Find a Door Fitter you can trust in Melrose.

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you wish to increase the visual appeal of your home with a new exterior door or simply to alter the appearance of an outdated or plain bedroom or bathroom, doors can also go a long way to improve the look of your home.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.

Composite doors have coloured skins rather than a coloured coating on their surface. This means that their colour is long-lasting and they don’t need repainting. If you want to change the colour of your composite door it’s best to ask the manufacturer about the best way to do this. This is because different composite doors are finished in different ways.

If you’re going through new constructions or renovations and looking to change your old front door and install a brand new composite door, then you’re at the right place. Composite door fitting can be a DIY project but it’s essential to have the necessary training and experience before commencement. If not, we’d recommend you hire the services of a reliable professional to guarantee the best results and save yourself some time and money.Here, we’ll give a good insight into the composite door fitting process.

To get started, here are some of the tools that may be required - tape measure, hammer, stanley knife, crowbar, chisel, saw. Silicone sealant gun, spirit levels, electric drill ( including the hammer section), rubber mallet and 6mm socket spanner.

lPreparation

• Remove the existing door by rounding up the door frame firstly with a knife to reduce the possible damage to the wall.

• Cut through the door jambs.

• Remove each in two separate sections.

• Ensure the opening is level without any screws, mastic and filler.

lAlign Your Composite Door

• Ensure the sill of the door is level and flat.

• Make sure the frame is square and plumb in both planes.

• Bridge the cavity of the wall and cover the DPC

• Ensure that the frame is square. If not, your composite door won’t function as it should.

lInstall Your Composite Door

• Place the door in the frame.

• Hold the frame firmly in position with wedge packers

• Make sure the packers are positioned close to where the fixing will be placed.

• Make sure the jams are square and plumb in all planes by using a long spirit level.

• Secure the frame to the brickwork with the use of a drill.

• Place the fixings at the top and bottom of each hinge as well as each of the lock keep.

• Top fixings should be fitted 150mm and 250mm from each corner.

What Is The Best Material For A Front Door?

It can be a tricky challenge to find the perfect door for your home or property. At times we may find the look we desire but it just won’t suit our budget, other times we’ll find what suits our budget but it just won’t be secure or appealing enough to our taste. Due to the fact that your front door is the first line of defence for your home and governs entry to the rest of your house, it’s very important to look for a material that’s strong, sturdy and is able to withstand both the elements as well as wear and tear. You definitely need all these qualities while also making sure the good looks are also intact. In this article, we’re going to take a look at the best material for a front door.

The fact is that all door materials have both their advantages and disadvantage, therefore the best material actually depends on the homeowner’s preferences. Generally, fibreglass and steel doors are able to deliver better insulation than wood doors. And this is even better when they’re Energy-Star certified which means they’re double and triple-paneled glass, energy efficient cores as well as tight-fitting frames. Fibreglass doors is made from a composite material which can be designed to suit most homes. What’s more? They’re very easy to maintain and also durable. However, despite all these, some homeowners actually prefer wooden doors for their homes.

Doors made of wood naturally have more style and character than fiberglass doors and in several cases, are easier to repair. Furthermore, they don’t show scratches or dents as readily as the other door materials. However, they’re susceptible to warping and cracking unlike their counterparts.

Do I Need A Planning Permission For Bifold Doors?

Are you thinking about installing bifold doors for your home or property? If yes, you’d probably want to know if you’re going to need planning permission. Well, you’re not alone! Being fully aware the application process for planning permission might not be the easiest of tasks, several home owners would like to know if they’ll be going through the process for installing bifold doors. The answer is, you may actually not need a planning permission for installing bifold doors in your home. Adding or replacing doors is basically one of the home improvement efforts that are less complicated and as a result, they normally do not require planning permission. But despite that, they still need to comply with the UK’s building regulations.

Changing or adding doors to your home or property are usually considered to be covered under permitted development and even more so, when there’s no extension constructed for the doors. However under certain circumstances, these rights can be removed by the local authorities. A good example is when the property is a listed building or in a designated conservation area.

In the event whereby you find yourself having to apply for a planning permission, the time it usually takes to be granted one depends on the number of planning applications on queue. However, it typically takes about 8 weeks or 2 months to tender your application and be granted planning permission if it’s required. To apply for planning application by UK households, you’ll have to pay £172 - which is the set application fee nationwide. In certain situations where objection arises, there may be some delays in the process. If you’re still not certain whether your new bifold doors will require a planning permission, we’d recommend consulting your local authority.

Unlike several other complex multi choice products, composite door prices are no great mystery. However, it all depends on your personal preferences as well as your budget. There are a variety of customization options and extras, so you can easily select one that’s unique to your home. Composite doors offer you more colours, more styles, a greater choice of accessories as well as more glazing options. With the availability of a plethora of options in the market, it’s very hard to provide a precise price for a composite door as all the options play a significant role in the price structure.

• The Door’s Quality

Composite doors commonly comes with either a CFC-free insulating polyurethane (PU) foam or a laminated hardwood core. The price to be paid will depend on the quality of the composite with the laminated hardwood core being of more quality and ultimately, more expensive.

• Glazing Options

Between a coloured leaded glass double panel and a clear double-glazed panel there’s a huge price difference. And within these two extremes, there are also many other variables.

• Accessories

There are a world of choices when it comes to accessories in terms of the handle styles, letterplates, knockers and more. All playing a role in the price of the composite door.

• Locking System

A common feature of several composite doors is the multi point locking systems. However, the price, choice and security of the lock cylinder can be hugely different which also play a part in the price of the composite door.

• Location

Your geographical location plays an even more important part when you’re having your door installed. For instance, delivery in certain areas in the UK or finding tradesmen comes at a premium which is also shown in the price.

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.

How Much Are Bifold Doors?

Are you considering installing bifold doors for your home or property? If yes, then you’d probably want to know how much it would cost so you can prepare a budget and start planning. The cost of bifold doors, however, is dependent on a wide array of factors which includes the number of panels, size of the bifold doors, internal or external installation, material used in making the bifold doors, type of the glass as well as upgrading the locking mechanisms.

Of all these factors, the most significant influences are both the material and the number of panels to be used. For bifold doors with 3 panels, the potential cost will range from £1,200 to £2,500 depending on the materials used, be it aluminium, timber or uPVC. For a 4 panel bifold door, the price will range between £1,400 to £2,800 depending on the either of the three aforementioned materials. And finally, for a 5 panel bifold door, the cost will be between £2,500 to £5,500, also depending on the three materials.

When calculating the cost of bifold doors, it’s also important to factor in the cost of installation as the task requires specialized skills and tools, therefore it’s not advisable to be made a DIY project. The cost of installing a bifold door will also be influenced by multiple factors such as the bifold door material, the number of panels, your location in the UK, the installer of your choice as well as whether or not there’s an existing opening that’s suitable for bifold doors. The price will ultimately boil down to the installer you hire, so it’s advisable to contact multiple professionals and compare their services and quotes. For the easiest installation where there’s an existing opening in the wall, the price will range between £150 to £500. However, for more complicated installations, the price could be above £500.