Replacement Front Door

Is it time to replace your front door? At Everest, we offer a full range of front and back doors in timber, uPVC, aluminium and composite (also known as GRP). Our doors come as a complete unit doorset of the door and frame. Everything is custom made to measure for a perfect fit and all doors can be customised with colour, style, glazing and furniture to make your perfect front door.

As a guide, we have listed everything you need to consider and know about replacing your front, so you can make an informed choice on what is best for your needs. If you need any help, don’t hesitate to contact us or book a free appointment.

What's the right door material for your home?

Doors were historically made out of wood, traditionally pine or oak. Boarded doors (joined lengths of wood) were common until about 1700 when panelled doors were introduced.  Wooden doors are still popular to this day, but other door materials have extra benefits, often at a lower price.

Aluminium and glass entrance doors began to be used in the post-war period. Aluminium is cold to the touch; however, modern doors are much more energy-efficient and a popular choice for contemporary homes.

The introduction of uPVC doors was a leap forward in providing an energy-efficient door that was low maintenance and affordable. Composite doors were developed to create a door that had the best properties from all materials with exceptional security and a wood effect finish.

uPVC doors

uPVC is a good all-round material that will never rot, flake or rust.

uPVC is very popular in modern homes as it is a good all-round material that offers exceptional value. With a smooth and naturally weatherproof finish, there’s no danger of the doors ever degrading, and they are virtually maintenance-free. uPVC is also a naturally insulating material, and the frames and panels are designed to offer high levels of energy efficiency.

Modern uPVC doors are built to be sturdy and secure, with steel reinforced frames and panels. The hinges and locks are welded securely to the steel reinforcement within the frame, meaning that would-be intruders cannot gain entry through this previous weak spot.

Everest uPVC doors are available in a range of colours or a wood grain finish, created by bonding wood grain effect foils to the frames and panels creating a realistic texture of timber.

You also have the option of a duo colour door that looks like timber from the outside, with white on the inside to match a neutral interior colour palette.

Wooden doors

Timber is a natural insulator, it absorbs and retains heat.

Solid wood doors still offer the highest levels of energy efficiency compared to other door types. Wooden doors are seen to be the most beautiful but do require more effort to keep them looking their best.

Wooden doors have been around for centuries and the manufacturing process has developed over time. Panels and frames are still made from solid wood, but timber used in construction is engineered to be stronger. Knots are removed from the wood, before layering different grain directions, and bonding. The result is a much stronger and more stable door, with no risk of warping or bowing.

Timber doors can be made from softwood or hardwood – both make great materials for doors. Hardwood grows slower than softwood so the rings are closer together, making it more dense and hardwearing. It does mean that it can be more expensive and less sustainable than softwood. Treated to resist rot and fungus, timber doors will last for years to come.

The benefit of a wooden front door is being able to change the colour of your door as much as you want. We offer timber doors in a range of stains and paint colours with a five year guarantee against peeling and flaking.

Wooden doors can last for 50 years or more, but they are high-maintenance and will require constant attention to keep them in good condition.

Aluminium doors

Aluminium is a physically strong material that will never rust or corrode. 

Think of aluminium doors and you might be thinking of cold metal frames, but thermal technology and door design has evolved considerably. The frames contain an insulating plastic section that stops the conduction of heat, for doors that are just as warm as uPVC. Aluminium is also naturally weatherproof and will need very little maintenance.

Nowadays, aluminium doors are almost indistinguishable from uPVC, with similar designs, glazing and colour options. Aluminium frames can also support large glazed panels for a fully glazed door.

Composite doors (GRP)

Composite doors combine the benefits of different materials.

A composite door has a solid hardwood frame, insulated with high-density foam and covered with glass-reinforced plastic (GRP) skin. Made using polyester resins and fibreglass, this durable ‘thermoplastic’ outer coating is also used for the underside of boats, making it robust for a front or back door.

Composite doors are the only doors that can feature double rebates. A door rebate is where the door panel overlaps the frame along the edges, creating a barrier against water. Double rebates overlap twice, for increased energy efficiency and weather tightness. Dual rebated composite doors are often 50% thicker than regular front doors and feature triple glazing as standard.

As well as excellent weatherproofing, composite doors don’t require the same level of maintenance as wood and maintain a vibrant colour and finish without any need for painting.

Everest composite doors are available in a wide range of heritage and bold colours, as well as timber effect finishes.

How long do front doors last?

Composite and uPVC front doors will last a minimum of 30-35 years with little maintenance. A wooden front door should also last up to 50 years but this depends on how well the door has been maintained.

• uPVC – the least robust material with a lifespan of around 30 years
• Composite - a GRP door should have a lifetime of 35 years
• Timber - can last for a lifetime but needs constant maintenance every few years
• Aluminium - the most robust material with a lifespan of at least 45 years

3 things that will impact the lifespan of your door:

• Quality
  The quality of doors varies between manufacturers and installers. Cheap uPVC can warp and discolour long before a quality uPVC door will. Wooden doors vary in thickness and the quality of the timber used will also affect the longevity of the door.
• Installation
  Door frames that are not fitted properly can be prone to water ingress and dampness that will speed up deterioration. If the door does not fit snugly in the frame it can wear the hinges and the edges of the door.
• Environment
  The factor that contributes the most to shortening the lifespan of a door is the weather. If the front door is facing south, it can take a lot of heat from the sun and the constant thermal expansion/contraction ages a door more than anything else. If your door is in an especially exposed area, such as facing the coast this will significantly reduce the life of the door as it has to contend with the corrosive effects of saltwater and high winds compared to a sheltered house. If your door is sheltered under an overhang or small roof, then this will dramatically increase the life of the door beyond the 30-year lifespan.

What's the difference between uPVC and composite doors?

The main difference between a uPVC door and a composite door is that a composite door is made from a combination of materials that offer all the benefits of each. A uPVC door is a singular material and is limited by its properties.

A composite door is just as easy to maintain as uPVC but it also looks better than uPVC as it has the moulded wood-effect grain that looks as good as timber.

uPVC doors are available in bright colours but they can fade over time, especially if they are subject to strong UV light.  Composite doors shouldn't fade – the colours are designed to be vibrant and long-lasting and guaranteed to last far longer than timber and uPVC.

uPVC doors are still a popular choice, but if you want a front door that will be long-lasting and retain its polished exterior composite doors are a better investment.

What is the best front door for security?

• Wooden doors
  Timber doors not only look great, but they're also solid and sturdy. When we say timber, we mean a heavy, solid hardwood door of at least 44mm thickness. However, the strength of any door comes down to the quality of the lock and the frame. The best lock for a wooden door is the five-lever mortice.
• uPVC doors
  Older and cheap uPVC doors use a substandard cylinder lock that can be 'snapped', making them an easy target for a break-in. New uPVC doors have addressed any security issues and now have anti-snap locks. A uPVC door with an anti-snap lock and multi-point locking system is a good choice of door for security.
• Composite doors
  Composite doors usually have a reinforced steel door frame and a solid hardwood internal frame. The surface skin of the door is made from glass-reinforced plastic which is a sturdy material and the combination of these materials makes a solid door that can withstand brute force. A composite door is one of the safest front doors and the best front doors for security.

Things to consider before you replace a front door

As you start your search for a new front door, start by asking yourself a series of questions to determine what your needs are:

• What is the age or period of your property?
• What styles of doors look particularly good on your neighbours' homes or similar properties?
• What colour and style are your windows?
• What colour is the brick or exterior colour of your house?
• Do you want a door to last a lifetime?
• Do you want to change the colour of your door?

What type of property do you live in?

The most important factor when choosing an entrance door is the style of your house as the wrong style of door can actually devalue a house. Fitting a contemporary design, or a fully glazed door in a traditional period property would be a mistake as buyers demand traditional timber doors in black, red or dark blue.

• Period property - avoid uPVC as it might devalue your home. Opt for timber or composite panel doors
• Contemporary - a sleek aluminium door would best suit a modern home
• Victorian or Edwardian - a four-panel timber door with two glazed panels of obscure patterned glass
• Country cottage - a stable door for the kitchen and possibly as an entrance door. Opt for timber or composite
• Townhouse - a period townhouse looks best with a traditional timber panel door. A modern townhouse suits a composite panel door

Don’t forget to carefully consider the colour of the front door to complement the colour of the brick or stone and window frames.