Steel vs Composite Front Doors

If you’re in the market for a new front door, one of the first choices you’ll need to make is deciding on the material you’d like it to be constructed from. Most front doors are commonly manufactured from either steel or composite.

While steel doors have been a favourite in homes across the UK for many years, composite doors have now begun to grow in popularity too. So how do the two compare?

To help you decide on your next front door, the team at Access Garage Doors has written this helpful guide.

Energy efficiency

Perhaps the biggest draw of a composite front door is the insulation it offers. A composite door is constructed from a blend of materials – such as uPVC, laminate and GRP (glass reinforced plastic) – surrounding a timber core. Your front door is one of the weak spots in the thermal envelope of your home, so this material offers some much-needed insulation and can help to reduce heat loss, potentially resulting in lower energy bills. Here at Access Garage Doors, we supply Solidor composite doors with a thickness of 48mm – which is more than 10% thicker than other doors on the market – to further boost energy efficiency.

Typically, a standard steel front door will offer less in the way of insulation than a composite door. However, at Access Garage Doors, we supply Hörmann Thermo46 and Thermo65 models that have been specifically designed with energy efficiency in mind.

Security

Research shows that if a burglar is unable to access your property within 90 seconds, they’ll typically give up on their attempt; therefore, it’s essential that your front door is as secure as possible.

Steel is one of the most robust materials available and a steel front door will provide a sturdy barrier that is virtually impossible for intruders to break through. Equipped with a 5-point locking system, our Hörmann steel doors can also incorporate optional RC 2 equipment or a radio door lock operation SmartKey if you’d like to boost your security further.

Similarly, composite doors are also incredibly durable and able to withstand attempts at forced entry. Many of our composite front doors are also available to Secured by Design standards.

Aesthetic

The beauty of both steel and composite front doors from Access Garage Doors is that they can be customised exactly to your liking. We have an extensive selection of standard colours available, as well as decograin and matte deluxe options, so there should always be a style to suit your aesthetic. 

Your new steel or composite front door can also be embellished further with different door leafs, frames and glazing options – the choices are virtually endless!

Price

Ultimately, the price of your front door can vary depending on the manufacturer, the size of your door frame and the colours and extras you choose. However, composite front doors tend to be a bit pricier than steel alternatives, although they do offer a wide range of benefits to make up for this. When you choose a trusted front door supplier, like Access Garage Doors, you’ve got peace of mind that you’ll always receive the most cost-effective products on the market alongside a value-for-money installation service.

Maintenance

When compared to wooden front doors, both steel and composite doors require very little in the way of maintenance – just a brief wipe down every so often to remove any dirt. However, to prevent rusting, steel front doors may require another layer of protective coating and lubrication of any moving parts.

Which are better: steel or composite doors?

The choice between steel and composite front doors all comes down to your personal preferences. If you value energy efficiency, composite front doors may be the best choice whereas if you’d rather stick to a budget without compromising on security, you might find that steel front doors better suit your needs. One thing’s for sure – no matter what style of front door you choose, you’ll always receive an exceptional product from us.

If you’d like to upgrade your property with a new composite or steel front door, why not get in touch with the team at Access Garage Doors? We have an extensive selection of front entrance doors available in a range of styles, colours and designs – you can even visit our Bradford showroom and view our products in person. 

To book your garage door installation in Harrogate, Leeds, Skipton or the wider West Yorkshire region, get in touch with us today.