Rock doors vs Solidor

onomatopoeia99

In the last couple of years I've had a new front door and a new back door, of different constructions from different suppliers. Composite is not the only option.

Back door - composite, in white, from "Value doors". It was around the same price as a respected local firm quoted for a PVCu door of similar design. Value doors appear to be a franchise operation of some kind, with a central number that books a visit from the local agent. The door is solid enough, the agent who also installed it spent considerable time adjusting it and making sure it lined up properly, closed cleanly etc and in approximately a year it's given me no problems. I definitely prefer it to PVCu like my parents and other people I know have on their houses. I also prefer it to the timber door it replaced, though it may not last as long (fairly sure the old door was the original for the house, so 60 years old). I have a feeling with this sort of operation you are rather at the mercy of the dilligence of the fitter. I can't comment on the quality of technical support as so far, my door operates correctly.

Front door - Steel, by Hormann. Fabulous but expensive and I'm sure it will last longer than me. Everyone visiting my home comments on it (favorably). On the downside, the local dealer made some major blunders which caused a series of delays before I finally got the door. Very pleased with it when I finally got it though.

Furts

onomatopoeia99 wrote: »

In the last couple of years I've had a new front door and a new back door, of different constructions from different suppliers. Composite is not the only option.

Back door - composite, in white, from "Value doors". It was around the same price as a respected local firm quoted for a PVCu door of similar design. Value doors appear to be a franchise operation of some kind, with a central number that books a visit from the local agent. The door is solid enough, the agent who also installed it spent considerable time adjusting it and making sure it lined up properly, closed cleanly etc and in approximately a year it's given me no problems. I definitely prefer it to PVCu like my parents and other people I know have on their houses. I also prefer it to the timber door it replaced, though it may not last as long (fairly sure the old door was the original for the house, so 60 years old). I have a feeling with this sort of operation you are rather at the mercy of the dilligence of the fitter. I can't comment on the quality of technical support as so far, my door operates correctly.

Front door - Steel, by Hormann. Fabulous but expensive and I'm sure it will last longer than me. Everyone visiting my home comments on it (favorably). On the downside, the local dealer made some major blunders which caused a series of delays before I finally got the door. Very pleased with it when I finally got it though.

It is good that you are pleased with what you have. Fingers crossed this will remain so.

Here you have taken a chance on a supplier who may be a franchise. What happens if the franchisee is not trading in a year or two, or if Value Doors has vanished?

It appears that you do not know the manufacturer of the blank, nor the profile manufacturer, nor the fabricator. (In fairness you may know all these, and have simply not mentioned them!). This means you cannot seek manufacturers support, or after sales, in the future. These manufacturers are likely to be around long after the retailers have vanished into the mists of time!

Countless pvcu doors are useless at around 10-15 years old. Composite doors will mirror this, with many being in need of replacement much earlier than this. It is just a matter of time...

SplanK

Furts wrote: »

Countless pvcu doors are useless at around 10-15 years old. Composite doors will mirror this, with many being in need of replacement much earlier than this. It is just a matter of time...

Could I ask for the reasoning/understanding behind this? We have 2 doors at ours which are solid wood. The back door could do with a fettle but is exposed, where as the front door is sheltered under a storm shelter.


I have had the use of uPVC doors which are easily >15 years old and don't seem to have a any problems. I have had a couple of doors expand on me at our last house in summer but nothing horrific and put it down to the dark external colour...

Smiley_Dan

I would say it's very installation dependent. If you don't have any sun on a door for example, that's going to help. It also depends what you call "horrific". I know people with even newly installed doors which are not air tight and they seem to think that's acceptable...

But overall I feel that uPVC is not a very good building material, due to a number of reasons but particularly the warping and an inability to fix many problems - it's a less "hackable" material than timber.

Leoo

A big problem at the moment regarding adhesive which causes the outter door to buckle & come away from inner.The coloured front twists & blows out.This is a major problem for rock/GAP.The door will look fine for 3-6 months then the problems will begin.Been told from my local GAP who is a friend,not to buy Rock Door until sorted.

Leoo

But then surely a 10 warranty is through the manufacturer and not the supplier? I know someone who after 8 months the door failed,got in touch with Rock door who didn't want to know.They said the warranty is with supplier even though it was a fault with the door.The supplier had gone bust & basically Rock door/ GAP just didn't want to know.Even if the supplier does not want to know due to GAP want them to fit replacement door at their own expense,so if this happens you have no come back.It seems crazy but Rock door customer service is so poor & with the problems they are having with the quality at the moment its a very risky & maybe costly purchase.

ashe

If you bought the door via a credit card it wont matter if the supplier went bust as you can claim via the card provider. Always put anything with a warranty on a credit card for that reason.

DanDango

Solidor is the market leader and I can see why. Build quality is exceptional
Always use “an official installer”
We have twice on 2 properties
They’re just the best

bigpappa

I went to look at Rockdoor at GAP Upvc - I wasn't impressed.

So they had a cutout of the door frame on show and the sales guy mentioned only now we are moving to a steel outside frame but the core will still be foam.

I don't know about other makes but I would be going for a slad door or solid door.