New front door… where to begin?

[thewarden]

We need a new front door. I have no idea where to even begin with looking, a google search and it’s pretty overwhelming.

Any advice/tips?

How many exits from your property and are others PVC? PVC doors will distort in a fire and it may be more difficult to get out/ the fire brigade to get in. So having PVC doors on every exit not the best choice. You should have a composite door or wood door on one exit.

Dont have the postbox at the bottom of the door and dont have glass all the way down unless someone deals with post when you are aware. You dont want accumulated post visible through the door.

Wouldnt recommend our supplier as while the door is fine I wasnt totally happy with the fitting.

We used a local firm for our inside porch door and are now also getting them to replace our front door. They explained all the options and helped us design something we liked. The first company we tried just talked in jargon and didn’t explain anything, but we liked this company as they helped us understand all the options properly and so we would have also felt equipped to talk to others if we’d wanted more quotes. They came and did a survey to check what we wanted was suitable, measured up etc. I can’t imagine not just getting one company to do the whole thing.

Also, be prepared to make a lot of decisions from the type of lock (do you want it to lock as soon as it shuts or only if you actively lock it) to the style and finish of the postbox and handle to the style and privacy level of any frosted glass panes.

We had a Solidor in a house we rented out. That was at least 10 years ago and, driving by the other day, it still looks the best in the street. Pale grey with chrome door furniture. This will add to the price and we just had plain etched glass. Around £1350 for taking old door out and fitting new one.

For our own house we have oak - Bespoke to my design and obviously a lot more money. No one else has it though!!

Glad to read this. Just waiting for an installation date for ours!

I had some solid oak ones a few years back downstairs which ranged from £220-£320 but I had glass panels in some etc.

Upstairs this time I'm not going solid oak. Just bog basic ones for £50 each.
I've never replaced a door frame when I've had doors put in either. So that's not required. Just hinges/door handles and the door.

For an external door you do usually have the frame replaced, and if changing eg from pvc to composite this would be a must.

Aaah apologies. I thought you meant internal doors which is what I meant. :)

Agree for external door, you do need to get the frame replaced too.

Make sure you get them to put a decent cylinder in (ask for a 3* cylinder).

No complaints about West Yorkshire Windows. They also do doors!

recommend these guys, they do custom high quality door at affordable price. And we had some wild quotes! https://www.mortondoors.co.uk/