Installing new doors around your home requires some research into the different materials available. With timber often a desired choice for many homeowners, it’s often out of budget, which sees the choice come down to composite or uPVC doors.
uPVC doors are the most popular choice with USA homeowners but this is often because of the low price tag. While uPVC doesn’t come without its benefits, composite doors are well worth considering if you can afford a little extra budget.
We’ve compared composite and uPVC doors to help you find the best doors for your home whether you need them installing externally or internally.
What is a Composite Door?
As the name suggests, composite doors are made up of several different materials, including uPVC, glass, insulating foam, steel and wood.
With composite doors being made up of several materials, the thinking is that they’ll take on the benefits offered by them all to deliver your home with more than uPVC.
What is a uPVC Door?
Unplasticised Polyvinyl Chloride, which is the full name of uPVC, is a type of plastic that’s tough and hasn’t had any additives inserted when manufactured. It’s the most popular choice of material for UK homeowners looking to install new doors, mainly because of its low price tag.
Composite Doors: Advantages & Disadvantages
From high security to a lengthy lifetime, there are many advantages to having composite doors installed around your home.
Highly Secure Composite doors are highly durable, making them just about the most secure option for your new doors.
For extra security, if the door will feature some glass, choose laminated glass – the glass will shatter if hit but stay in place. Variety of Designs The look of your new doors is bound to be a high priority and with composite doors you’ll have a variety of styles and colours to choose between.
Should you be considering a timber door but are put off by the cost then you can install composite doors with the traditional charm of wooden doors. Low Maintenance It’s unlikely you’ll find a material that requires much less maintenance than composite doors. The occasional wipe down to keep them clean and drop of oil on the hinges is more than enough. Lengthy Lifetime Composite doors can have a lifetime of 35 years which means that you won’t need to worry about replacing them for many years to come.
The only downside to composite doors is that the many benefits come at a price. Composite doors tend to be more expensive than other materials available on the market. However, if you have the budget, then you’re making a very long-term investment.
uPVC Doors: Advantages & Disadvantages
uPVC is the most budget-friendly material when looking at new doors and, despite the low price tag, can still have lots to offer your home.
| Benefits of uPVC Doors | Description |
|---|---|
| Cost-effective | For anyone with a tight budget when it comes to installing new doors, uPVC is the best choice. |
| Highly Secure | Modern uPVC doors are built with a galvanised steel core, something that’s extremely difficult to break. |
| Low Maintenance | uPVC doors are similar to composite doors in the sense that they don’t require much maintenance. Again, the occasional wipe to keep them clean should be enough. |
| Insulation | uPVC doors act as an added layer of insulation for your home, keeping the warm in during the winter and also preventing outdoor noise from entering the home. |
| Lower Energy Bills | Thanks to uPVC doors being an added layer of insulation for your home, you could see your energy bills drop. |
Many homeowners favour uPVC because of its low price tag but it’s often a case of you get what you pay for when it comes to uPVC doors. They won’t add much in terms of design factor to homes, unlike other more expensive materials, which is why they’re commonly seen on new build homes, rather than traditional properties. Plus, over time they’re susceptible to discolouration and wear out to a point beyond getting fixed and need to be replaced.
While installed, uPVC doors will help the efficiency of your home which is great news for energy bills and the environment. However, as uPVC is a plastic-based materials, when it’s made (and later destroyed), it has a bad impact on the environment, releasing harmful fumes out into the atmosphere.