What are the best front doors to buy?
The best front doors are those which combine functionality with aesthetic appeal.
A front door is the entrance to your home and is on show to the outside world, making it an important external feature that provides security and privacy.
The best entrance doors are those that you don’t have to worry too much about.
They are usually made from hard-wearing materials, and can cope with extremes in weather. However, you also want them to look beautiful, inviting, and enhance the look of your property.
What is the best type of front door in the UK?
“An Englishman’s home is his castle” may be a cliché, but there’s a great deal of truth in this familiar phrase.
Most of us feel that when we close the front door we are as safe and protected as if we were “barricaded” in.
A door that is not sturdy or secure is ill-equipped for modern-day living.
First, you need to feel that an entrance door is doing the best job possible and one sure-fire way of achieving this is to select one that is strong and fits well.
It also needs to be able to cope with weather extremes, all too prevalent in the UK, from the snow, ice, and rain we experience during autumn and winter to the soaring temperatures of summer.
There are several different materials used to make front doors, and some can be enhanced by a variety of finishes.
The best external doors will always be the ones that look good, complement the existing architecture, and leave you feeling safe and secure.
Best front doors UK tend to be of the following varieties:
- Timber
- uPVC
- Composite
- Aluminium
- Iron doors
There are pluses and minuses for each. So, let’s take a look at each in more detail.
Timber
A wooden entrance door has been a staple of homes for hundreds of years and it’s obvious why.
Not only can timber look stylish, but it can also be repainted so you can change the appearance to suit your mood or your décor.
Wood certainly makes for an attractive front door especially for traditional style or period homes.
The downside of timber is that is not as durable as other materials, and it may warp or rot as it undergoes a hammering from the Great British weather. To prevent this, regular maintenance is required.
uPVC
uPVC doors are undeniably strong and durable. They are resistant to changeable weather and will stand the test of time. They are also easy to maintain and not prone to rotting and flaking like wooden doors.
Another benefit of uPVC doors is that they will provide a high level of insulation, keeping out the cold and damp while preventing warm air from escaping – a big tick when it comes to environmental concerns and keeping down the cost of your heating bills.
They are also soundproof, meaning they are effective in cutting out external noise.
uPVC doors are worth considering if you want better security too because they are reinforced with galvanised steel which makes them harder to force open.
The downside is that they can look cheap. Most uPVC doors are white and plastic-looking, which might put you off.
However, there have been advancements in production methods and it is possible for you to choose from a variety of designs and patterns like imitation wood effects and different colours to compliment your home’s exterior. Customised designs are usually more expensive though.
Also, you can’t just change the colour in the same way you can a wooden door. Another downside is that uPVC often lacks character, and can look out of place at traditional or historic homes.
Composite
If you want an energy-efficient front door that can compete with others in terms of style, then the composite door is a great compromise.
These are created from a combination of materials, offering the insulation properties of uPVC with the aesthetic possibilities of timber.
Most composite doors have an external layer of glass reinforced plastic which is fused onto an internal uPVC door frame. The core part of the door is layered up solid timber and any space is filled with injectable and warm thermal polyurethane foam.
The result is excellent insulation.
However, like with the uPVC option, the aesthetics of composite front doors may not suit your tastes. Indeed, the best entrance doors will always have the wow factor.
Aluminium doors
Metal doors once held a poor reputation for energy efficiency and thermal management, but those problems are a thing of the past.
Aluminium doors require little maintenance, and they can be coated in almost any colour you wish.
The coating used to finish aluminium doors in almost any colour, known as powder coating, provides an exceptional finish, unlikely to peel or crack after years of weather exposure.
Iron doors
Iron doors are never going to become the see-everywhere kind of entrance, which is why they are popular with those who want something different.
Wrought iron makes for the best entrance doors because they look stunning. They possess outstanding aesthetic appeal, and bring grandeur to the façade of a home.
As a material, iron is resilient, strong, and resistant to moisture, rot, fire and insects.
Valeanto’s Iron Doors sees that its range is tested for a wide range of climates, ensuring they’re not just a niche option for those living in high heat or freezing temperatures – they can serve all kinds of homes, even those that see fluctuating weather all year round.
If you want to express your individuality with impressive entrance doors that will last the course, then wrought iron doors are among the best front doors to buy.
As with the aluminium alternatives, they can be coated in pretty much any colour you desire.
Simply ask a member of the team for details.
If you would like more information about our stunning collection of luxury wrought iron doors, then don’t hesitate to contact us today.