Whether selecting the doors to your garden or the front door to your home, there are multiple things to take into consideration when making your choice. From styles and colour schemes to locking mechanisms and overall design, you can customise more or less every aspect of your door so that it fits in seamlessly with the rest of your decor. Choosing what your door will be constructed from is arguably one of the biggest decisions to make and is one that should be deliberated carefully. After all, the materials used will contribute to both the strength and aesthetic appeal of your doors.

Whilst wood is often favoured for its classic beauty and sturdy nature, it is actually more susceptible to moisture than other materials and often requires a fair bit of maintenance which is why many homeowners are now opting for uPVC or composite doors. Both styles come with a myriad of benefits and they are often much more affordable than their wooden counterparts- but which is the better choice for your home?

To help you make your door selection with ease, we’ve outlined the differences between uPVC and composite doors as well as the pros and cons of each material.

uPVC front doors

Unplasticized Polyvinyl Chloride (uPVC) is a rigid form of plastic that’s often used for doors and windows due to its strength and durability. Many homeowners are now opting for uPVC front doors as, in comparison to other materials, uPVC requires reasonably little maintenance. Wood has a tendency to warp, rot and flake in bad weather and as a result, it often needs extensive upkeep to maintain its visual appeal whereas uPVC is highly resistant to all weather conditions. A simple wipe down every now and again will be enough to keep your uPVC doors looking fresh, allowing you to focus your attention on more pressing matters.

Another great thing about uPVC is its versatility. In addition to front doors, it’s also suited to creating any style of patio door and can be designed to exact specifications. Whether your home has a contemporary or more traditional look, uPVC doors can be customised to suit any property and they are available in a range of colours and finishes.

When making significant changes to your home, cost is a crucial consideration and sometimes, it’s necessary to pinch pennies wherever possible. This is where uPVC really comes into its own as, more often than not, it’s cheaper than other building materials but is still extremely high in quality. uPVC is known for being resistant to most weather conditions and further to this, it is one of the most secure solutions around, giving you peace of mind that your property is well protected against intrusion.

As a material that’s both durable and aesthetically appealing, it’s not difficult to see why many homeowners opt for uPVC entrances- but is there a better alternative?

Composite external doors

Composite doors are constructed from a range of different materials and as a result, they’re often much stronger and sturdier than single-material doors. Materials such as wood, PVC, insulating foam and glass reinforced polyester (GRP) are tightly glued together under high pressure conditions to create doors that are thicker than their uPVC counterparts.

Composite doors boast the benefits of a variety of different materials as opposed to just one which gives them an advantage over other door styles. They are highly resistant to adverse weather conditions and are unaffected by temperature variations, allowing them to maintain their visual appeal come rain or shine. As with uPVC, composite doors can be purchased in a range of different colours and finishes and they can be customised to suit any style.

Whether you’d like a solid composite door or one with glass panels, this can surely be arranged and a composite door is bound to increase your property’s kerb appeal. This is an important thing to consider if there’s a possibility that you might sell-up in the future as a composite door could make your home more attractive to potential buyers, thereby making it sell faster.

In addition to being weatherproof, composite doors are often very energy-efficient, helping to keep your home cool in the summer and warm in the winter. Similarly to uPVC, they are also reasonably easy to clean and as a result, you can ensure your composite door will stand the test of time and continue to look sleek for years to come.

When it comes to price, composite doors are often more expensive than their uPVC counterparts. After all, they are constructed using more materials and as a result, they are usually more costly to make. However, although a little bit more pricey, composite doors are extremely good value for money as they are both durable and visually appealing. Whether you require a new front door or some doors leading the way to your back garden, composite doors are suited to both applications.

Making your selection

Now that you’re aware of the pros and cons of uPVC and composite doors, it’s important to consider which would be appropriate for your property. Whilst both materials have very similar qualities, the deal-breaker is arguably the price. Composite doors are much thicker than uPVC and as a result, they are usually more costly, however, they are also likely to be more secure and long-lasting. Consider your budget and your requirements carefully and use this to guide your decision to ensure you end up with a door that ticks all your boxes.

Your decision will also largely come down to personal preference. In addition to being sturdy, we also want our doors to be sleek and stylish and with this in mind, it’s important to go for the material that fits in best with the style of your property. Typically, composite doors offer slightly more choice in terms of design, so this may be the perfect solution for you. However, if you feel that uPVC fits in more with your property’s current style of decor, this could well sway your decision. Consider your personal design preferences carefully and choose a door that not only functions effectively, but also looks great and enhances both the interior and exterior of your property.

If you’re looking for reliable window and door manufacturers in Stoke-on-Trent, look no further than Lifestyle Designs. Whether you’d like a stylish composite front door or some uPVC French doors leading to your back garden, we both supply and install all our products and we only work with top-quality materials, ensuring that all our installations stand the test of time.

Our windows and doors are fitted with strengthened glass and sturdy Yale locks for maximum security and we offer our products in a broad range of colours and finishes, ensuring your windows and doors fit in seamlessly with the rest of your decor.

In addition to fitting windows and doors, we also specialise in designing bespoke conservatories and, in the event that you have a problem with any of these products, we offer extensive repair services at an affordable price.

To find out more about what we do here at Lifestyle Designs, why not take a look at some of our latest work? Alternatively, contact us today and one of our experts will provide a quote for your upcoming project.