Hormann Front Door

lindze

Hi
I wonder if anyone could point me in the right direction. I would like a steel entrance door and would ideally like a Hormann.
The problem I have is that, as by doorway is under 875mm, they will only give me an option of 5 styles - 4 are just plain awful and the one that is likeable is very contemporary and may look odd on a Victorian property.
I could increase the door opening but as the house is rendered how would I find out if the lintel is long enough without taking render off the outside?

System

get a price for the door first - they are not cheap door sets, any reason you are stuck on horman? or steel?

lindze

the_r_sole wrote: »

get a price for the door first - they are not cheap door sets, any reason you are stuck on horman? or steel?

Thanks for the reply. The reason is security really, I live in a ground floor flat with my entrance door down a passage way and out of sight (approx 40ft from the highway). I just want a secure door and I am not really interested in a composite. I am not stuck on Hormann and if you know of any other makes that could help I am happy to research others

I have had the site survey and full quote for door, that I could have, including installation and yes you are definitely right it is expensive but I am ok with it

System

I'm sure there's Titan steel doors and Lathams (maybe) that have more domestic looking things, not sure who supplies and installs them or what their insulation properties are like

lindze

thanks, had a little look and wow those Titan ones look heavy duty don't they? I will have proper look at those that you have mentioned this evening.

So annoying that my doorway is so narrow, to pick something that you like to be told you can't have that one is disappointing

onomatopoeia99

Your doorway is a similar size to mine and in the typical UK size range. Hormann's default sizes of 1000mm and 1100mm are more common overseas, so most of their doors are only available in UK sizes if you custom order as a "special size", as I had to with mine. You should be able to get just about any of the styles though.

Mine is an "850" style, I think it's been in for four years now and I'm very pleased with it, everyone that comes to my house asks where I got it from

If you go to this page

http://www.hormann.co.uk/catalogues/catalogues-for-private-building-owners-and-renovators/

There is a price list and that has all the sizes / size ranges that custom ones can be made in, for all of the steel door styles.

lindze

onomatopoeia99 wrote: »

Your doorway is a similar size to mine and in the typical UK size range. Hormann's default sizes of 1000mm and 1100mm are more common overseas, so most of their doors are only available in UK sizes if you custom order as a "special size", as I had to with mine. You should be able to get just about any of the styles though.

Mine is an "850" style, I think it's been in for four years now and I'm very pleased with it, everyone that comes to my house asks where I got it from

If you go to this page

http://www.hormann.co.uk/catalogues/catalogues-for-private-building-owners-and-renovators/

There is a price list and that has all the sizes / size ranges that custom ones can be made in, for all of the steel door styles.

Yes I think mine is about 840mm - they have said that I could have the Styles 750, 900 - which maybe too modern for my house. I could have the 010,020,030,040 which I have to say are not my cup of tea at all. Basically most of them we have to have 875 mm doorways to start with which is the special sizes

My extra 'little' issue is that I live in a conservation area so they may refuse a modern looking door - although I am hoping as it is so far away from the highway I will not need their permission. I was hoping to give them the chance to let me have a traditional looking door if they say no to the others.

It is whether I get the 750 or nothing from Hormann at the moment. They didn't say anything about the 850 though

Furts

No way do you want to increase your door opening to suit a replacement front door. All the more so on a Victorian property in a Conservation Area. Which prompts a couple of questions. 1)Why do you want to replace your existing door? 2) Why not replace with a timber door that will look appropriate and keep the conservation appeal?

If security is your concern I can understand you not wanting a typical composite door. But the flip side to this is if you are set on a steel door then you need to view carefully exactly what you are getting, and how it is fitted.

lindze

Furts wrote: »

No way do you want to increase your door opening to suit a replacement front door. All the more so on a Victorian property in a Conservation Area. Which prompts a couple of questions. 1)Why do you want to replace your existing door? 2) Why not replace with a timber door that will look appropriate and keep the conservation appeal?

If security is your concern I can understand you not wanting a typical composite door. But the flip side to this is if you are set on a steel door then you need to view carefully exactly what you are getting, and how it is fitted.

Hi, To answer your questions - my door to my flat is not the natural front door, it was created when the property was converted in the 1980s, hence why it is down a passage way at the side 40ft from the pavement.. The main proper door to the house is in it's natural place and used by the flats above me.
Changing my door will not affect visual effect of the area as cannot be seen thus security important
The current door is a cheap upvc door with glazing top and bottom - been there since conversion as far as I know. Any change would be a visual improvement but nobody walking the area would see it unless venturing onto my property.
Timber is an option but as far as I have read not that secure even with good locks and I don't really want the maintenance

If you saw the current cheap white bit of plastic that sits in the hole at present.....ergh it's awful!!

Furts

lindze wrote: »

Timber is an option but as far as I have read not that secure even with good locks and I don't really want the maintenance

A decent timber door will be light years ahead of composite doors for security. Your choice on the "maintenance" side but this is an illusion - particularly if you are in a sheltered spot. What "maintenance" will it need? The answer is virtually none.

Security is also an illusion, and linked to a state of mind. Nothing is secure. You have to make an honest judgement on your location and a genuine appraisal on the risk.

By all means get a steel door, but the security with this is an illusion. Unless the frame is superbly fitted to your opening then there is only apparent security. Then there are the locks and the glazing - again weak points.

Then bear in mind a brutal truth. When Police are shown doing a drugs raid no door copes with a quick hit from their tool - which means your concept of a steel door is not a secure concept. As I have said, it is all an illusion.

VfM4meplse

Furts wrote: »

By all means get a steel door, but the security with this is an illusion. Unless the frame is superbly fitted to your opening then there is only apparent security. Then there are the locks and the glazing - again weak points.

I am personally very anti-UPVC doors. I’ve lived behind a steel door for over 15 years, and was specifically told by a PCSO that the reason there had been no internal burglaries on the development was down to the steel doors being too hard to get into by burglars. They’re looking for easier targets and UPVC can be easily jemmied open.

Am following this thread with interest though.