Can I replace an external door with an internal?

Carrot007

Rosa_Damascena said:

I think the OP gets the message that this is one area that cannot be economised on. 

You can get a decent wooden door for £250 but carpentry costs will add.

You can also get as composite front door fitted for under £700.

Of course companies with silly prices exist. I just went to a manufacturer and asked them to recomend a fitter. (I also did not go for the cheapest, you could get a cheap pvc door fitted for under £400 (probably a better idea if south facing!)).

Rosa_Damascena

Carrot007 said:

Rosa_Damascena said:

I think the OP gets the message that this is one area that cannot be economised on. 

You can get a decent wooden door for £250 but carpentry costs will add.

You can also get as composite front door fitted for under £700.

Of course companies with silly prices exist. I just went to a manufacturer and asked them to recomend a fitter. (I also did not go for the cheapest, you could get a cheap pvc door fitted for under £400 (probably a better idea if south facing!)).

Seriously? I've not come across a composite that comes in at under £1k including fitting?

Always_the_realist

The porch is brick built and not a flimsy add on. Any regs were complied with by the previous owner. I’m having a new composite front door on the porch. The old external door is wooden with a wooden frame. I don’t think that also would have to be exterior grade?  That would mean I’d have 2 exterior grade doors 

stuart45

The reason for an external grade door is that the majority of porches don't require Regs, so even when brick built the U values of the floor, roof wall etc may not be the same as for an extension. Once you put an interior door on the house the porch becomes an extension.
However your original question was that can an interior door be fitted, and the answer is that it can if you want. Might be a good idea if you had somewhere to store the old one to stick on if there was an issue when you came to sell.

casper_gutman

I replaced a rotten timber external door (with no porch) a couple of years ago. It was my understanding that building control would not be interested as long as I was only replacing the door in the original frame. See e.g https://www.stalbans.gov.uk/sites/default/files/attachments/Repair%20or%20Replacement%20of%20Doors%20and%20Windows.pdf which states "The replacement of a door without replacing its frame is ... not controlled."

Does this apply here?

You'd be well advised to at least replace like-for-like, though, and use something which looks the part as the front door to your house, porch or no porch.

twopenny

Depending on whether the porch has a good door and locks.

Or is it open?

It might be worth ringing your insurance agent and asking if this is to be the only door between you and an intruder plus the business of locks. Not informing them that this had been changed would potentially invalidate your house and contents insurance at least putting the premium up.

Always_the_realist

It’s not open. It’s brick built and will have a composite door and frame with fully compliant locks etc. However I understand what Stuart45 is saying so I’ll look for a replacement exterior door. I just want a full glazed panel door to let in light. Thanks for all the replies

Niv

Always_the_realist said:

It’s not open. It’s brick built and will have a composite door and frame with fully compliant locks etc. However I understand what Stuart45 is saying so I’ll look for a replacement exterior door. I just want a full glazed panel door to let in light. Thanks for all the replies

If simply being glazed was the desire, it might have been useful to say at the start as that may have changed some of the replies as you can have a fully glazed external door such as in the below link:
https://www.wickes.co.uk/Wickes-Oxford-External-Oak-Door-Glazed/p/9000236165 
Just an example , not a recommendation. 

FreeBear

If it is currently a wooden door, modifying it and fit glass panels is one option