Doors
Composite Entrance Doors
A solid timber-core door with a glass-reinforced skin. The default premium front door in the UK, and deservedly so.
Start my quotationOverview
What it is, in plain English
A composite door combines a dense insulating core with a tough glass-reinforced plastic skin, giving it the weight and feel of timber without the swelling, sticking and repainting.
Quality varies enormously between manufacturers. Core construction, slab thickness and the locking system matter far more than the picture in the brochure.
Best for
- Front doors
- Security
- Low maintenance
Specification
The detail that changes the price
- Materials
- Typically a 44–48mm slab with a solid timber or foam core and a GRP skin. Solid-core doors feel substantially better than foam-filled alternatives.
- Energy efficiency
- Well-insulated slabs achieve low U-values; the frame and threshold detail is where heat is usually lost.
- Security
- Ask for a three-star cylinder or a one-star cylinder with two-star handles, a PAS 24 tested doorset, and Secured by Design where possible.
- Colours & finishes
- Extensive colour palettes inside and out, with smooth or woodgrain textures. Dark colours on south-facing elevations should be UV-stable.
- Hardware
- Bar handles, lever/lever, lever/pad, letterplates, knockers and spyholes in chrome, black, satin, brass and gold finishes.
- Glass
- Decorative and obscure glazing, triple-glazed units, and matching side panels or top lights.
- Maintenance
- Wash the slab, lubricate the multi-point lock and adjust hinges occasionally. No painting.
- Typical applications
- Front and back doors on virtually any UK property type.
Honest assessment
Strengths and compromises
What it does well
- Excellent security and insulation
- Feels solid and substantial
- Very wide choice of colours and glass
- Effectively maintenance free
Where it compromises
- Quality between manufacturers varies widely
- Colour cannot easily be changed later
Next step
Get a considered quotation, not a sales visit.
Tell us about the property and a specialist reviews your requirement by hand.