What is a composite door? They’re often mentioned as being a door at the height of its technology, but what does the term actually mean and how is it better than other door types?
At its simplest, the word ‘composite’ means ‘made up of different parts or materials’. A composite door then, is simply a door made up of different materials: in this case from timber, high-density foam and uPVC. They combine the best of both worlds: the thermal efficiency and easy-maintenance of uPVC with the durability and security of timber doors.
Doors through history: Timber doors
Throughout their history, doors have been traditionally made of timber. Around a thousand years ago, there wasn’t a specific type of wood used for doors; it was just a matter of using timber that could be sourced locally. As trade and transportation networks drew, oak and pine became the traditional materials for front doors.
Whilst being very durable and secure, wooden doors can be quite costly to install. They also require regular maintenance to be kept working at their optimum, but when well cared for can have an estimated working lifespan of up to 60 or 70 years.
20th century doors: uPVC
As technology advanced in the latter half of the 20th century, we saw the development of the uPVC door. These doors were more energy efficient, but tended to be less secure and not as durable as traditional wooden doors.
The door of the future; the composite door
Composite doors seek to combine the best features of timber doors with the best features of uPVC doors. Incredibly strong, brilliantly weather-resistant and very attractive, the composite door is both thermally efficient and affordable; making it the perfect door for many properties.
What makes up a composite door
The outer layer of the composite door itself is coated in a GRP (Glass Reinforced Plastic) skin. This layer provides extra scratch-resistance, weather-resistance and a special wood-grain finish that heightens the colour of the door.
After this, there is the internal core of a composite door. This is made of high-density polyurethane foam that provides great strength, as well as thermal efficiency. Enveloping this is the sub-frame of a composite door which is made of timber and creates an incredibly strong internal structure, stopping the door from warping over time and providing increased firmness.
The combination of all of these materials makes the composite door one of the best performing door types currently available on the market.
At Premier we offer a variety of composite doors for sale. If you would like more information, please give us a call on, or email us. We look forward to hearing from you.
