Composite Doors Vs Wooden - Please Help!

[corine39]

Hi

I was just after some expert opinions before taking the plunge. I have a rental property with an old wooden door and side panels that needs replacing. Letting agent is pushing me to go down the composite door route (see picture below) and has a quote for £2800. I would prefer a wooden front door and have requested quotes but am being told by the letting agent that wooden would be more expensive.

£2800 is obviously a lot of money and I want to make the right decision. Any advice on which option to go for would be much appreciated!

 

[DAZB]

Composite doors have their advantages but £2800 is top end money. Have a look at this site, click on EXTERNAL and choose any of the tabs to see the range. You will need to find a fitter but you would save a huge lump of the agents estimate.

Direct Doors ™ | Buy Doors Online | Front Doors, Internal Doors

Direct Doors has over 30 years experience with doors, frames and door furniture. Buy front doors and internal doors online and with free delivery to most mainland UK post codes.

www.directdoors.com

 

[ronniecabers]

£2800 is a lot for a comp door, that really is top end and probably a bespoke colour with a slma lock. Is it a national that's quoted that , or a local company . I would say you could easily knock 1k of that price with a local company

 

[ronniecabers]

£2800 is a lot for a comp door, that really is top end and probably a bespoke colour with a slma lock. Is it a national that's quoted that , or a local company . I would say you could easily knock 1k of that price with a local company

Oh hang on just seen the picture... toplights and side panels. . Actually 2800 isn't that far out the way BUT wood WILL be much more if it has to be custom made , which I very much suspect as I don't think even the big manufacturers of wood are unlikely to have that size or style as a stock item.

 

[crank39]

That door is going to be £1000/1200 on its own with the top light plus the two side panels plus fitting, the price is more or less right.

What is be concerned about is the shudder or whip in the frame when closing the door because of the side panels, composite doors have a brush pile fur draught excluder around the frame which the door needs to overcome when opening and closing creating a bit of resistance, it's been well discussed on here, I know it depends on the property but composites feel better when the handle side is fixed directly to the wall without a side panel, if that's not possible and side panels are required then without question you need to use HEAVY DUTY aluminium frame couplers between the door and side panel frames to stiffen it all up, do not have that made in one, it'll wobble in a strong wind.

 

[corine39]

Thank you so much for your kind replies, really helpful, really appreciate it.

crank39 - noted what you said about the heavy-duty aluminum frame couplers and will ask the question.

I attach a photo of the front door, side and top panels. This was between tenancies, the mess, wheelbarrow, window frame etc was left from the previous tenant, a builder, and has since been tidied and garden re turfed. I really would like to keep the glass panels as they match the front window. However, my letting agent says these are single glazed. Could there be replaced with the same double glazed?

What would be the best solution?

Many thanks for any ideas!

 

[ronniecabers]

Yes you should be able to get those replicated in a double glazed unit, we do those as part of our business but I'm not naming or advertising ( as this is against the site rules ), but just proving that yes they can be replicated. Without seeing the exact pattern I don't know if we could replicate exactly or just very closely, as yours look like traditional stained glass whereas double glazed modern versions are basically lead and film and not everything can be replicated exactly.

 

[corine39]

Oh thanks for this roniecabers. By replicated you mean make the door and panels all upvc, foget composite, with the glass being lead and film to try and replicate this as much as possible?

 

[ronniecabers]

Door could.still be composite, half glazed , and decorative glass made to match in door, sidelines and toplights if currently in all those areas.
Even if you go down the line of a wooden frame and door , the decorative glass can still be made for it in double le glazing , as it can in upvc

 

[corine39]

ronniecabers - thank you once again. Will try and send you a pm now if I can.