When choosing a new door for your home, there are a number of important factors to take into consideration. Your door will be the first thing visitors and neighbours see about your house, so it’s important to select one that has the appearance you want. Security is another factor; a sturdy door helps prevent break-ins. Additionally the level of insulation offered by your door is important; a well-insulated door reduces heat loss and helps to keep your energy bills down. Lastly, durability is a key question: how long will the door last and how often will it have to be replaced?
Composite doors perform better than uPVC doors in all of these areas. For many years, uPVC doors have been a common sight on British homes. However, the advances incorporated in modern composites are causing many homeowners to upgrade to composite.
Most doors are available only in white or off-white colours, whereas the outer layer in a composite can be any of a wide variety of colours, with or without simulated wood effect. This layer also offers superior resistance to fading and weathering; doors often fade or yellow after being exposed to rain and sunlight for long periods. When selecting a new door, note the composition of the outer layer. Some older composites have a uPVC outer layer, but GRP skins are increasingly common, offering superior insulation and durability. The gasket that seals a door adds an unsightly black line around the frame, whereas composites integrate easily with a house’s overall design.
For security-conscious homeowners, composite doors offer increased weight and thickness. The thickness of a uPVC door is typically around half of a comparable composite, with the central layer of the composite being a dense, rigid foam that offers greater durability than the core of a uPVC door. The sturdy outer layer of the composite is also more resistant to damage than uPVC.
This added density also gives composites superior insulation compared to uPVC. By retaining heat better, composites cut down on energy expenditure, reducing the environmental impact of your home and reducing your energy bills at the same time.
Durability is another area in which composites can save money. Because they are more resistant to weathering and damage, this type of door will last longer than uPVC, needing to be replaced less frequently. As a result, although uPVC doors may be less expensive initially, the savings in energy and replacement costs make the long-lasting composite the more economical option over the long term. composite doors south wales