Whether it’s looking a bit worse for wear, or you’ve just decided to change it, replacing the front door to your property can be a big step. This short article will give you some essential information to help you progress to choosing your new door with confidence. With the wealth of different choices in material and design, it can be not very clear initially, and it’s a good idea to take some time to think about what you want from your new doors.
The Different Materials
There is quite a range of materials that front doors can be made from, and some of the most common options are as follows:
- Timber – A traditional choice, it is strong, and a good insulator but can be affected over time by the elements unless well protected. You can make doors from engineered wood (multi-layered) or solid wood.
- Aluminium – A solid, low maintenance option, and when installed with a thermal break, offers excellent thermal efficiency, unaffected by the weather. It is now a popular choice for the modern front door, and it is more expensive than uPVC and composite doors.
- uPVC – A lightweight, low-maintenance material, although it can be susceptible to wear over time and become brittle. It is also a low-cost option, but the colour fades after a few years in direct sunlight.
- Composite – Reasonably strong and low in maintenance, gives good thermal efficiency and is cheaper than Timber and Aluminium.
- Steel – Generally only used if a higher level of security is required, and when it is finished correctly is unaffected by weather. Steel is at the higher end of the cost spectrum, and it is limited in design options.
Finding A Super Supplier
The first steps into the front door world can be confusing, but you can simplify matters by searching for suppliers near you. An internet search such as ‘aluminium doors Oxfordshire’ for example should bring up a wealth of installers for you to look at that work in the Oxfordshire area. Look at some of the websites you find and look at their products, but keep in mind that just because they sit at the top of an internet search doesn’t mean they are the best. Cross-reference any company you are considering using consumer websites like Trustpilot or Feefo, and this will give you a better idea of how well they do the job.
Take Your Time
Unless you’ve been highly unfortunate and your current door has been broken somehow, choosing a new front door isn’t something you need to rush in deciding. Having decided what sort of front door you want, take some time over the process of picking the supplier. Most after your initial contact will offer to visit your property to further the sales process. It can often involve giving you a special price that must be accepted straight away – stick to your guns, get the true cost, or send them on their way.
It is always the best practice to get at least three different quotes for any job or work you want to do, and you may as well get more quotes as you’ve nothing to lose. Having made your choice make sure you’ve covered all the issues from installation to aftercare, any good supplier will make sure you have all the information you might need.
