When choosing new doors for your home, it is important to choose the right ones. UPVC and composite doors are popular choices for homeowners, offering a range of benefits including security, durability and energy efficiency.
However, each comes with its benefits and differences. So, is a uPVC or composite door best for your home?
What Are UPVC Doors?
UPVC stands for unplasticised polyvinyl chloride. It is a lightweight and durable material widely used in construction. This makes them weather resistant, low maintenance and affordable. They first appeared in Scottish homes around the 1980s.
What Are Composite Doors?
Composite doors are made up of a variety of materials including wood, uPVC, and GRP (Glass Reinforced Plastic). The combination of materials makes them highly secure, durable and energy efficient. Homeowners often favour the look of traditional wooden doors, which composite ones resemble. They are slightly newer to Scottish homeowners appearing in homes in the late 1990s.
UPVC vs Composite Doors: What Is Better?
Choosing the right option requires considering the benefits and differences of each. Here are some of them below:
Material and Build
UPVC doors are made up of unplasticised polyvinyl chloride, a strong yet lightweight building material. This material makes them relatively cheap to make, which means they are an affordable option for homeowners wanting a new door on a budget.
Composite doors on the other hand are made using a variety of different materials constructed together to make a well-rounded door. The mix of materials makes a composite door stronger than a uPVC one, however, due to this, they cost more to make.
Durability and Lifespan
Composite doors are the more durable and long-lasting option for homeowners. They are extremely durable due to their solid core and tough exterior. This makes them resistant to warping, cracking, and fading from the elements. They also have a lifespan of up to 30 years
While they aren’t as durable as composite, uPVC doors are still resistant to rot, rust and corrosion. They are still a durable, long-lasting option for most homeowners, which can last up to 20 years.
It is important to note that many factors can affect the lifespan of your doors. These factors can include the materials, elements, installation and maintenance.
Maintenance
Both options require minimal maintenance. This maintenance consists of a simple wipe down with a damp, non-abrasive cloth every once in a while, making it easy to maintain for those who don’t have the time for maintenance-intensive doors.
Maintaining your door is essential for not only keeping your door clean and looking good but also spotting any issues with your door to ensure it is dealt with before it causes bigger issues.
Both composite and well-made uPVC doors won’t fade over time, meaning they will look as good as the day they were installed. This means whatever colour you pick for your door should remain the same throughout its lifespan.
These materials are designed so they don’t need to be painted. This means you don’t need to whip out a can of paint every few years or so.
Security
Security is a big factor when buying new doors for your home. They are the first line of defence when it comes to stopping intruders. It is the main entry point to your home making it an easy target. Ensuring the doors you pick are secure
Composite doors are more secure than uPVC doors, but they both offer ample security for your home. This is due to composite doors having a solid timber core which provides more resistance to any forced entries. UPVC doors aren’t as resistant but they still offer an ample amount of security.
Modern doors also often come with multi-point locking systems which add an extra layer of security, giving you some extra peace of mind.
Insulation and Energy Efficiency
UPVC and Composite doors both offer excellent thermal insulation. However, composite often outperform uPVC in terms of energy efficiency, making them slightly more efficient.
Look and Customisation
Composite doors have a lot more options when it comes to their looks and customisation than uPVC. They are often more premium looking, resembling the look of wooden doors.
However, that’s not to say you don’t get any customisation with uPVC doors. UPVC doors, while they are more limited with customisation options, you can still get them in a variety of colours and styles. It typically comes in white, but you can get them in a variety of colours as well as wood grain effects.
Choosing the look of your door depends on your taste and the style of your home. If happy with some simple customisation, then a uPVC door should be fine, but if you want more customisation options then you may want to look into a composite door. This will however come at a price.
Cost
UPVC doors are typically more affordable than composite. This makes them ideal for those looking for a budget-friendly option. Despite their lower cost, they still offer great value for money due to their durability and low maintenance.
Composite doors on the other hand are generally more expensive. This is due to their material and construction method. While their initial cost may be higher, they offer a longer lifespan, increased security and higher energy efficiency, which makes them more cost-effective in the long run.
Which Door Is Best For Your Home?
The choice of which is best for your home is completely down to your aesthetic, needs and budget.
If you are looking for an affordable, low maintenance option that still offers a sufficient amount of security and energy efficiency then a uPVC door will be the best option.
However, if you are looking for a higher level of security, durability and energy efficiency with more customisation options then a composite door may be the best choice.
You can also mix and match them. For example, you could have a composite as your front door and a uPVC as your back door.
Still not sure which is right for you? Consult a professional, such as us at Homeshield Scotland, who will help you weigh up which doors are best for your needs and budget.
