Hardwood Or PVC Front Doors
Wood has been the traditional choice as the front entrance door to homes for many a year. The problem with an older hardwood door is that it requires regular maintenance and it will quite often warp and twist due to changes in the weather conditions, making it ill fitting and droughty. Modern laminated wooden doors perform much better than the older solid wooden doors, however, they still require regular maintenance to keep them in good condition.
Within the last few decades it has become very popular to replace older wooden doors with new PVC front doors. UPVC (Unplasticised Polyvinyl Chloride) doors are very reliable and durable and virtually maintenance free. They do not absorb moisture, rust, warp, twist or rot and do not require painting. When they are closed they are drought free, weather tight and perform well under most weather conditions, even at altitude. PVC is a poor conductor of heat therefore has good thermal efficiencies and also good acoustic qualities. The door has an outer frame with an inner panel. The panels can be an insulated PVC molded panels in many different styles or double glazed glass units. The range of door styles to choose from is vast.
The standard frame color is white but many other colors are available including brown and black together with a number of wood grain effect finishes such as light oak, mahogany and cherry wood.
Door security usually includes a multi-point locking system. This consists of a metal strip on the door leading edge with 6 points that engage with keepers on the door frame to hold the door secure. The multi point system in itself provides a secure locking system. The system is usually activated by lifting up the level handles and engaging the lock keeper by turning a key cylinder.
Fitting a PVC door is easy. The door set would normally be delivered with frame, door and all door ironmongery assembled in the factory and ready to fit into place.