Bowater Composite Doors - Any Good

Poc

Hi

I'm looking to buy a composite door. One fitting company has recommended the Bowater Duo Door. It's 70mm deep and has a double rebate.

I've searched on here for comments and the last comments were in 1977 when they were highly NOT recommended.

A couple of yrs ago they were taken over by Veka Uk Ltd and I cant find any comments on them.

I' m on a limited income so this is a big purchase for me - any help really appreciated.

thebaldwindowfitter

Rockdoors are far better

Poc

Thanks for replying. The retailer who sells and fits the Bowater door also sells and fits Rock doors. He said Rock doors were not as thick
and they didn't have as many locks as the Bowater. Therefore Bowater was better than Rock. I looked at the Rock door and didn't like the 'blotchy' appearance of the grain. I don't live in an area where security is a real issue. Insulation, draft proofing and reliability of the product are important. The Veka website says they are one of the countries main producers of composite doors - do you know if that's right?

I suppose what I hope someone can comment on is whether Bowater doors are a good door, likely chances of problems with the company,
if it's a company that people are happy to deal with.


Thanks for any comments.

thebaldwindowfitter

No they are not the main supplier if you dont like the grain then there is no point me explaining the vertues of rockdoor

Poc

Anybody out there bought a Bowden Composite door who could comment on it or any comment on whether Veka is a company I can trust.

Veka's website makes them sound a large company so if that't true I really hope that some one can comment on them.

chrisfreelander54

We have a Solidor composite door, excellent value for money and since we had ours the have added to there range of designs, which are really modern.

Here is where you can view their range http://www.solidor.co.uk/our-doors and here is where you can find a local supplier http://www.solidor.co.uk/find-supplier.

The only down side is they are a manufacturer so you can't buy direct.

Poc

Thanks for taking the time to reply - will look at the links. The company recommending the Bowater door seems genuine but have me concerned by saying they were better than Rock doors. The baldwindowfitter seems to say this isn't the case. Although didn't like the grain on the rock door the appearance isnt my main concern.

So hard to make this type of decision when you have no one to discuss the pros and cons with.

Thanks for info on Solidor

thebaldwindowfitter

solidor have a timber core which in itself can cause problems with movement .Veka is one of the top 4 window profile suppliers but there composite doors i feel are not better than Rockdoors and this also taken bowaters door spec page they to use timber veneered subframe where as Rockdoor have upvc subframe (not the frame they are fitted into ie doorframe)

PVC-U & lumber veneered laminate subframe

Poc

Aye - sun shines at end of tunnel.! Can understand why wooden subframe not the best. Are Rock doors the only company who doesn't use a wooden sub frame? Does that explain why they are more expensive than most?

Beginning to feel that I have facts to base my decision on.

Thank you

thebaldwindowfitter

Vast majority of composite doors are made using nan ya slabs .The duo from bowater doesnt have a timber core but then goes away from the traditional door look ie door sat in a frame it is rebated over the top which is one of the reasons people prefered composite doors in the first place

Poc

Thanks for taking the time to help. Will ahve an onteresting chat to the sqles man leter in the week.