Whether you are renovating a property to bring it up to date or replacing old doors that have passed their sell-by date, nothing exudes quality and class more than brand-new, stylish exterior doors. Not only can a new set of doors increase the aesthetic qualities of your property, but they can also add much-needed strength and security. With decades of collective experience in the industry, the team here at Rock Solid Doors is well-placed to examine the advantages and disadvantages of composite doors compared with traditional wooden ones and offer an opinion on the best choice.
The incredible, high-tech method of producing composite doors gives them tremendous advantages over virtually any other option. Here are their fundamental properties, good and bad, as we see them:
Even the most determined intruders know better than to mess around with composite doors. Their strength is legendary, and with a multi-point locking system, the chances of breaking through one are virtually nil. The walls holding them are more likely to give way before the doors do.
The durability of composite doors is off the scale; they will keep out the harshest weather and remain looking like new for decades.
Technological advancements have made creating composite doors with any design, colour, or feature easier. They can be made to look like wooden doors or ultra-modernistic ones with as many windows, pet doors, and hardware items as required.
It is hard to think of an entity in our lives that has to face the harsh outdoors and requires less maintenance than a composite door. There isn't one. A wipe down with a cloth now and again and a spritz of hinge lubricant, if you're feeling generous, are the most that will ever be required. They could not be less demanding to maintain.
Matchless energy efficiency from composite doors makes them unbeatable at keeping bills down and reducing costs. Nothing can permeate the fabric of the door itself, and provided they are manufactured and fitted correctly, they will allow no heat to pass.
Upfront costs are generally higher when opting for bespoke composite doors. Still, the savings in energy alone mean they pay for themselves, and their sheer longevity means you might never need to buy another.
Humans have created wooden doors to protect their dwellings for centuries, and not without good reason. Wooden doors have many advantages, but how do they compare with more modern, state-of-the-art competitors?
Certain types of wood are undoubtedly solid and secure when equipped with a quality multi-point locking mechanism. Thinner, cheaper doors will not put up much resistance against determined intruders, but a solid oak one will not yield easily.
If treated correctly and maintained regularly, wooden doors can be exceptionally durable but vary wildly depending on the thickness and quality of the wood. Thinner, cheaper woods can warp and flex under pressure from persistent weather and temperature changes.
Wooden doors can be beautiful and enhance the appearance of any property with their natural appearance. Stained wood is among the more pleasing effects people have learned to master, and its appeal is not to be underestimated. Warm and inviting, they hark back to nature and our connection with the Earth, with no two being the same.
One significant advantage of wooden doors is that they can often be repaired and remain in place, even after suffering damage. A certain amount of regular maintenance is required with wooden doors, and they must be inspected for signs of mould and rot if they are to have extended longevity.
Wood does a decent job of preventing air transfer from one area to another, maintaining internal temperatures if measured and fitted correctly.
The range of prices when considering wooden exterior doors is staggering. There is no way to judge them as one entity, so suffice it to say that thin wooden doors can be cheap, and thick ones made of quality hardwood can be extortionate.
As far as the team at Rock Solid Doors is concerned, there is only one winner in the Clash of the Titans: composite vs wooden doors. Both have pros and cons, but for overall strength, durability, and aesthetic styling, nothing even comes close to the composite door. Our final dealbreaker is that they can even mimic the wooden door’s most significant advantage by being formed with decorative grain. Wooden doors are fantastic and unique but cannot compete with the all-around excellence of modern composites.
The Rock Solid Doors Ltd team is proud to offer premium-level composite doors across London and the Home Counties, upholding our reputation for reliability and professional integrity. We only supply and install British-made doors of the highest quality and provide a fast, efficient fitting service. Please contact us for all the honest guidance, help, and support you require.