Any ideas for a classic-style new front door?

itm2

We had a composite front door fitted just over 10 years ago, and have had problems ever since with the door not closing properly - i.e. it seems to fall out of alignment in the frame, causing the bolt to misalign with the strike plate, and has to be pulled really hard (i.e. slammed) to close it.

We spent months (and more than a dozen visits from the original fitter) trying to resolve the issue in the year after it was first fitted. They would come and adjust the door on its hinges, and it would resolve the problem for maybe a few weeks, but then would revert back to its problem state. They eventually removed and re-hung the door from scratch, and that resolved the problem for a few months, but then the problem returned. Eventually we gave up, and have been living with the problem ever since.

I just had a conversation with someone who just fitted a Hormann garage door for us, and he suggested that the UPVC frame might be contributing to the problem (their own doors/frames are aluminium).

Has anyone got any recommendations for hard-wearing classic style doors which can also easily be fitted with a smart lock (we had a Yale Keyfree system fitted with the current door, and really like the convenience and peace of mind that it offers - particularly when we forget to take our keys when we leave the house!). The colour of our existing door has also faded badly (it's SW facing), so weather resistance would also be important.

I'd like to steer clear of the likes of Anglian, Everest, etc due to the hard sell and inflated costs if possible.

CliveOfIndia

itm2 said:

I'd like to steer clear of the likes of Anglian, Everest, etc due to the hard sell and inflated costs if possible.

A very wise choice!  The big firms like those do have something of a tarnished reputation for the hard sell, they also tend to be very expensive as they have to pay for swanky showrooms, advertising, sales teams etc., as well as making a big fat profit to keep their shareholders happy.

Although I can't recommend a particular manufacturer as such, it always pays to stay local if you can.  If you have a local independent/family-owned company who does this sort of thing, they're usually a good bet.  They have lower overheads than the big firms, they're usually out to make a reasonable rather than a huge profit, and most importantly they live or die by their local reputation - if they start ripping people off, word gets around and they won't be in business for very long.

As always, word-of-mouth recommendation is best - Facebook has many downsides, but if you have a local community page then this can be an excellent source of recommendations (by which I mean, ask people if they can recommend anyone local, rather than just looking at random businesses that may be advertising on there).

twopenny

I'd second with looking local.
We've had a great firm now gone bust over covid but taken over by another local firm that's even better.

My thoughts are with the fact that it was fine for a while then went south, repeatedly - then the fancy locks.
Either it is something you are doing or the locking system isn't coping with small differences.
Maybe the heat on the door? As it has already faded. 

You need someone local who knows. 
I have a door and windows that are subjected to high heat and cold from east/north east rising sun or freezing temperatures and with traditional locks that have survived 20yrs.
Also south westerly patio doors subject to intense heat that are fine.

Doozergirl

These are stunning doors.  Built to last. 

https://www.kloeber.co.uk/products/made-to-measure-doors/entrance/timber-wooden/klassicfront/

itm2

Doozergirl said:

These are stunning doors.  Built to last. 

https://www.kloeber.co.uk/products/made-to-measure-doors/entrance/timber-wooden/klassicfront/

Thanks but I'm reluctant to go back to wood. The original door was wood and it used to expand in both summer and winter and became impossible to open or close!

Doozergirl

itm2 said:

Doozergirl said:

These are stunning doors.  Built to last. 

https://www.kloeber.co.uk/products/made-to-measure-doors/entrance/timber-wooden/klassicfront/

Thanks but I'm reluctant to go back to wood. The original door was wood and it used to expand in both summer and winter and became impossible to open or close!

These are engineered wood.  They don't do that. Traditional doors are made with larger pieces of wood that can be prone to expansion and warping.   Engineered doors and made with many layers of timber that cannot move in the same exaggerated way and so they stay more stable.
 

 We've had two like this, covering a decade.  

Rosa_Damascena

itm2 said:

Doozergirl said:

These are stunning doors.  Built to last. 

https://www.kloeber.co.uk/products/made-to-measure-doors/entrance/timber-wooden/klassicfront/

Thanks but I'm reluctant to go back to wood. The original door was wood and it used to expand in both summer and winter and became impossible to open or close!

Had the same and it needed constant shaving in the summer to avoid getting stuck - leaving a draft in the winter. As @Doozergirl says, modern materials are more resistant to wear.