Composite Doors or Solid Wood Doors: Which is Right for Your Home?

As the front line in the battle against weather and intruders, it is crucial to understand the differences and whether composite doors or solid wood doors are better for your home. This article serves as your comprehensive guide, starting with the essentials of both door types, weighing their pros and cons, and diving into what sets them apart. By the end, you’ll be equipped to decide which door is the right option for your home.

What are composite doors?

Composite doors are a blend of technology and style, designed to mimic the traditional charm of wooden doors while surpassing them in strength and durability.

Composite is a material that is produced from two or more combined materials. They typically feature a solid timber core encased in a durable synthetic material such as PVCu, glass-reinforced plastic, or other high-performance composites. This layered design results in a door that possesses all the excellent properties one would want from a door.

What are solid wood doors?

Solid wood doors were once the obvious choice for homeowners who wanted a classic and traditional look for their home. Solid wood doors tend to be made from a single piece of wood or joining solid wood pieces together. With their robust nature and timeless design, traditional wood doors offer a blend of style and function.

 

 

 

Durability of composite doors

Composite doors excel in durability due to their innovative construction. The combination of a solid timber core and synthetic materials like PVCu provides exceptional resilience against harsh weather elements and intruders. Unlike solid wood doors, which may warp and crack over time, composite doors maintain their structural integrity and offer long-term reliability without sacrificing elsewhere.

Composite front doors are expected to last more than 35 years with little to no maintenance, besides ensuring mechanisms are well lubricated.

Durability of solid wood doors

Inherently, natural wood is incredibly strong. However, they are susceptible to warping, cracking and rotting, especially in poor weather conditions. While they can last for decades, they demand a lot more attention then a composite alternative.

The general life expectancy of a wooden door is upwards of 30 years, if it is properly maintained. A repaint every 2–5 years is essential.

Are composite doors secure?

Both composite doors and solid wood doors excel when it comes to security. When fitted with the correct locks, they are nearly impossible to kick or break down without the use of tools. Solid wood doors, however, lack the durability features found in composite alternatives. This means that a wooden door can become much less secure over time if it begins to warp or swell due to poor maintenance. With a composite door, you will not experience this issue.

Insulation of wooden doors

In terms of thermal insulation, both wooden doors and composite doors excel when compared to others available on the market. The difference lies in that composite doors retain their insulating properties better than wood over time.

Choice of styles

There is such a range of styles available for both composite and solid wood doors on the market. SCI Windows offer high quality composite doors in a wide range of colours, finishes, and glazing options, to help you find something that fits your home perfectly. From stylish knockers to draft and rattle-free letterboxes, we also offer a great range of add-ons for new doors that not only act as decoration but also enhance security, safety, and protection from the elements.

Is a composite door worth the extra money?

A good quality solid wood door is probably going to cost slightly less than a composite door. And trust us, there are many levels of quality when it comes to a wooden front door! However, this difference becomes nearly void when you take into account the cost of ongoing maintenance, which is significantly higher with a wooden door. As well as being harder to clean, solid wood doors require ongoing maintenance to be kept in the best condition. Made from a combination of materials, a composite door will mormally always outlast a solid wood door, resist warping and weathering, offer enhanced insulation, and provide high-level security. Their incredibly long lifespan and minimal upkeep make them an incredibly cost-effective long-term investment.

If you are looking for a quality company who can supply and fit highly secure and stylish composite doors that are both functional and visually appealing, please contact us. Give the team a call at 020 8648 0426 or email sales@sciwindows.co.uk.