New front door options

House_Hunter

Afternoon all - after a bit of help with regards to a replacement front door...

I live in a victorian terrace (currently got old timber sash windows to be replaced with new DG sash units), and the old solid wood door is now far from being solid anymore!! Its got a bit twisted/warped and has a few nasty cracks in it. The result being a nasty draught and poor sound insulation (live on a fairly busy road).

Just started to look at replacement front doors and am a bit confused with all the different types, wood, composite, uPVC etc etc

So just wondered what the adv / disadv of the different types were? We're also very interested in trying to cut down as much noise as possible if that helps the choice.

Any thoughts much appreciated!

Grz.26

Hi there,

I have just replaced my old uPvc front door with that of a wooden door from Howdens. Much quieter! feels more secure too what with chubby lock, bolts, latch, and a Hefty door too. I got my carpenter to fit it. I too live on busy road, just need the windows replaced now but i am looking at 3k for 2. hope this helps a little.

Ifs it Old Victorian Terrace like mine. It surely has to be wood all the way!?

suisidevw

GRZ. How much did you pay for the door and then for fitting also please? Did you paint it etc?

Many thanks

House_Hunter

Hey cheers for your thoughts...

Yeah, I really don't want a uPVC door - horrid stuff, but if its "technically" a lot better then may be tempted to overrule my aesthetic choice!

Did you consider a composite door?

We too need to replace our windows - we're thinking of changing the current wood framed single glazed sash windows to acoustic double glazed one's, keeping the sash style but may be forced to go down uPVC for the frames...as cost is seriously prohibitive for timber. As it is for uPVC its around 5k for a 3 pane bay and 2 other windows....

You planning wood or uPVC window frames?

silvercar

IMHO a period home will look much better with a wood door, even if you go with upvc windows.

I got my window man to source the door from here:

http://www.levickjoinery.co.uk

They seem to be the supplier of most of the internet door companies.

matimage

I just got a composite door in pillar box red. Dead chuffed with it. Has 5 point locking and feels very solid.

dander

I agree that wood looks so much nicer - especially on a period house. I recently noticed this door in the Wickes catalogue and thought it was a really good compromise the authentic looks of wood, but with lots of the security features you get with upvc. I just wish they did a style that would suit my house better - but this would look nice on a victorian house.

http://www.wickes.co.uk/Malton-Hi-Security-Pre-Hung-Door/invt/205889

chrisg1985

House_Hunter wrote: »

Afternoon all - after a bit of help with regards to a replacement front door...

I live in a victorian terrace (currently got old timber sash windows to be replaced with new DG sash units), and the old solid wood door is now far from being solid anymore!! Its got a bit twisted/warped and has a few nasty cracks in it. The result being a nasty draught and poor sound insulation (live on a fairly busy road).

Just started to look at replacement front doors and am a bit confused with all the different types, wood, composite, uPVC etc etc

So just wondered what the adv / disadv of the different types were? We're also very interested in trying to cut down as much noise as possible if that helps the choice.

Any thoughts much appreciated!

I would not change the door if it's at all possible. How badly twisted is the door? Movement is common and you may find better fitting/draught exclusion enough not to mention saving your nice old door.

If this is not an option you have two genuine options.

Have a new door made bespoke (you won't be picking one up from Howdens Joinery like some lucky chap above) Cost approx 1.6-2k

Or secondly far more suitable - find architectural salvage yards and hunt through for your original style door and have a good chippy fit it. You may find the chaps doing your windows will be more than able to assist you fitting this. Cost approx 1k

House_Hunter

Cheers for your thoughst guys...

On the subject of draught prrofing your external timber doors - what approach have people used?

At the moment I've just got the standard rubber type that you stick/attach to the frame and then forms a seal with the door.

I've thought about possibly routing a grove into the frame to also fit a pile strip - anybody done this? Whats your thoughts/experience?

chrisg1985

House_Hunter wrote: »

Cheers for your thoughst guys...

On the subject of draught prrofing your external timber doors - what approach have people used?

At the moment I've just got the standard rubber type that you stick/attach to the frame and then forms a seal with the door.

I've thought about possibly routing a grove into the frame to also fit a pile strip - anybody done this? Whats your thoughts/experience?

I have probably installed a rebated draught seal to a couple of thousand doors maybe 10k windows. If your interested pm me and i shall send you manufacturers lists of where to get the materials cheaply.

gavinp

Please bear in mind that uPvC doors and composite doors can look very different:

http://www.frontdoors.uk.com/

We have one of these doors in blue and it has a grained finish and looks similar to wood.

[Edit: ours was £803 fitted in the summer]

Thanks

Gavin