While wood and composite may be among the most common materials for front doors, you might be ready to upgrade to something that’s a little more stylish.
In recent years, steel front doors have emerged as a bold, modern and high performance alternative to conventional front doors.
These doors are also fantastically strong and durable, making them a brilliant long term investment.
If you’re weighing up your options – and trying to decide which material would offer the best fit for your property – keep reading.
Below, the Wolf Doors team have shared a quick guide, covering all the points you need to consider when debating a steel front door.
Options for Front Door Materials
Your front door is a core component of your home’s security, energy efficiency and curb appeal.
There are a number of different front door materials that you can choose from, and each one brings its own specific strengths and weaknesses.
Let’s go through each in a bit more detail:
Traditional wooden doors – While these are widely appreciated for their natural warmth and character, wooden doors have significantly higher maintenance requirements. They are also much more prone to warping, cracking and fading.
uPVC doors – uPVC doors are one of the most affordable material types. However, their appearance is not as popular as other material types, and they can be prone to discolouration over time.
Composite doors – These doors combine the best advantages of multiple material types. These doors consist of a strong core and durable outer layers (e.g. glass-reinforced plastic and insulating foam). This means they have a fantastic level of durability and weather resistance, are resistant to warping and cracking, and have minimal maintenance requirements, all while replicating the appearance of timber.
Steel doors – Doors made from steel boast an exceptional level of strength and durability. For homeowners that appreciate a modern aesthetic, they also achieve an attractive bold, modern finish.
What are the advantages of steel front doors?
- Exceptional security – The robustness and strength of steel means that these doors achieve a fantastic level of security and resistance to forced entry.
- Compatibility with advanced multi-point locking systems and reinforced frames – To further enhance the door’s security standards.
- High durability – Unlike wooden doors, steel doors are completely resistant to rotting, cracking, warping and pests.
- Fantastic weather resistance and fire resistance
- The highest energy efficiency standards
- Minimal maintenance requirements – With no need for regular sealing, staining or sanding (unlike wooden doors).
- Long predicted lifespan – Retaining its same sleek aesthetic for many decades to come.
- Available in a wide range of styles, especially when you work with a trusted supplier like Wolf Doors.
Steel VS Composite Front Doors
As two of the most popular materials for modern, high performance front doors, it’s worth comparing these two popular materials.
In most cases, steel doors are stronger and more durable. The doors can also be tailored to further strengthen their security and performance standards. If security, durability and longevity are your top priorities, then these doors are sure to tick all the boxes.
That’s not to say that composite doors lack in these departments, though. In fact, composite doors offer excellent performance standards, including strong security standards and reliably high thermal insulation and weather resistance. If you prefer the traditional aesthetic of a wooden door, then composite doors are a brilliant investment, which combines leading performance standards with this classic aesthetic.
To summarise, steel front doors have the edge in terms of security, durability and longevity. But, composite doors combine high performance standards with a more traditional front door style.
At Wolf Doors, we supply both steel and composite front doors to properties across the country.
So, whatever you end up deciding as the material for your front door, our team are on hand to help. To speak to one of our fully qualified, highly experienced installers, don’t hesitate to get in touch.
