The two main types of timber doors used across the country are either hardwood doors or composite doors. These words are often thrown about, but what do they actually mean? And which one is better? We thought we’d create a short guide to the two to help you decide which is best for your home.
Hardwood doors vs. composite doors
Here at Premier for instance, we offer hardwood entrance doors and composite doors by Solidor as part of our product range. Both are suited to particular types of properties and particular needs.
What is a hardwood?
All timber species can be classified as either a ‘hardwood’ or a ‘softwood’. Hardwoods mainly come from broad-leafed, deciduous trees such as mahogany, beech and oak. The thing that defines it as a hardwood is the presence of pores in the the cellular structure of the wood itself. This complex cellular structure gives hardwood an exceptional stability, durability and weatherproofing property. Hardwoods are used widely across the construction industry, in everything from boats, musical instruments and windows, to of course, doors.
Benefits of hardwood doors
Stability
Hardwood entrance doors have an excellent dimensional stability. This is caused by the unique cellular structure inherent in the timber of hardwood species.
Long-lifespan
Thanks to its excellent dimensional stability, hardwood entrance doors have a very long lifespan. With an estimated working lifespan of 50 years, hardwood entrance doors can last a lifetime if well maintained.
Aesthetics
Nothing beats the beautiful appearance of a hardwood entrance door. With stunning aesthetics characterised by distinctive patterns of wood grains, hardwood entrance doors can help to enhance the aesthetics of heritage properties and add a touch of vintage charm to modern homes.
What is a composite door?
A composite door is made from a hybrid combination of materials in order to provide exceptional levels of thermal and acoustic insulation, as well as security. Utilising a solid timber core and frame, high quality foam insulation and a GRP skin, composite doors have incredible performance and versatile aesthetics, making them suited to the needs of a range of properties.
Benefits of composite doors
Durability
The solid timber core at the heart of the composite makes it incredibly durable. This presents a significant barrier to any potential intruder, making a composite door perfect for improving the security of a home.
Reduced maintenance
The high quality glass reinforced plastic (GRP) skin that the composite door is coated in provides it with reduced maintenance. A composite door is incredibly easy to maintain, requiring just an occasional wipe down with a cloth to be kept working at it’s optimum levels of performance.
Energy efficiency
Thanks to the combination of a solid timber core and high density foam, composite doors have exceptional thermal and acoustic insulation. A composite door can help to keep warmth in your home for longer, potentially reducing how much energy you have to use to heat your home. This can potentially save you a lot of money in the long term.
High quality hardwood entrance doors and composite doors
Hardwood and composite doors both have their respective benefits and are suited to different properties. That’s why we offer both here at Premier! For more information about our hardwood entrance doors or composite doors, please give us a call on 020 8683 4446 or send us an email.
