wooden or composite Victorian style front door advice

JeffMason

Hi All,

I've just moved in to new house so apologies for all the upcoming DIY related questions...

I'm looking to get a new front door. It's a Victorian terrace so want to stick with tradditional wood door. Any recommendations of places to go to get a good door at a reasonable price? And also, what is considered a reasonable price!?

I'm in London SE25 so any local (ish) suggestions would be great...

Thank you!

tacpot12

Make sure you understand the building regulations that your new front door will have to comply with. If you are in a conservation area, you might also need planning permission. Sorry, I can't help with a recommendation for a source. 

MrsStepford

Two options.
1. Wait until coronavirus restrictions ease a bit and visit salvage yards. Victorian and Edwardian doors will be in Imperial measurements, so it should be relatively easy to find a door which will fit the gap. Would advise either taking to have it tank stripped or using paste stripper eg Kling Strip, as paint is likely to contain lead.  Knot sealant, primer undercoat, finish of choice and door furniture. Pros: It should be a more solid door than a modern one and you're doing your bit for the environment by recycling. Cons: Time consuming, probably more expensive.

2. Perusing major DIY websites for the best metric match you can get. Make sure your calculations are accurate because the doors aren't solid and you can only remove a limited amount of wood (should be in details) from each of the four sides. Knot sealant, primer undercoat, finish of choice and door furniture. Pros: Cheaper, less time consuming, will look just as good. Cons: Not as secure, might not last for decades. 

JeffMason

tacpot12 said:

Make sure you understand the building regulations that your new front door will have to comply with. If you are in a conservation area, you might also need planning permission. Sorry, I can't help with a recommendation for a source. 

Good point. Where do I find out about building regulations and what I need to do? Not a conservation area so that should make things easier...

JeffMason

MrsStepford said:

Two options.
1. Wait until coronavirus restrictions ease a bit and visit salvage yards. Victorian and Edwardian doors will be in Imperial measurements, so it should be relatively easy to find a door which will fit the gap. Would advise either taking to have it tank stripped or using paste stripper eg Kling Strip, as paint is likely to contain lead.  Knot sealant, primer undercoat, finish of choice and door furniture. Pros: It should be a more solid door than a modern one and you're doing your bit for the environment by recycling. Cons: Time consuming, probably more expensive.

2. Perusing major DIY websites for the best metric match you can get. Make sure your calculations are accurate because the doors aren't solid and you can only remove a limited amount of wood (should be in details) from each of the four sides. Knot sealant, primer undercoat, finish of choice and door furniture. Pros: Cheaper, less time consuming, will look just as good. Cons: Not as secure, might not last for decades. 

There isn't a third option of going to a good local (ish) door company?

JeffMason

I could also go for a composite door, which I assume will be cheaper, but can you get them without the wood grain effect? 

tacpot12

This would be a good starting point for the building regs on doors: Building Regulations | Doors and windows | Planning Portal
This site may also make things clearer: Building Regulations for Doors: Advice and Tips (vibrantdoors.co.uk)

twopenny

JeffMason said:

I could also go for a composite door, which I assume will be cheaper, but can you get them without the wood grain effect? 

Not necessarily. A new bare wood exterior door I was  qutoted £180 , but bear in mind you need a frame, hinges, handles, locks and glazing

A composite door with surround £600 up to fitted £1000.

Do you have a wooden door frame now?

I also looked at reclaimed ones. Seemed tougher and more authentic.

You might want to think about security and your insurance. I hung onto the original door in my Edwardian semi. Solid as a rock and so was the lock but dealing with the insurance company on 'what sort of lock' etc was an annual nightmare until they became 'enlightened'

Rosa_Damascena

I replaced my wooden side door with a solid wood door and was happy to stop using my wooden front door, which is nothing but bother when it refuses to open. I went with the Howden's option when it turned out that the beautiful stained-glass door I reclaimed wouldn't have had the sufficient strength when cut down to size. 

The new door has  also given plenty of trouble whilst it has settled, so next time its going to be metal / composite all the way.

JeffMason

twopenny said:

JeffMason said:

I could also go for a composite door, which I assume will be cheaper, but can you get them without the wood grain effect? 

Not necessarily. A new bare wood exterior door I was  qutoted £180 , but bear in mind you need a frame, hinges, handles, locks and glazing

A composite door with surround £600 up to fitted £1000.

Do you have a wooden door frame now?

I also looked at reclaimed ones. Seemed tougher and more authentic.

You might want to think about security and your insurance. I hung onto the original door in my Edwardian semi. Solid as a rock and so was the lock but dealing with the insurance company on 'what sort of lock' etc was an annual nightmare until they became 'enlightened'

Yes, it's all wooden currently. The door is just worn out and the locks are old and tricky to work. I want to replace with very similar to what is already there.