When shopping for a new front door, you’ll undoubtedly come across composite doors as a popular option. You’ll also quickly discover they cost more than uPVC or timber alternatives. It’s natural to wonder if that extra investment is justified.
We’ve written this guide to help you understand what makes composite doors different, and whether they’re worth spending more on for your Essex home.
What is a Composite Door?
A composite door combines multiple materials – typically a solid timber core or high-density foam core, GRP (Glass Reinforced Plastic) outer skin, and insulating materials – to create a door that’s stronger, more energy efficient, and more durable than single-material doors.
What Can a Composite Door Offer You?
Composite doors offer a suite of benefits that can be organised into three categories – security, energy efficiency, and style.
Security Benefits
The solid core in composite doors creates a robust barrier that’s difficult to break through. Composite doors resist forced entry attempts with their thick, solid construction. All our composite doors come with high-security multi-point locking systems, such as Ultion locks that feature anti-snap, anti-drill, and anti-bump protection. For homeowners, this level of security provides real peace of mind that standard door options can’t match.
Energy Efficiency
The thermal performance of composite doors is exceptional, with their multi-layered construction creating superior thermal insulation. Our composite doors achieve impressive U-values, even below 1.0W/m²K, helping to reduce heat loss from your home. This improved insulation keeps your home comfortable and can make a noticeable difference to your energy bills over time.
Style and Durability
Composite doors are available in a wide range of designs and an extensive selection of colours. Whether you’re looking for a traditional or contemporary appearance, there’s a composite door to match your home’s aesthetic.
Unlike timber doors that need regular maintenance, composite doors maintain their appearance with minimal upkeep. They won’t warp, rot, or fade significantly over time, meaning they’ll keep your home’s kerb appeal for many years with just occasional cleaning.
Comparing Composite Doors to Timber Doors
Traditional timber doors have natural appeal and are sometimes necessary in conservation areas, but they require regular sanding, varnishing, or painting to protect them from the elements. Maintenance increases the overall cost of these doors, and without it, they can rot, warp, or become vulnerable to woodworms.
Comparing Composite Doors to uPVC Doors
UPVC doors are still the UK’s most popular door type due to their affordable price point and excellent efficiency. However, they can’t match the authentic look, premium feel, and security of a quality composite door.
A good quality composite door can last 30+ years, often outlasting uPVC alternatives, and they’re less prone to discolouration from UV exposure, maintaining their appearance for longer.
Our Composite Door Range
At Double Glazing Essex, we offer no fewer than four types of composite door, each with a unique look and set of benefits.
Solidor
Solidor doors feature a substantial 48mm solid timber core, about 10% thicker than standard composite doors on the market today. This exceptional thickness provides superior security and insulation. Every Solidor comes with Ultion locks as standard, among the most secure on the market. The solid timber core also offers excellent thermal efficiency, helping to keep your home warm while reducing energy bills.
The Italia and Traditional collections feature elegant accessories in finishes such as contemporary chrome, black chrome and brushed steel. With 23 colours ranging from Cobalt Blue to Ruby Red to Golden Oak, and numerous glass options, you can create a truly unique entrance for your Essex home.
Rockdoor
Rockdoor’s high-density core makes these doors 60% stronger than standard composite doors. Security is at the forefront of its design with features like S-Glaze technology, which locks the glass into the door for life, solid brass hook locks that run the full length of the frame, and reinforced inner frames. For those seeking ultimate protection, Rockdoor offers options like Diamond Secure 3 Star Cylinders.
Thermal performance is equally impressive, with features like clear backing glass and low uPVC thresholds allowing most Rockdoor doors to achieve an A rating for energy efficiency. Available in 14 different colours, Rockdoor combines security, efficiency, and style in one premium package.
Residor
What sets Residor doors apart is their 3.6mm GRP skin, which is more than twice as thick as standard GRP doors. This added thickness provides greater security and durability without the premium price tag.
Each Residor comes fitted with an Ultion cylinder and Era multi-point locks as standard, ensuring high levels of security. With six standard and 250 RAL colours available, you can create a door that perfectly complements their property.
The partnership with Trojan Hardware means Residor doors feature some of the most striking and durable stainless steel hardware available, including the Trojan Sparta door handles and Traditional knockers that add sophistication to any entrance.
Palladio
Palladio doors feature a unique 65mm monocoque structure reinforced with fibreglass. This innovative construction method means the door won’t warp, twist, or delaminate over time. They achieve impressive U-values as low as 0.85 W/m²K, making them some of the most energy-efficient doors available.
Palladio offers two types of locking systems, the Heritage slam lock with a 5-point automatic locking system and the Yale 10-point locking system. Both are PAS 24 accredited, ensuring the highest security protection for your home.
Available in over 25 different designs and 13 colour options, Palladio doors can be specified to match modern and traditional properties.
Are Composite Doors Worth the Extra Money?
When you consider the combined benefits of strong security, improved energy efficiency, low maintenance requirements, and superior durability, composite doors represent excellent value despite their higher initial cost.
For most Essex homeowners, the investment in a quality composite door pays dividends over its long lifetime. It also increases the value of your home, something that should be factored into the initial price.
Ready to Add a Composite Door to Your Home?
If you’d like to explore our composite door range or get expert advice on the best option for your home, we’re here to help. With nearly 15 years of experience installing doors across Essex, we’ll help you find the perfect door for your home and budget.
We’d love to welcome you to our showroom. Here, you can view and use our range of composite doors and discuss your options with our friendly team. You can find this at 101 London Rd, South Benfleet, SS7 5TG.
For more information, or to arrange a free, no obligation quote on a new door, you can:
- Call us on 01268 424 904
- Email us at sales@doubleglazingessex.com
- Use our online contact form
Frequently Asked Questions
How long do composite doors typically last?
Quality composite doors can last 30+ years with minimal maintenance. This longevity makes them a cost-effective choice.
Are composite doors easy to maintain?
Our premium composite doors are very low maintenance. Unlike timber doors that need regular treatment, composite doors only require occasional cleaning to keep them looking their best.
Can composite doors be customised to match my home?
Absolutely. Our extensive selection of materials, colours, glass options and hardware choices allows us to create a composite door that perfectly complements your property’s style. The customisation options are virtually limitless, from traditional woodgrain effects to contemporary solid colours.
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