If you’re looking at getting a composite door but don’t know much about them, here’s a handy A-Z of related technical and design terms. You will find some useful tips to bear in mind when choosing the right door for you.
A – Arched frames – These are door or window frames that are arched rather than flat and only the best companies will be able to accommodate this design.
B – Back doors – The door that lets you into the back of the house and this should always be just as secure as the front door as it’s a popular entry point for burglars.
C – Composite doors – Doors made up of aluminium, GRP, fibreglass and aluminium, all materials that are known for their strength, impenetrability and lightweight nature.
D – Decorative glass – Glass in different colours, shapes and patterns that can give a composite door an individual design touch to match the period or style of a house.
E – External timber doors – These are the predecessor to the composite door, they’re still widely available but are prone to warping and twisting and can require annual maintenance.
F – Fire doorsets – Fire doors that are perfect for ensuring safety in your home, garage or commercial property on both private and shared entrances.
G – GRP – Glass Reinforced Plastic; this is used to coat composite doors making them strong, scratch and impact resistant and to give them a smooth and aesthetically pleasing finish.
H – Hardware options – The perfect finishing touches to your new composite door, from letter boxes to thresholds and knockers.
M – Mid glass – Optional glass decoration that is incorporated into the middle panels or area of a composite door, giving a modern feel and a touch of personality and colour.
O – Oval glass / doors – A standard door in terms of size and shape, but with an oval glass panel inset into the main door which can be decorative, textured or plain.
P – Panel doors – A door with a panelled structure, the number of panels is either six or nine, which are raised or sunken and therefore add dimension and design to your front or back door.
R – Round pivot windows – Circular windows that can be rotated or are able to pivot fully for easy cleaning. A round window can be a great option to complement a composite door.
S – Stable door – This is a door that is split in two, each half can then be operated (i.e. opened or closed) independently of the other. Popular in country houses.
T – Textured glass – Used to add privacy to glass panels in doors, they let light in but do not allow people to see through. Popular for front and back composite doors with glass panels.
U – UPVC – Stands for Unplasticized Polyvinyl Chloride which is a low maintenance, lightweight and easily moulded building material used in the manufacture of window and door frames. composite doors neath