Front doors that stand the test of time
Not all doors can be expected to last as long as the above example – but then again do we really want to go back to living in caves?
In the consumer, orientated society in which we now all live we are becoming increasingly used to a philosophy of – buy it – use it – throw it away – like it or loathe it, it is becoming more and more the way that we treat everyday commodities – everything has a shelf life.
The exception to the rules seem to be the “high value” items we but which are not easily discarded and replaced for example our homes but that does not mean that we do not regularly replace component parts of these items – in our homes many of us regularly replace /renew furnishings /décor/doors / windows / kitchens / bathrooms etc – the kind of items our grandparents / great grandparents and beyond would have bought once and expected to last a lifetime.
Doors are our area of special interest here at Global Door we market them, sell them and install them so we are of course very interested in what prospective purchasers expect from their doors The majority of people advise us that they would like their doors to serve them for as long as possible, but, they are generally equally aware that the longevity of any door is dependent upon a number of factors the material that the door is made from, how well it was fitted, and how well it is maintained.
The key performance factors (excluding cost) which our customers advise that they require from their new front door are, appearance (style/colour/accessories), functionality (it opens and closes as a door should over countless repetitions) security (both against the elements and break in) and somewhere in the rear comes longevity. Our view is simple if the door looks good, performs well and offers dependable security for its whole life it is just about the perfect product and the Composite Doors supplied by Global Door tick all of the above boxes.
How long should you expect your new front door to last? The answer is governed by two key factors material of manufacture and maintenance. Until the arrival of the composite door the main materials used for door manufacture were –
Wood – hardwood is best – softwood less reliable whether hand or machine manufactured timber doors can be stunning but maintenance can be expensive annual/bi-annual painting /varnishing and as wood is susceptible to changes in climate, shrinkage, swelling, warping and twisting can all become key factors not forgetting the worst of all “ROT” – which will require your constant attention throughout its life span. As for lifespan, we only have to look at some of our historic buildings to know that a quality hardwood timber door can last for generations, however a cheap far eastern softwood import may give you a few months of pleasure (but only in summer months) before it starts to fall apart. Some of the more reliable timbers used in the manufacture of quality doors which guarantee longevity with correct maintenance are-
Oak a durable and moisture resistant timber.
Mahogany a quality timber but expensive used extensively in the furniture industry because of its appearance.
Walnut as mahogany
Cherry – similar to Mahogany but more prone to colour change in sunlight
Teak a solid and weather resistant timber used extensively where ever timber is used.
Maple is durable but prone to shrinkage over time.
All of the named timbers will, when manufactured as doors comfortably exceed a lifespan of thirty years when correctly maintained.
UPVC/ PVCU or any of the various derivatives of names used, although the material is still used extensively for windows the use in door manufacture has declined over recent years but is now starting to enjoy a renaissance – the problems with older doors of this material started with the choice of colour which was generally white which eventually became any shade of white as the material discoloured over time and early examples of such doors were limited in choice of styles available. As doors and frames required some form of reinforcement and the more unscrupulous manufactures scrimped on this element the doors developed a somewhat unjustified reputation of being flimsy in construction (twisting, sticking in frames etc.) – a quality constructed door in UPVC should easily last twenty-five years more so with new doors which are more robust and with greater choice than their predecessors
Metal doors – Steel /aluminium doors are excellent for security but historically they have not always been the most attractive of doors. All metals react to temperature change and changes in climatic conditions, they do not respond well to extreme weather, and harsh sunlight, too much rain and salty air can actually cause them to deteriorate quickly if not correctly maintained. The advent of new electrostatic powder coating techniques has substantially increased the longevity of these doors removing the need for constant repainting (in the case of steel) and improving the drab grey appearance (aluminium). Metal doors of any form do not take knocks and bumps well and maintenance may in the worst cases have to include replacement of component parts but twenty- five to thirty years should be achievable.
Composite Doors – the doors marketed and sold via the Global Door web site are the “new kid on the block in respect of doors” and as the name suggests they take the best of a number of products and combine them to produce a solid, secure, dependable, stylish, colourful door, that will require next to no maintenance and is guaranteed to last for thirty years.
At the heart of our composite doors is a Solid Polyurethane core which provides excellent thermal and acoustic insulation benefits and which together with the 2mm GRP cladding each side can be machine cut to match any profile of door, all doors are hardwood reinforced and factory produced to rigorous Quality standards
Once all components are bonded together the door is highly unlikely to warp or twist, it will not rot , its construction lends itself well the introduction of sophisticated multi point locking systems and as for maintenance an occasional wipe with a damp cloth and a drop of oil on locks and hinges from time to time should be all that is required.
The biggest benefit of Composite doors is their versatility dozens of styles and vibrant colours all manufactured using the same core techniques and materials –
From this ………………………………………….to this…………………………………….to this ………………………..
They are all composite doors
One other key factor that many people forget when longevity of a door is considered is the Quality of installation – a door which is not installed square in its frame can quickly cause damage to the frame which can be expensive to replace. This problem does not exist with composite doors because they are manufactured as a pre-assembled door set in the factory where the door is drilled screwed and pre-hung in the factory rather than working around the complexities of a badly formed opening. Fortunately for all prospective Global Door customers we have a superb installation service Our First Class Installation Service which we know works because we have installed thousands of doors over the last ten years and our customers reviews agree with us.
If you’re looking for a new front door that is competitively priced (cheaper than all of the hardwood alternatives noted above), a solid, secure, dependable, stylish, colourful Composite Door that will require next to no maintenance and is guaranteed to last for thirty years, could be the door for you, find out all the facts at the Global Door web site.