Composite front doors, potential cost?

Legacy_user

Just moved in to a ground floor ex local authority flat, and it has a fairly flimsy front door which is half glazed. It's pretty loose in the frame too, very draughty and you can hear people having conversations on the other side as if they were standing in the room with you.

I've been looking at replacing the door and while initially looking at a solid hardwood door I've since read up that a composite door might be a better option?

The brand I've been looking at is Solidor, which I understand are the best with regards to sound/thermal insulation because of the solid timber core construction. The problem is, I've not been able to find any ballpark pricing? I've had estimates for other brands of composite doors of somewhere around £600-900.

Has anyone here had a Solidor fitted recently? How much did you pay for it fully fitted? Have you noticed improved sound insulation? I intend to get one without any glazing, does this reduce the price?

Furts

Others will no doubt disagree, but I would not be looking for a composite door with a timber core. That said, if the door is essentially an internal door, without exposure to the elements, then an a timber core door should be OK.

System

Furts wrote: »

Others will no doubt disagree, but I would not be looking for a composite door with a timber core. That said, if the door is essentially an internal door, without exposure to the elements, then an a timber core door should be OK.

It's not internal, these flats have external front doors, with a sort of central staircase to access the different levels.

What are your thoughts on the timber core, prone to expansion/warping/etc? I thought the point in it being composite was that it was sealed and protected from that sort of thing?

The only reason I was looking at a timer core was I understood it would be the best for sound insulation. The other brand I was looking at was Door-stop which I believe are foam filled? The prices were very reasonable though.

benson1980

We've just had a solidor fitted- 1477 with a glass side panel. This was about 200 quid dearer than the door stop door quote. I would imagine the glass side panel adds maybe around 250 to the cost??

We're pleased with it- looks really good, and for the sake of an extra couple of hundred quid we decided to go with the premium brand over budget.

Just be careful who you get a quote from. I got a quote initially from the local approved supplier on the Solidor website and they quoted 1900 quid, for exactly the same door we ended up getting fitted.

yaz2010

I got a Italian Pisa Solidor fitted for about 1600 with es24 handles about 2 months back. It has got very good sound insulation as previously I could hear people outside talking but not anymore.

Furts

dieselpower1988 wrote: »

It's not internal, these flats have external front doors, with a sort of central staircase to access the different levels.

What are your thoughts on the timber core, prone to expansion/warping/etc? I thought the point in it being composite was that it was sealed and protected from that sort of thing?

The only reason I was looking at a timer core was I understood it would be the best for sound insulation.

Timber core doors have been around for decades, but they fell from favour years back. The core can deteriorate for they can take up moisture. That said modern doors will claim to be brilliant and fault free. But it is almost a certainty that many cores come from the Far East and Far Eastern plywood is known for being dire. This is a crazy situation for 25 years ago the cheap Far Eastern plywood was actually quite good.

The modern term used for the cores is "engineered timber" But this really means a finger jointed composition of anything, so the term does not imply any particular quality.

The fundamental problem is that the engineered timber is hidden inside the door and the customer cannot judge the quality. But there is a reasonable probability that this timber is not good quality. Conversely, if you can obtain satisfactory proof of the core then that is your question solved.

I accept your door will be dense and good for sound, so the choice is yours.

Cyclepath

Check with the local authority that they don't want you to have a half hour fire rated door or are doing fire risk assessments in the future as despite your door being ground floor it may still be a requirement and you generally need permission from the landlord for alterations.

suisidevw

Our rockdoor was £1300 inc fanlight

System

Cyclepath wrote: »

Check with the local authority that they don't want you to have a half hour fire rated door or are doing fire risk assessments in the future as despite your door being ground floor it may still be a requirement and you generally need permission from the landlord for alterations.

Eh? It's an external door... why would it need to be fire rated?

Nothing in my lease says I need to permission to change the front door.

Cyclepath

dieselpower1988 wrote: »

Eh? It's an external door... why would it need to be fire rated?

Nothing in my lease says I need to permission to change the front door.

Depending on the block layout your door could be under a means of escape of flats above you. I would ring up for peace of mind in regards to your lease, better a wasted phonecall than being told you brand new door needs to be replaced!


I work for a social landlord and we are currently doing door upgrades/renewals, it is not a simple process when you factor in a hundred or so Leaseholders.