Composite doors are being increasingly used in the UK as front entrance doors. As they are made from a variety of different materials and are one of the most durable door types, it’s easy to understand their soar in popularity. 

Composite is a relatively new manufacturing process for making doors. In the past, timber, uPVC and aluminium would be the main types of materials to use for your external doors and windows. However, since composite was created, many homeowners now gravitate to composite doors for durability and security purposes.

In this article, we’re going to take a deeper look into what composite doors are and how they’re a great alternative to timber, uPVC and aluminium.

What Are Composite Doors?

Composite doors are relatively new to the trade market. Many homeowners are transitioning from the more traditional timber, uPVC and aluminium doors and moving over to composite.

Created using a combination of materials, composite doors are effectively a hybrid and usually cost more than most other materials that are used for external windows and doors. But they’re extremely durable and offer higher security levels in comparison.

What do composite doors look like?

Composite doors, at first glance, appear as timber. A composite door has a very attractive wood grain on its exterior making it a great choice for homeowners who want a natural effect with the benefits from multiple materials.

What are composite front doors?

Composite front doors are a fusion of different materials. The materials used are already found on the market, but they’re moulded together to create a composite door. A composite door has all the high-quality elements of various materials combined to create a very strong external door.

What Are Composite Doors Made From?

Composite doors are made from timber, glass-reinforced plastic, and uPVC. Manufacturers take the best parts of these materials and combine them to create an incredibly strong door. In fact, it’s the strongest material currently on the market.

Composite doors have a solid timber core. The sheets of timber are glued together and pressed under high pressure. This pressure allows the timber sheets to completely mould together and create one solid piece of wood. The door is then coated in uPVC and/or glass-reinforced plastic (GRP).

GRP is a fibre-reinforced polymer which is a very robust material – even more than carbon fibre. Its lightweight and flexible properties make it the perfect coating for a timber core.

There are pros and cons to all types of doors. uPVC is inexpensive and durable to harsh weather conditions, however, isn’t very strong in the unfortunate case of a break-in. Timber is a very strong material, however, can warp and rot over time.

By combining all of these elements together, we’re removing the cons from the materials. A solid wooden core provides the strength, but the uPVC and GRP protect the wood from warping. Making a long-lasting durable door.

How Secure Are Composite Doors?

Composite doors are the strongest material to date. Perfect for external doors. While timber and aluminium offer incredible levels of durability, they do have their flaws. The perks of timber, uPVC and GRP are combined together to create a composite door which removes the unwanted security risks from a single-material door. The strong structure proves hard to break down so if security is a concern you may want to consider a composite front door. 

Benefits Of Composite Doors

• Composite doors are finished with a wood grain. This finish makes it desirable to homeowners who want a natural look without compromising the quality of the door itself. It’ll boost your kerb appeal in comparison to using uPVC.
• Choice of design. The artificial finish of the doors tends to leave you with many design and colour options to choose from.
• The high-pressured compression of the wooden core results in high thermal efficiency. This efficiency will reduce draughts and noise pollution, all while lowering your energy bills.
• Composite doors are strong. They won’t become damaged by harsh weather conditions, they provide protection against home invasions, and stand up to general wear and tear.
• Unlike timber, aluminium and uPVC, composite doors don’t require treatment or upkeep. The outer layer of GRP prevents the door from becoming scratched and has incredible staying power so you won’t need to worry about repainting it.
• Great value. While more expensive initially, composite doors last longer than other doors so show their value as the years progress. The time and effort saved in the upkeep is also a value to consider. 

Are Composite Doors The Best Choice?

If you have the budget for it, then composite doors are the best choice for the exterior of your home. You can purchase single-material doors such as timber, uPVC and aluminium at a cheaper cost which will do a great job, however, composite offers the benefits of many materials and eliminates their disadvantages.

Aside from the cost, composite doors look great. You get the kerb appeal of a wooden door with the insulation and robustness of aluminium. Composite doors also don’t need any form of upkeep or treatment. It’s a very low-maintenance material.