Doors in our homes play an important role in different ways. From aesthetics and stylistic choices to practical issues like security and even the reduction of energy bills. When choosing the perfect doors for your home, a wide range of options are available, many in pre-made, standard sizes. But do you need to look elsewhere for custom-made doors, or are standard ones appropriate for your home?
In this article, we’ll look at the process of deciding on the right doors for your home and whether you can opt for pre-made ones or might need to choose a custom-made option. If you think it might be time to look into replacing your exterior doors with state-of-the-art composite ones, speak to the team at Rock Solid Doors.
In answering this question, the first step is to check whether your existing door frames are standard sizes. If not, you will have no choice but to opt for custom-made versions. So, grab a tape measure and get to work. Standard door sizes in the UK are as follows:
Exterior doors
Less common standard sizes
Because standard-sized doors are so popular, manufacturers feel comfortable producing them ahead of time. This means you can interact with the door you will take home and judge its qualities, colour, and styling. If you like what you see, it goes home with you there and then, and the door can be swinging on its new hinges the same day.
Standard-sized doors and door frames are made for each other. If you select a pre-made door, it should fit snugly and cause very few issues.
Pre-made doors can be made in bulk. Without the need to recalibrate machinery or interrupt the manufacturing process, they are cheaper to produce and those savings are passed on to the consumer.
Standard doors are often produced in various styles, colours, and materials to appeal to the widest range of people. From solid timber, metal, and vinyl to our personal favourites - composite doors. There is plenty of choice when looking for pre-made doors, making life much easier when designing your home.
Standard doors can be the perfect solution for your home, especially if your budget is tight. However, size restrictions might take standard doors out of the equation. You may need to have doors custom-made to fit your existing door frames or prefer something more individual stylistically.
If you live in an older home, cottage, or other building constructed before standardisation became the norm, you are unlikely to be able to purchase doors off the rack. Custom-made doors are your only real option if you need wider doors for accessibility purposes or have a unique home. Do you have an unusual space in your property that no standard door will fit? Custom-made doors offer the possibility to utilise such spaces and separate them from other areas if required.
Working with your chosen manufacturer to produce the exact door you need means you can add personal designs and features. Whether you need specific handles for less mobile visitors or want your door to match the existing style of your property, you can discuss options with your door-maker to get the desired result. Whether you want specific designs on your door or an arched top to fit an ancient doorway, custom door makers can help.
Doors made to your specifications can be produced to any standard you want. You can specify the materials and control every aspect of how they will look and feel. This all comes at a cost, and custom-made doors will never be the cheapest option. That’s not the point.
Although standard doors should fit reasonably well into their frames, nothing will fit better than a door built to the exact dimensions of an existing door frame.
Pre-made and custom-made doors have their benefits, and you must decide which aspects are most important to you and your property. If money is no object, custom doors will always be the better option, but pre-made ones have come a long way and are a perfectly acceptable substitute.
At Rock Solid Doors Ltd, we are proud of our reputation as respected, top-tier suppliers and fitters of composite doors across London and the Home Counties. Contact us today to learn more about our products and convenient, professional fitting service. You will receive a warm welcome and all the information you need about our incredible range of composite doors.
