How much does a composite door cost?
What is the true cost of a composite door?
How much a door costs is a question we get asked every day. The real question is what are you paying for and are you getting value for your money?
After all, you are making an investment not only into the look of your home, but the security of you home also.
Cost has many factors which we will cover in the article. Varying from the door style itself, the glass designs you choose, even down the colour of the door and if it has any top lights (Windows) and/or side panels or flag windows.
Where it is impossible give an exact average cost for a composite door as there are so many varying factors, including some companies charging as much as £5,000 for a door (or trying to), we believe our costs are in the mid-range for what we do, and are up front with our pricing for anyone to see. No need to give us all you details to get a quote, we just provide full transparency with our costs.
In detail, we will cover the costs of the following:
- Door styles
- Door colours
- Hardware
- Glass
- Toplights & Side panels
Note: Costs will vary depending on if you are having the door installed or supplied only for you to fit yourself.
Door Styles
Doors styles vary from the new Modern, to the Traditional. Where traditional doors styles remain a favourite, we see the demand for more modern styles to suit the homes of tomorrow.
By far the twin vertical 4 panel Victorian style door remains the overall favourite as without doubt our most popular door, we see the rise and demand growing for the modern.
For the Victorian style door, we are seeing an average cost without side panels or top lights be around the £2,400 mark, where the more modern styles around the higher price of £2,800. The cost can get as low as just under £1,000, but have seen them as high as almost £5,000.
Note: It is important that when choosing the company to carry out the work of fitting a new door, you ensure that not only are they providing the right product fit for the purpose intended, but are good and reputable company with a great aftersales service.
Door Colours
With improvements in door colouring technology, composite doors can now be finished in a vast range of colours and tones. In addition to the doors, the door frames can also be colour matched to the doors. For the bolder, you can now mix-and-match between door and frame colour to suit individual taste.
Cost for colour can vary depending on the colour range available. Usually, a standard range will add a nominal amount to the overall cost with colours in the range of White, Red, Black, Blue and Green.
More non traditional colours such as Anthracite Grey, Olive, Aubergine, Silver Grey and Chartwell Green will add in the range of £100 to £300 to a door per side. Frames can also be colour matched with a standard frame with no top lights or side panels ranging between £100 to £300, with some companies been known to have charged in excess of £500 for this service. Matching finishing trims are included in the cost when you purchase a door from, We Do Doors.
Note: To complement the door, we are one of the only companies in the UK that colour match the internal and external door finishings.
To combat the effects of UV light and the effect it can have on the colour finishes, all colour finishes have a UV stabiliser built in to combat fading. This applies not only to the door and frame, but also to the door surround finishes that provide a full colour match.
Warning: Do Not Use Washing Up Liquid - When it comes to cleaning your door, it is critical that you do not use washing up liquid to clean your door as it contains solvents and will harm and dis-colour the surface of your composite door. To safely clean your door, we advise that you only use a light hand soap in warm water which is normally enough to do the job.
Door Hardware
In general terms, most door hardware is included in the cost of buying a composite door. Extras are usually offered over and above the initial door cost ranging from door knockers to spyholes. Additional hardware should only ever add a nominal amount the overall cost.
Within the ranges of hardware on offer, cost variation is usually down to the finish on the hardware with black and white furniture usually being the cheapest, moving to polished chrome, gold and graphite. Antique finishes including "Forged Black" and "Hardex Pewter" are of the more expensive range with stainless steel being at the top end of hardware cost.
Hardware should stand the test of time as electro plating door hardware is more a thing of the past when it comes to composite door hardware. Door hardware fitted close to industrial and coastal areas used to pit and tarnish badly, but modern manufacturing techniques ensure the longevity of finish.
Note: When you choose a bar handle, not only is the cost more for this handle type, it is also more expensive as the locking system is upgraded to what is known as a slam-shut lock.
Door Glass
What better way to make your new composite door stand out than with the vast range of door glass designs available from standard leads and bevels, to bespoke glazing designs incorporating sandblasted etched designs to glass tiles.
Glass cost can vary a lot due to either the simplicity or complexity of the glazing design. All door suppliers will invariably have differing costs when it comes to glazing, with some being more upfront and transparent when it comes to pricing.
Plain clear or obscured designs a still very popular not because they are the lease expensive, but because simplicity is sometimes all you need.
More bespoke designs tent to suit more our individual tastes due to the huge variety of options when it comes to glass for composite doors. Glass can also be tailored to suit individual homes with the option of etched sandblasted house numbers and house names.
Top Lights & Side Panels
Not all door openings are the same, and is why composite doors have the added option of having top lights, flag windows or side panels.
In effect, they are windows that are attached to the door by use of an aluminium door coupler. The coupler not only allows the joining of the door and frames, but provides additional strength and rigidity to the upvc door and side panel frames.
In terms of cost, we break this down to the three components:
- Side panels
- Flag windows
- Top lights
Side Panels - Of the three, the side panel is the largest in terms of size and price. With widths up to over 2 meters wide, the cost will vary depending on the overall size. The average side panel for a composite door can cost anywhere between £200 to £500. The colour of the frame also contributes to the cost but has an average of around £350.
Flag Windows - Much the same as side panel, flag windows are smaller in size. A typical flag window for a composite door will cost around £250.
Top Lights - The least expensive of the three is the toplight, but tends to be more customised with detailed etching of house names or house numbers using sandblasting techniques. Those additions to the glass design does enhance the look, but does also increase the cost. A typical top light (sometimes known as a "Fan Light" or "Borrowed Light") will cost anywhere between £150 to £400.
Note: Where its possible to leave in place existing top lights, flag windows or side panels and only replace the door, you will save on cost, but compromise on the overall look as you can tell the difference between the old and new. It is not uncommon for homeowners to try and save money this wal, only to later have the old removed as the difference is obvious, and all in the name of saving money.