to one of these showrooms where they talk at you for ages about foam this, essential that ( yawn) then he sat us down and tapped away with his calculator for an age . Why? What was he adding up? It’s a DOOR. And presenting us with an eye watering amount. Similar I think to you. It’s a DOOR. How is it so difficult and so much? How?!

I've had a Rockdoor for a few years now, it's holding up well and very solid.

Thank you everyone! We are just getting a door, no sidelights or toplight. Thinking of the design that has a little semi circle of glass at the top so not a particularly fancy one.

Do you mind saying what companies you used @ItsSnowJokes & @Terminallysleepdeprived ?

Ours is about 12 years old now. Wooden core, cost about £800 at the time. Full sun all day and it looks like new with a quick wash over. Ours is dark blue.

We have a palladio door. Not sure what the core is but we have had it about 6 years and it gets the full afternoon sun and hasn’t warped or faded

www.thedoorsite.co.uk/

This is where I got mine from. They came highly recommended by a friend who is a police officer

I paid 1.7k, door with an arch window above it. The cost can depend on the style. I like composite and had one at the last house, it held up well and never had any problems with it. This one seems even sturdier, the glass is triple glazed.

I am very happy with my door. It has a 5 point locking system and is very solid. The letter box is impossible to.put a hand through from outside. You can choose any letterbox/ spy hole/ handle you want for a composite door and change them if you want. I have had mine for 5 years, it cost around £1200 and it is good as new.

Ours is south facing - very sunny spot and no problems at all. We have had it over 10 years. We do need to lift the handle to make sure it is shut properly but that is 2nd nature so not a problem. It also looks as good as new.

We're waiting for our new door at the moment. Will be £1600 for a wood core
Composite - Endurance door for a local firm. We found the wood core doors 2-300 more than the foam core. Wood is more secure but foam better on energy saving.

Some designs were more expensive and the bar handles more than a traditional handle. Worth shopping around and trying different options for design.

I’ve had one on for 12 years now, it’s faded but still fully operational. The decorator said he could paint it and you can change the handles and letter box (mine are faded brass).

As the upvc garage door is knackered I’ve ordered two new ones from the same local well respected company I bought the original composite one from. £2500 for both. Both dark grey cottage style, one with a small diamond pane.

Only issue is the wait, will be 18 weeks from order when they’re finally fitted.

@PattyPan

Thank you everyone! We are just getting a door, no sidelights or toplight. Thinking of the design that has a little semi circle of glass at the top so not a particularly fancy one.

Do you mind saying what companies you used @ItsSnowJokes & @Terminallysleepdeprived ?

Mine is a local independent company. If you are in Bournemouth I can recommend them! I would steer away from the big companies. They are always a rip off. Mine has a 10 year insurance backed guarantee. I have used the company in 3 different properties (for windows and doors) and they have always been great.

Ask around friends and coworkers and you will probably get a good recommendation.

What type of foot do you have now? How has it held up in the sunshine?

I am in Reading so a bit too far @ItsSnowJokes but thank you! We have had 3 quotes from local companies so I am beginning to wonder if it’s just more expensive here. I might try asking on NextDoor as unfortunately I still don’t know many people here, especially who own their houses.

@NeilBuchananisBanksy we have a wooden door at the moment. We have only been in this house a year so I don’t know how old it is but it’s got lots of chips and there are gaps between the door and frame so I am wondering if it swelled up and the previous owner had to take bits off (or whether it was just crap to start with! All the diy here has been bodged)

I'm contemplating a new front-The opening to your house is important to get it right and don't mind paying a bit extra for expert installation. Most prices quoted include installation. It doesnt matter how good the door is, if the surrounding framework is not done properly, the door will be useless.
-Solidor composite door sounds impressive but not seen a style I like.
-Rockdoor - great styles and colour but would never buy a door that is foam filled, upvc plastic cover-even if it has an aluminum frame.

• Solidor and other brands who install proper solid wood front door is just too expensive and more than double the price.

We are about to get a red front door and I asked if it would fade because I was worried about that - sounds like it will be OK, there is an open porch over it so that may be some protection.

Anything other than white is expensive, even the windows. We're getting white inside and wood effect outside and that's bumped the price up by about a quarter!

For anyone interested we have gone for a local-ish company who are charging £1390 for the design and features we want. I asked the salesman about the warping that the company A had mentioned and he said he questioned why company A admitted to selling substandard doors and that he had one of this company's doors on his own house too. I know he was selling it but he was ultra low pressure so hopefully it will be ok. It has a 10 year guarantee as well, including on the colour. We have gone for a turquoise colour so not really dark but not especially light either.