What is a composite door?
A composite door is referred to so due to its “composition” of different materials. This combination of materials is designed to present the best in performance for insulation and other advantages over standard wooden doors.
What are the advantages of composite doors?
Compared to wood, you get the same sturdiness and appearance with a composite. However, the composite’s purpose-built features offer several advantages.
They’re more weather resistant
One of the important aspects (especially in British weather!) is that composite doors offer better weather resistance than standard timber ones. A composite’s GRP (glass reinforced plastic) surface protects it against rain, while a wooden door can soak inwards and deform, thus losing integrity.
They’re more thermally efficient
Single-layered wood doesn’t prevent heat from escaping your home; composites on the other hand, with their layered construction, including internal foam insulation and glass with warm edge spacer technology, does not allow an easy path for heat to escape.
They’re less maintenance needy
Wood needs to be painted, and then repainted to keep its new appearance, whereas a composite door is UV stable and thus won’t blister and chip as wood can. It also takes little more than a damp cloth to wipe clean a composite.
They include high-security features
Wooden and composite doors are both sturdy, but the former can fail if it warps or bows as a result of intolerance to the environment. The resilient composite, as well as being weather resistant, includes a tough GRP skin, toughened glass, and a Yale brand multi-point locking system that secures the door along several points.
What is the origin of composite doors?
The main reason for their existence was to take the place of timber, and improve in areas of quality and security.
They are fairly recent
It was in 1996 that the company Rockdoor introduced composite doors to UK homes. They were conceived out of a need for more secure doors.
They were intended to replace timber
With the same grained look of wood, robustness, and range of styles to match, composites were intended to easily replace timber doors and were purposely designed to offer better security and insulation.
They offered new colours
Commonly available door colours were oak, mahogany and white. The first composite doors came in red, green and black, which weren’t readily available outside of painting.
What types of composite doors do you offer?
Designed to take the place of wooden doors, you’ll find that the range of composites available to you is diverse.
Front or back doors
Sharing a large number of designs as wooden doors, you can easily have a composite replace one on the front or back of your home.
Stable doors
For select styles, it is possible to have a stable composite door. Both sections have their own locking systems, and can operate separately or as one.
French doors
Also known as double doors, two composites are fitted within a large single frame and secured with a special locking system.
Traditional styles
The closest to wooden door styles seen around Britain, traditional composite styles chiefly consist of twin solid panels in the bottom section of the slab, and various configurations of half-moon, small square and twin vertical panels. Glass for these doors tends to be bevelled and use lead, while contemporary designs add a modern twist.
Contemporary styles
These have a flat slab and feature a variety of glass panel configurations, with some such as the Lincoln, Hampshire and Warwick collectively having central and off-set variants. The matching contemporary glass is simple in design, while traditional glass designs are also available.
1930s styles
These composite doors are more ornate than traditional styles, employing heights of panels in quarters. As well as standard lead designs, there are also colourful glass designs that perfectly reflect doors of the 1930s.
Cottage styles
Cottage styles are characterised by slabs with grooves to give a country feel, with glass panels set within the upper section of the doors. The glass tends to be basic Box and Diamond Lead, evoking a rustic character.
Rock Doors
This range of composites is renowned for their security, and characterised with glass sealed within the slab. There are several styles and finishes to choose from, and a selection of stable doors as well.
What can I have with my composite door?
In addition to a myriad of styles, several options are possible in regards to hardware and aesthetics.
Lever or pull handles
We offer traditional lever-operated handles, such as the standard balmoral, curved swan, and the lever pad for easy access. These are available in the metallic finishes of chrome and gold, the opaque black and white, or in graphite silver, the pitted antique black and stainless steel for added character. The heritage lock is a pull handle with escutcheon, which is well-suited to 1930s style doors. For some styles, particularly contemporary, there is the option for a bar handle from various sizes, with separate escutcheon.
Knockers and spyhole
Victorian and slimline urn-shaped knockers are more traditional ways for visitors to get attention than doorbells. Spyholes (or peepholes) can also be fitted to most styles, and there are versions of knockers with a spyhole built-in.
Top lights or side panels
Should you have existing top lights or side panels (or alternatively flag windows), these can be replaced in the same finishes as your new door’s frame, with arched top lights and opening windows within side panels possibilities.
Glass and backing glass designs
Perfectly compliment your composite door with one of our double or triple glass designs. Double glass can also have what’s known as backing glass, which further adds decoration and even an element of privacy for your home. Top lights and side panels can similarly have backing glass, as well as glass designs such as Box Lead or numerals etched into sandblast.
Catflaps or pet doors
Should you require one, a cat flap or pet door (for dogs) can be fitted to a selection of composite doors (specifically contemporary and cottage styles). There are options for manual and microchip cat flaps, and pet doors catering up to medium sized dogs of the door permits.
Colours, greys and woodgrains
As well as our standard white, composites come in a wide selection of colours. These consist of our standard red, blue, green and black; superior colours such as the earthy olive (also known as french grey) or pastel chartwell green; and prestige colours like heather pink or bold poppy red. Greys, like anthracite and slate, provide a neutral tone, while the woodgrains of rosewood and oak mimic the look of natural wood. The frame can be matched to the door’s finish, and it is possible to have both painted in a bespoke RAL colour.
What are the most popular choices for composite doors?
To appeal to a wide range of customers, the varieties of designs and colours speak for themselves. However, there are certain styles and options that are bestsellers.
The most popular finish is grey
Specifically, this is anthracite grey (RAL 7016). With its neutral tone, anthracite grey adds a modern and sophisticated look to your home. Other greys available include slate grey and silver grey.
Twin vertical is best for traditional front doors
Our Dorset composite is a timeless favourite, with two vertical glass panels and two smaller solid ones beneath.
Monzas are a modern favourite
Our Monza styles are the top choice for contemporary style, followed by our Lincoln 3 glass panel composite door.