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If you’re looking to upgrade your home or considering a remodelling project, doors can be a cool and fast way to improve the value of your property. Whether you wish to increase the visual appeal of your home with a new exterior door or simply to alter the appearance of an outdated or plain bedroom or bathroom, doors can also go a long way to improve the look of your home. If you’re thinking about taking on such a project, one of the things you might want to consider is length of time it’ll take to complete the installation process. In this post, we’re going to give you a good insight into the time it takes to complete a door installation process to help you make informed decision moving forward. Let’s take a look!

Just like any home improvement project, the duration of time it’ll take to install doors will depend on a number of factors. These factors include the style/type of door to be installed, the ease of access, the skill and experience of the installer and lots more. In general, replacing an exterior door should, on the average, take about 5 to 6 hours. An interior door, on the other hand, should be much quicker as it doesn’t require same flashing, caulking as well as other weatherproofing processes. In general, the installation of an interior door can be completed within 2 to 4 hours. If you choose to take on this task by yourself, you can expect the duration to be longer due to the little or no experience possessed.

So you’ve decided to add some new French doors for your home? If yes, then you’re likely going to be concerned about whether or not you’ll require a planning permission to get started.

Properties are compelled to meet certain requirements and have proper permission in place in order to be in line with the regulations. Overall, you’re going to need planning permission in the following situations:

• If you want to construct something new.

• If you want to a make a major change to a building like an extension.

• If you want to change the use of your building such as converting it from residential to commercial.

Getting a new door or replacing an existing one doesn’t usually require a planning permission as it’s one of the less complicated improvements you can make to a home. As a result, this kind of improvement is normally covered by permitted development rights especially when you’re not constructing an extension for which to use the French door. However in the events whereby a permission is needed, it will most likely going to be granted if the proposed changes does not have an impact on the primary elevations of the house which is usually the front of the building.

It’s also important to note that permitted development can be limited by local authorities. These limitations include buildings in a conservation area, listed buildings, and if you happen to reside in an area of immense aesthetic appeal or other designated areas like National Parks. If such situation before you change your French doors, it’s important to consult your local authority before proceeding.

What Is Better, Steel Or Aluminium For A Front Door?

If you’re extending or refurbishing your home or property or constructing a new one, you’ll, sooner or later, get to the point when you’d have to determine the type of door material you want to use. The most common choices include steel, aluminium, wood and PVC. However, in this article we’ll only be looking at steel and aluminium to discuss which is better for a front door. Let’s take a look!

✓ Home security. Intruders and unwanted visitors are always a concern regardless of where you live. If this is your biggest concern when going for a front door then steel doors are your best bet as they happen to be one of the sturdiest and strongest materials that can be used to manufacture a door. Not only do they not crack or warp, but they also offer some high security models that features a large number of locks as well as hinges with various style designs. However, this does not mean aluminium are left behind on this subject either as there are also some high security doors that uses aluminium as the primary metal component.

✓ Thermal insulations. Both door presentations are not completely made of steel or aluminium. For a better insulation, they’ll feature other materials such as foam,wood, polystryene foam, or fibreglass core to prevent the escape of heat. As a result, both doors can do a great job when it comes to thermal insulation like keeping your house cool in the summer and warm in the winter for a better energy efficiency.

✓ Aesthetics. If this is your primary criteria for a front door, then aluminium has a wide range of colours and styles to match the style of your home.

An engineered wooden door is a door made out of multiple pieces of wood. This is opposed to solid wooden doors that are made out of one piece of wood.Engineered wooden doors are usually covered by veneer to make them look like they are made from one piece of wood. They tend to be sturdier and straighter than solid doors.

What Is The Most Secure Type Of Front Door?

When getting a new front door for your home or property, you’d probably want to get one that’ll provide the most security for your home. Gone are the days when you could leave your front door open and still come back to your assets intact, if you try that today, you’ll be taught a bitter lesson. The front door is the weak point of your home, the point at which several burglars will use to gain entrance into your home. Therefore, for your own peace of mind, there’s the need to get the most secure type of front door to protect both your loved ones and home.

There are two crucial thing to take into account when selecting the best front door for your home’s security and these includes both the door’s material as well as the lock. Let’s have a look at two of the best front doors for security purposes.

✓ Timber Doors. Though they might look great, but they’re also very sturdy and solid which makes them one the best front doors for security. Timber is a heavy hardwood door that’s at least 44mm thick. However, just like any other door type, the strength still boils down to the frame as well as quality of the lock. If the timber door possesses a superior style lock alongside a solid frame, only burglars or intruders with a leg to spare will try to forcefully kick it in. And neither can it be smashed open nor shoved with the shoulder.

✓ Composite Doors. These doors are developed to tackle the flaws of singular material doors and as a result, they possess great security qualities. They usually include a steel door frame and a solid hardwood internal frame. Furthermore, the door’s surface skin is typically made from glass-reinforced plastic which is a very sturdy material. Combination of all these materials enable this type of door to withstand brute force with relative ease. No intruder with a good knowledge of door materials will try to force an entry with a composite door standing as an obstacle.

We’ve all heard the common phrase that first impressions matter most. Well, this expression also applies to your home. When people arrive at your home, the door is the first thing they come in contact with and that speak volumes about the impression they’ll have about you. In modern times, there’s a large variety of choices when it comes to choosing a front door for your home in terms of style and design - from distinctive and alluring wood finish effect to elegant stained glass patterns. These are all important when it comes to choosing a front door, but one of the most significant factors is the material.

Both uPVC and composite doors have their advantages and disadvantages, so choosing one may rest on the purpose of installing the door.

UPVC Doors:

Pros

• Cost - Although composite doors are certain to deliver a great value for money, the initial spending on uPVC is lower and doesn’t put much strain on your budget

• Little Maintenance - The maintenance of a uPVC door does not go beyond wiping any stains with a damp cloth. However, this should be done carefully and regularly as extended neglect can lead to discolouration over time

Cons

• Styles - When it comes to styles, uPVC doors has a considerable lower style options compared to composite doors.

Composite Doors:

Pros

• Finishes - Composite doors offer a wider range of finishes than uPVC doors and as such, deliver greater versatility in showcasing your home’s character.

• Energy Efficient - Made from various materials glued together under intense pressure, composite doors happen to be thicker than uPVC doors and hence, a bit more energy efficient.

• Improved Security - Although both doors offer a great level of security, composite doors (due to its robust construction) are a bit more superior in this area.

Cons

• Cost - Although composite doors offer an immense value for money, the fact still remains that they’ll also stretch your budget more than uPVC doors.

Composite front doors offer a wide range of benefits which includes numerous style and colour options, increased security, personalization options, durability as well as low maintenance requirements. However, with so many options available in the market, it’s also expected that the prices would vary greatly depending on many factors. These factors include the colour, style of the composite door, glazing option, door furniture as well as security locks.

• Colour - More popular and basic colours like white, blue and brown black are manufactured in mass, making them a bit lesser than the unusual colours as they usually go through an expensive colour mixing process.

• Style Of The Door - The most common and popular door styles are manufactured in large quantities and consequently, the cheaper option than the more complex styles. A good example is the six panel door that features two frosted glass inlays will definitely cost more than the four panel plain white composite door.

• Glazing Option - The glass type, design and panel size all play a huge role in determining the price. The more complex your glazing option is, the more money you’ll have to pay.

• Door Furniture - Several composite doors come with bespoke handles, letterplates and knockers to achieve your desired finish. The furniture additions on door can also play a huge role in influencing the overall cost of your composite door.

• Security Locks - Multi point locks typically comes as a standard. However, you might need to determine the type required by your as the quality and type can vary considerably.

Generally, to have a basic style composite door installed, you’ll have spend about £850 and above. And depending on the design requirements and glazing features you select, this price can increase significantly.

Are Aluminium Front Doors Good?

When it comes to creating a great first impression for your home or property, a visually appealing door is simply one of the most important make-or-break factors. Given the fact that your front door greatly influences how the rest of your house will be seen, it’s therefore crucial to choose one that’ll complement your home’s architectural and interior style. However, your choice shouldn’t only be determined by the aesthetics as functionality of the door is also vital.

Fronts doors made from aluminium are available in different styles which are designed to perfectly suit both traditional as well as contemporary homes. In this article, we’re going to look at the numerous benefits that is usually provided by aluminium front doors.

✓ Strength. Aluminium front doors may be relatively lightweight when compared to other front door materials, but they happen to be a composite material and very strong. They can even feature larger glazing elements to allow maximum natural light in the house, while not compromising its strength or overall quality. In fact, they happen to be tougher and more robust that any other type of door.

✓ Style. Several individuals tend to think aluminium front doors err when it comes to contemporary styling but this is totally false. They’re available in different styles which is able to complement both traditional and contemporary homes.

✓ Durability. It’s a fact that aluminium doors do not experience any form of expansion or contraction, so regardless of the climate, they won’t crack or warp. They’re also resistant to corrosion which makes them the perfect choice especially for coastal areas. Overall, they’re able to last a very long time while also maintaining their good looks.

✓ Little maintenance. Aluminium front door are very simple and easy to maintain which in turn saves you both time and money.