uPVC and composite are two of the most popular front door materials, with composite doors becoming more and more prevalent in recent years.
Your front door is a key aspect of your property and as such, you should carefully consider and select the most appropriate material. Below we’ve detailed the advantages of both composite and uPVC doors.
Composite
Composite doors consist of a combination of materials, including steel, timber, insulating foam and glass, enclosed within GRP (glass reinforced plastic).
Composite doors require very little maintenance and are extremely resilient, with a life expectancy of around 30-35 years.
These doors are particularly strong, featuring reinforced cores and state of the art locking systems. Of the two materials, composite is the most secure.
Composite doors tend to be thicker than uPVC doors by around 16mm, meaning that they’re usually the better option in terms of energy efficiency.
When it comes to appearance, composite doors offer the superior choice. You are able to select from an array of options to create the bespoke door of your dreams. Composite doors can offer the look of an authentic, traditional timber door but with the added benefits of being easy to maintain and very secure.
Composite doors are more expensive than their uPVC counterparts however the additional expense is justifiable considering that these doors are constructed using more complex materials and methods.
uPVC
uPVC (unplasticised polyvinyl chloride) doors are made from plastic.
These doors offer exceptional value. In terms of durability, uPVC doors generally have a life expectancy of 20-25 years. Whilst this isn’t quite as long as composite doors, uPVC is still an effective, long-lasting door material.
As with composite, uPVC is low maintenance. To preserve uPVC doors, you’ll just need to give them a wipe down every now and then with a damp cloth.
The uPVC finish is naturally weatherproof and can therefore withstand most weather conditions.
Whilst these doors are predominantly made from plastic, the frames and panels are made from steel. This ensures that these doors are robust and secure.
uPVC is also thermally efficient and so offers high levels of energy efficiency.
uPVC doors do offer many of the benefits offered by composite doors however in terms of appearance, composite typically triumphs over uPVC as uPVC doors have more of a plastic finish.
Composite vs uPVC
Both composite and uPVC are fantastic door materials which each offer the following advantages:
- Great lifespans.
- Little maintenance required.
- Increased security.
- High energy efficiency and subsequent energy savings.
If you’re finding it difficult to reach a decision, the determining factors are likely to be appearance and cost. Composite doors offer excellent aesthetics however uPVC doors are the more affordable option. Contact our team if you’d like us to prepare a quote for you for a new front door.