When selecting a new door for your home, there are many styles, patterns, and materials you can choose from. Composite and uPVC doors are currently the most popular types of doors on the market. With so many alternatives available, it is not an easy task to distinguish between the two and determine which is ideal for your home.
In this article, we will be going over whether or not composite doors are better than uPVC so you can decide on which one you want for your home.
What is the difference between composite and uPVC doors?
The struggle between uPVC and Composite doors has been going on for quite some time. The composite door debuted in the late 1990s and is the uPVC (unplasticized Poly Vinyl Chloride) door's younger, more evolved sibling. uPVC (unplasticized Poly Vinyl Chloride) doors, which became popular in the 1980s, are still popular and have a somewhat modern appearance. Consider the characteristics of both doors in order to determine which is the superior challenger.
The primary difference between composite and uPVC doors is the material from which they are constructed. A uPVC door is constructed from an insulated, plastic-sealed frame, whereas a composite door is made from a combination of components that are pressed together under high pressure. Due to the materials and production technique, the door produced by this method is more expensive due to its superior durability. The thickness of uPVC doors is 44mm, while composite doors are only 28mm. A premium composite door can be constructed from excellent materials, making it sturdy, secure, long-lasting, and resistant to the elements.
Composite doors challenge the presence and impact of uPVC doors, are seen at the entrances of a growing number of family homes, and are gradually becoming the door of choice. Years ago, uPVC doors were favoured for their cost, pleasant appearance, and ease of maintenance. However, owners of uPVC doors have discovered a number of apparent flaws in their purchase, and it is becoming increasingly clear that composite doors are on the verge of becoming the next big thing.
Which is better: Composite doors or uPVC?
#1 Security
Composite doors are unquestionably the most secure and safe doors available. Composite doors are twice as thick as uPVC doors and have a polyurethane core that hardens to a rock-like state. Due to the reinforced materials and general strength and quality of the door, it is undoubtedly one of the most secure doors available.
Not to add the advanced locking mechanisms employed inside the door, composite doors are fully equipped doors to discourage burglars and criminals. In contrast, uPVC doors feature a relatively flimsy Styrofoam core. Composite doors are the most durable and secure alternative for a house's entrance. It should be remembered that poor weather quickly weakens the frames of uPVC doors, rendering them easily breachable.
#2 Maintenance
As far as maintenance is concerned, there is no apparent difference between composite and uPVC doors. Occasionally wiping the door and frame with a moist cloth will help maintain either door looking fresh and clean.
#3 Visual appeal
There is no escaping the fact that uPVC doors have a plastic-like gloss, whereas composite doors emanate a natural wood appearance. In terms of colour, uPVC doors are available in slightly fewer hues than composite doors; nonetheless, the range of accessible RAL hues is still vast. The interior and outside might be various colours regardless of the material you pick.
Regarding door hardware, there is no difference; simply choose the handle, letterbox, and knocker that best suits your home and personal preferences. You can also select from a variety of exquisite glass alternatives if they are available.
#4 Insulation
Due to its increased thickness and density, a composite door will often perform slightly better than a uPVC door in terms of energy efficiency. However, by keeping draughts from entering, both doors will lower the amount of money you spend on heating your home.
#5 Durability
It is commonly believed that uPVC doors are the most resilient on the market. Regardless, this is not the case. Despite being more durable than wooden doors, composite doors outlast them in terms of durability. uPVC doors are simple to maintain and clean; nevertheless, if you do not follow a modest maintenance schedule, you can lose up to five years from the door's lifespan. A composite door can last up to 35 years with no maintenance and 33 years without any maintenance.
Conclusion
When determining which door material is appropriate for your property, it is essential to examine all relevant variables. In actuality, both uPVC and composite doors are low-maintenance, well-insulated choices that make it nearly impossible for intruders to gain access.
uPVC doors
are far less expensive than composite alternatives and significantly thinner in appearance. They provide a stylish and inexpensive finish for any residence.
Composite
doors are practically indistinguishable from wood and offer the same functionality as uPVC, albeit to a better standard. Consequently, they are more expensive; therefore, you should assess whether their benefits exceed the additional expense.
As with any major home repair, selecting a new door involves some thought and deliberation. Price will always play an essential role in the ultimate decision, but personal preference should always be considered.
If you are on the lookout for the best composite doors in St. Albans, then Rock Solid Doors is the shop you’ve been looking for! We are Registered & Trusted composite door installers who cover all of London & the Home Counties. Supplying, fitting and guaranteeing the finest quality high-security composite doors.
At Rock Solid Doors, we are different by being upfront & transparent with the cost and timescale. We know from our own past experience how stressful it can be to get a quote from a large double glazing company with a slimy salesman in your house for hours & hours, telling you all about their fantastic company and then Insulting every other company you mention, then giving you an outrageous quote before making a phone call to their area manager to get you a so-called better deal! Which is all a lie.
Give us a call, or if you prefer, you can design your own door online with our Solidor, Rockdoor or Doorstop Door Designer. We will then send you your free quote with no hidden costs.
Graham Kidd2 November 2023100% recommend Paul and Harry a great father and son team! I'm so pleased that we used them to supply and fit our new front door. Straightforward to deal with from start to finish and communication throughout was excellent. They are extremely knowledgeable and were able to offer advice and suggestions when we were choosing the door we wanted. Nothing was rushed during the installation with great attention to detail. They took away our old door and frame and left everything clean and tidy at the end of the job. Thank you, Harry, for taking the time to go through everything with us at the end of the job, much appreciated. I would not hesitate in using Paul and Harry again. Thank you both so much, we are so pleased!
Andrew Brant30 October 2023Had a door fitted today. Extremely happy with the quality of the finish, attention to detail. Left site clean and tidy. Very impressed. Would highly recommend
Daniel Ashworth6 October 2023Had a door fitted by these very friendly chaps about 18 months ago. We're very happy with it. When an issue arose with the mechanism, they came out and fixed it in about 5 minutes and it's as it if is brand new again. Very pleased, would highly recommend.
L Edwards2 October 2023Communication with Paul was faultless throughout. He was polite, knowledgeable and efficient. Harry and Paul installed our new door, problem solving along the way. The finish was neat and tidy and they offered us excellent after sales service aswell. Would highly recommend.
Susie22 September 2023Highly recommend. We had our front door fitted by this lovely team. They were friendly, helpful, willing to listen to me debate options and provided helpful advice for choosing the right door for us. When he had a slight issue (no fault of their own) they came out to us the very next day and sorted it. Such a good supplier to work with!
Ed Barkham21 September 2023Brilliant service. No hidden costs or fees and no heavy sales tactics. Very open and clear from the start, and they worked really hard to fit a great new door in our thinner than average doorway! Great value and great result. Will be recommending to all.
fiona richards10 September 2023Highly recommend Rock Solid doors. We have used this friendly family company several times and have recommended them to others who have been equally impressed with the high standard of work and the product. We have received quick service and found them to be very reliable knowledgeable with no hard sell. The installations have been carried out professionally and they go the extra mile to ensure you are happy with everything. The external doors are robust and we are impressed with the quality of the product.
James Cooper24 July 2023Faultless customer service from a fantastic company to do business with. From start to finish it’s been a pleasure buying composite doors from Rock Solid Doors – in fact, we were so impressed with the front door and installation service they provided (we opted for a Solidor Ludlow 2 with 2 x fully glazed side lights) that we got them back to supply our utility door (Windsor Solidor – fully glazed) shortly afterwards. Paul dealt with our initial queries promptly, came to measure on site and provided a competitive quote very efficiently. These guys are first-rate craftsmen and know their stuff: evidenced by working around a couple of quirky construction issues without any problem – leaving us really impressed with the end product. It’s great to come across a local business that takes pride in what they do, going the extra mile for customer satisfaction – we cannot recommend Rock Solid Doors highly enough! Thank you Paul and Harry!
Simon Gould25 June 2023Brilliant service from Paul at Rock Solid; our letter box seal had gone causing a slight leak - he responded immediately, attended this week and fixed with a new gasket. Would highly recommend the product and the service.
Lidia Duncan16 June 2023I ordered my Vogue Rock door with the Ocean glass from Rock Solid Doors at the end of 2021. I had a number of criteria when searching for my new entrance door. It’s ability to insulate had to be A rated. I also wanted it to have a good quality locking mechanism that is smooth in action. My new door needed to be modern with a pane that lets plenty of light in and thus goes lower than the half line on the door, while leaving sufficient height for the letter box, so it is sufficiently high to be comfortably reached by our postman. The Vogue Rock door provided all that and more. I love sailing and the Ocean glass design evokes the lines of a sail in a beautifully minimalistic fashion. It also makes the door look unique, which is always a bonus. During my search for the perfect door I had lots of technical questions too. Only Paul and his colleague from Rock Solid Doors were able to answer all my questions and provide a door that offered what I was looking for. They supplied and fitted my new door in early 2022. My heating bill has gone down noticeably, as a result. With the golden oak wood grain on the outside, my door looks beautiful and elegant. Everyone who comes to the house for the first-time comment on it. The multi-locking mechanism has a smooth action and it is easy to use. The white wood grain on the inside finishes off the hallway like a designer window and door in one. Paul and his colleague went out of their way to make sure that I have the door and the finish just, as I wanted and that it worked seamlessly there on. We could not be happier. Thank You!
