Can you draught and soundproof a solid wood door to match that of a composite?

phil_b_2

Hi all,

I'm in need of a new front door to go on an old Victorian terrace house. It currently has a solid wood door with fairly decorative frame and top window.

My options were a nice period hardwood door (4-panel, painted black), or tinker with the existing frame and squeeze a composite frame/door in to that.

My thinking was that getting a solid wood door would fit better with the house and be more like-for-like, but a composite door would be better from a noise/draught perspective.

Security isn't an issue. The door is sheltered in a raised porch so maintenance isn't really an issue either, so it's all about noise/heat.

Can you successfully draught and sound proof a solid wood door with various rubber strips etc to match the performance of a composite? Or at least get very close? Any successes with this??

edgex

What do you mean by "decorative frame". Is the wood around the door nicely detailed, or is it the masonry?

phil_b_2

edgex wrote: »

What do you mean by "decorative frame". Is the wood around the door nicely detailed, or is it the masonry?

The wood frame around the current door and top window is the typical Victorian detail with plenty of curves etc. I think we would need to chip at it a bit to rebate a composite door frame within the existing frame.

edgex

phil_b wrote: »

The wood frame around the current door and top window is the typical Victorian detail with plenty of curves etc. I think we would need to chip at it a bit to rebate a composite door frame within the existing frame.

So like this;
https://cdn.shopify.com/s/files/1/1341/7889/products/victorian-door-with-frame_2000x.jpg?v=1558188703


Is it a full porch or just a canopy?
Another internal door, so there's an inner porch/lobby?

Cisco001

I have door seal on the frame and brush strip at the bottom on my wooden door.

But I don't know about sound insulation.

phil_b_2

edgex wrote: »

So like this;
https://cdn.shopify.com/s/files/1/1341/7889/products/victorian-door-with-frame_2000x.jpg?v=1558188703


Is it a full porch or just a canopy?
Another internal door, so there's an inner porch/lobby?

Not quite as ornate but along those lines.

The front door is up 4 steps. It is a bit of an open porch which sets in to the house. So you go up these 4 steps in an enclosed porch with walls either side and a roof, then straight through the door in to the hall.

It is north facing and gets no direct sun light. It doesn't get touched by rain, even in heavy winds. It has an easy life so maintenance is no issue really. I think I could oil paint it and it would be fine for at least 5 years. It's a low crime area and overlooked so security is no issue either. It's just noise and draught protection. The current door is noisy and draughty as hell!

edgex

The issue with a composite door, like upvc doors, is that they are a system with the frame.

Noise & draughts will be coming from around the frame, the glazing & the door.
Strip it back to wood, caulk/seal up any gaps around the frame, fit secondary glazing, paint, fit weather stripping etc around door rebate.
If the door fits badly, get a new one fitted.

ka7e

A cheap solution would be to put up a portiere door rod and hang a thick curtain. The curtain would cover the whole frame, but lift and open with the door.