Saturday 24 July 2010

Composite Door Side Panels

The best of modern front doors, composite doors offer a superior quality and attractive appearance to homes at a great value. Online suppliers, such as the Composite Door Shop, offer the ability to order side panels at the same time as a composite door.

Side panels are the panels around the front door. These panels are often glazed. Each panel has an individual name - full length side panels, half-length flag windows and top lights are the windows that run along the top of the door and/or side panel.
Side panels are especially good in situations where there is little light passing in to the hall. For those worried about privacy, but not wishing to hang net curtains, there are two choices - either only to get top lights, allowing light through the top windows, out of reach of peepers, or to choose side panels with an obscure glass backing.
Obscure glass backings is where the internal glass panel of double glazing is etched with a pattern which obscures the view. Different patterns offer different amounts of obscuration, so you can choose how much privacy is offered by the glass. This way, you can have a light and airy hallway with a smart front door, stylish side panels and as much privacy as you like.

If standard glazed side panels aren't to your liking, you can order composite side panels instead. These full length side panels can be placed on either side, or both sides, of the composite door and can be coupled with top light windows if preferred. Composite side panels can come as solid or glazed, to match your composite door. The colour, style and glazing used are all suited.

When replacing a front door, it is best to order side panels at the same time, to ensure a good fit and contrast.

Front Door Colours

Friday 16 April 2010

Composite Doors in Modern Homes

Composite doors are suitable in any home, especially modern homes and new builds. The smart, attractive appearance of the door adds warmth and elegance. There are many options to choose from with a composite door. You could choose from seven colours, a host of different designs and, if you choose a glazed door, many different attractive glass designs. With all the different style options available, you can really add personality to your entrance.

The benefits of having a composite front door go beyond appearance and style. Composite doors are renowned for their superior quality, longevity and function. The front doors have thermal cores which make them up to six times more energy efficient. To add to this efficiency, there is the fact that the doors do not shrink or expand with heat changes, so the door will remain flush inside the frame - preventing draughty gaps from forming and the door from sticking.
There are also many security benefits. The tough skin of the door is stronger than most other front doors, resisting damage and cracks. Composite doors come with multi-point locks as standard, holding the door in to the frame in multiple places, ensuring that your home remains secure.

Friday 12 February 2010

Front Door Colours

When choosing a new front door, many people worry about the choice of colour. With wooden doors this may not matter much - it can easily be sanded and re-painted or varnished with a different colour. But what about other doors?
uPVC doors come in a very limited choice of colours. More often than not, you can only get white uPVC doors. Sometimes you have the option of a light or dark wood finish to the uPVC door - but it will cost you over £100 extra for the privilege.
As mentioned in the last post, uPVC doors tend to lose their colour and look musty and grubby. Wood also tends to fade and lose its lustre as it is exposed to the elements.
For those wishing to avoid these problems, a composite door is the answer.
Not only will composite doors stay looking smart, but they are available in seven colour choices. The range of colours are likely to suit every taste.



Dark wood is perfect for anyone wanting a traditional look without the hassle of maintaining it or other potential factors such as fading or rotting.



Red is for those looking for something a bit more daring. Not too bright or in-your-face, it adds an attractive charm to the house.



This deep blue is a classic. Ideal for creating a smart but bold entrance.



Black creates a refined door, ideal for most homes.



Green creates an amazing contrast in red brick homes.



Light oak, perfect for the same wooden traditional look but with a brighter appearance than the dark wood.



White is ideal for most situations. Thanks to the protective skin, you don't need to worry about staining or discolouring. The door won't require much maintenance at all, making this the easiest and cleanest white door you'll ever own!

When you've finished choosing a colour, why not consider your Front Door Mat?

Here's a handy checklist for anyone buying a new front door.

Friday 8 January 2010

Composite Front Doors - Glass Reinforced Plastic

As the name suggests, composite doors are made from a variety of materials. uPVC and wooden frames are skinned with a composite material known as glass reinforced plastic (GRP) and then filled with a strong, thermal core.
GRP is a plastic which has been bonded with fibres of glass to create a composite material that is strong and durable but also lightweight. The addition of glass phases out the usual issues that occur when using plastic.
You may have noticed that cheap uPVC doors are prone to discolouring over time. Coloured uPVC doors will also fade if they are in an area where they are exposed to high levels of UV light. They are difficult to clean, sometimes requiring special chemical cleaners to remove stains, most of which will usually be too ingrained to remove in any way. These problems are not applicable to composite doors, due to the GRP skin. They are protected from UV light, so they won't fade or discolour. The finish is long-lasting and low-maintenance, so you won't have to worry about it. The front door is so easy to clean that you can just use a cloth to wipe it down if it shows any sign of dirt. Because the wooden frame is encased within the door, the door will not rot as doors made entirely from wood would.

In addition to the aesthetic benefits of glass reinforced plastic, the strength also means a very good level of security. Composite doors have been tested over and over and it has been found that they provide a much, much higher level of security than any of the standard doors on the market. If you dislike the appearance of metal-enforced doors but need the protection, consider buying a composite door. It has been known that persistent burglars are more likely to give up than gain access to a composite door.

Monday 4 January 2010

The Importance of a Good Entrance

Front doors are important. They are the first impression of your home. They are used daily, several times a day even. They protect your home from weather vulnerabilities. They protect your home from potential criminal attacks. Yet, despite their importance, not many people consider them enough. As long as the door grants access, keeps the wind out and locks, people are quite happy just to make do. That is, until something happens and it becomes obvious that the front door is not meeting it's requirements.
To ensure you make the right choice when buying a new front door, check out this little guide on buying a new door, complete with checklist.