Choosing between Wooden Front Doors or Composite Front Doors

Author: Richard Collins - Operations Director

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Choosing the right front door, or any external door, for your home is an important choice with many factors to consider. The front door is arguably the most important feature of your home’s exterior design. It’s important to choose something that not only draws the eye of any approaching guests but reflects the true essence and character of your home, both inside and outside.

When it comes to choosing from different materials for your new front door, wooden front doors and composite front doors are two of the most popular types with homeowners. With all of their varying features and aspects, this guide will display a clear comparison between the two, bringing you one step closer to choosing your home’s new door.

Choosing the right front door, or any external door, for your home is an important choice with many factors to consider. The front door is arguably the most important feature of your home’s exterior design and is often the first thing guests notice about your home. It’s important to choose something that not only draws the eye of any approaching guests but reflects the true essence and character of your home, both inside and outside.

When it comes to choosing from different materials for your new front door, wooden front doors and composite front doors are two of the most popular options. This guide will discuss the key benefits of each option while taking you through their key differences, bringing you one step closer to choosing your home’s new door.

WHAT ARE WOODEN FRONT DOORS?

Wooden front doors are a conventional choice of door style. There are two types of wooden door to choose from:

• A solid wood door – made from one species of 100% natural wood, either solid wood or pieces glued together to create a hardwood door.
• Engineered wooden door – made from layers of various wood and timber which are glued together and then finished with a veneer of more expensive wood.

Learn more about the types of wooden front door available in our guide.

Are you looking for a grey wooden front door?

Our pick:

Malmo contemporary grey wooden front doors

From £569

Fully finished with a high-quality wood coating system

Uses our patented high performance CLPF core

Installation touch-up kit included so that trimmed doors can be refinished before final fitting

Full range of accessories available to complete the look

10 Year Guarantee.

Shop our contemporary grey wooden front doors today.

Depending on which one you choose, there are both pros and cons of choosing a wooden front door. View our complete composite front door range to find out how wooden front doors compare to composite front doors.

PROS OF WOODEN FRONT DOORS:

• Durability – when made with high-quality wood, wooden front doors can be highly durable, and able to withstand varying temperatures and weather conditions throughout the year. With maintenance, a wooden door will provide stability and security for your home.
• Can be repainted – should you ever need to update your front door or the look of your home, wooden front doors can be sanded and repainted. This way, your front door can always look its best and match with the overall look of your home.
• Natural aesthetic – wooden front doors provide a classically natural look. Whether you have a traditional or more modern style home, you will easily find a wooden front door to accompany the design of your home.

Are you looking for a durable, traditional composite front door?

Our pick:

Vufold traditional composite front doors

Thermally Efficient - U Value of 1.4 W/m2K (Energy Rating B)

Safe and Secure - PAS 24 in line with Document Q tested

Easy Install - full fitting kit included

Guarantee - 10 Years.

Shop our range of traditional composite front doors today.

• High-quality – wooden doors, especially solid wood, have a high-quality and classic feel to them. The structure and weight of wooden doors project an elegant and expensive aesthetic for your home in contrast to uPVC doors which, although many are of a high-quality, wooden front doors offer something a little extra.

Vufold’s high-quality front door sets

Vufold’s front door sets can be provided with the following optional extras, including:

• Frame kit
• Long bar handle
• Dead lock
• Night latch and hinges
• Door viewer
• Post box
• Letter box.

Read more about Vufold’s wooden front door sets here.

• Thermal/sound insulation – the quality and stability of wooden front doors provides great thermal and sound insulation. It is unlikely that much sound or heat will escape.

Read the guide to buying wooden front doors.

CONS OF WOODEN FRONT DOORS

• Vulnerable to the elements – despite being highly durable, wooden doors can fall victim to the persistent harshness of the weather. Depending on construction and if not maintained, wooden doors can begin to warp and swell when exposed to the elements. This will consequently affect the door’s overall performance – security, insulation, aesthetic and durability.

WOODEN FRONT DOORS FROM VUFOLD

At Vufold, we stock a wide range of high-quality wooden front doors. Take a look at our range below to find out more:

WHAT ARE COMPOSITE FRONT DOORS?

A composite front door has become a popular exterior door choice with many homeowners. These are made with a uPVC galvanised steel outer frame and a timber sub-frame filled with high-density polyurethane foam. This composite material is then overlaid with glass-reinforced fibre to create a strong, grained surface. Aluminium inserts may also be added for further strength and security, but this comes with extra weight and expense.

Composite front doors are slowly becoming the desired alternative to wooden doors, but it is best to consider the pros and cons of a composite door before making a final decision.

PROS OF COMPOSITE FRONT DOORS:

• Extremely durable – the multi-layered composition of a composite door makes them incredibly resistant to any weather conditions. Issues such as discolouration and warping are unlikely to affect the durable design of these doors.
• Highly secure – a composite door has a steel reinforcement inside which makes them extremely robust. It would be incredibly difficult to break down one of these doors due to their stability and strength. For further security, they also offer a multi-point locking system.
• Wide range of colour and style options – the glass-reinforced plastic provides an endless range of colour and style options for composite doors. You can find the perfect composite door style to suit your home, whether you’re looking for a traditional or contemporary look. Find out more about front door colours here.
• Wide range of glazing options – glazing can bring that extra wow factor to your front door, and composite front doors offer a wide variety of options. Choose the right glazing option for your door to give it a unique appearance and allow extra light to flood into your home.
• Wooden door effect – if you would like to enjoy the durability of a composite front door and the look and feel of a wooden front door, this can be achieved with a composite front door. They can be styled with a woodgrain effect to replicate the authentic look of a traditional wooden door with all the benefits of a composite front door.
• Very low maintenance – the strong and durable nature of composite front doors means they require very little to no maintenance. Repainting, varnishing or sanding will not be necessary for a composite door as they are not affected by any harsh weather conditions. Although a uPVC door can be low maintenance too, they don’t offer the same quality or security.
• Excellent thermal/sound insulation – a composite door has exceptional thermal efficiency and noise reduction. All heat and sound will be contained within your home and the door will also help to prevent outside noise from getting in too much. This is perfect if you live in a busier area.

Find out more about front doors here.

HOW DO WOODEN AND COMPOSITE DOORS COMPARE?

To find out more about the differences between wooden and composite front doors, or for more advice on the best door for your home, please contact our team today.

How do wooden and composite front doors compare to uPVC doors?

uPVC doors are made from melted and cooled Unplasticised Polyvinyl Chloride (uPVC), whereas composite doors are made up of a number of materials bonded together, making them a more secure, thermally efficient and durable option. Wooden front doors are also a more secure option than uPVC doors, often offering a more traditional and classic feel.

Read our full guide to uPVC vs wooden front doors here.