Front doors, back doors

[scenario8]

Hi,

in the process of doing up a tired old wreck of 1930s semi and need to replace the front and rear doors. I know I want a solid wood front door but I'll want glass in it and that can bump up the costs considerably. It will be hiding behind a an aluminium porch door anyway (for now, to be replaced itself in x years time) so would a composite not be cheaper, less work and through-another-door just as good looking?

Any suggestions or recommendations for a supplier? Or for solid wood doors, too, for that matter. Style wise I think fairly modernish looking. Possibly art deco inspired - if that's not a contradiction.

Not the world's most PH style budget as I'm reluctant to spend four figures. Preferrably much less but you know how these things go...

For the back door everyone seems to want us to spec a nasty and cheap looking uPVC white affair but are there not better looking alternatives? This door will lead from a modernist white kitchen so it seems daft to have a cheap looking door plumb in the middle of all that shiny stuff.

Thanks.

[anonymous-user]

Try Howarth Timber. I rave about them. Very good quality, pre-sprayed, etc. From memory, our half glazed one was about £700.

[FlashmanChop]

Howarth are good, but in essence just reselling Jeldwen range.

[anonymous-user]

^ I disagree, I'm afraid. The quality is far superior to the Jeldwen (well, from the windows I've seen, our builder agrees) and at a better price. Howarth have their own window/door manufacturing unit but it's pretty small volume compared to their timber merchant side of things.

[V8RX7]

Solid wood (even with glass) are far cheaper than composite to buy. It's when you add up fitting, hinges, locks, painting that the cost mounts up.

I paid circa £100 for the last wooden door I bought and around £30 for the two double glazed units.

I hate UPVC but they are cheap.

I waited for the right door on Ebay and bought a brand new composite door to the correct size for less than £150 - they were £500+ but it was made to the wrong size or handing hence sold off cheap.

[foz01]

Here's an idea, how about using two front doors

[scenario8]

foz01 said:

Here's an idea, how about using two front doors

Er, yes.

[scenario8]

Thanks for the recommendations, guys. I'll have a look at Howarth and Jeldwen this weekend.

Any and all further submissions will be greatly appreciated.

[B17NNS]

Have had several composites fitted. Wouldn't go back to timber now unless composite was terribly put of keeping.

[V8RX7]

B17NNS said:

Have had several composites fitted. Wouldn't go back to timber now unless composite was terribly put of keeping.

Exactly - as everything is made in a factory it all fits perfectly - bolt it in the space - job done !

[FlashmanChop]

skintemma said:

^ I disagree, I'm afraid. The quality is far superior to the Jeldwen (well, from the windows I've seen, our builder agrees) and at a better price. Howarth have their own window/door manufacturing unit but it's pretty small volume compared to their timber merchant side of things.

Emmas, we, I may be at cross purposes.

I have been told that the windows are Jeldwen, just re-sold, but perhaps I am talking about off the shelf windows.

I am currently using GD woodworking for stairs, and timber sliding sash windows. For Upvc unusually use Munster Joinery.

[anonymous-user]

Flashman, Howarth make their own. I'm sure they probably sell Jeldwen through their merchant stores though. All windows are made to order so don't don't off the peg. As it happens, I have a lovely pair of sashes too. Not sure of the sizes from memory but with toughened glass, fully finished and with a long paint and manufacture warranty, they were about £650 each. We were v surprised when the quote came through - our builder couldn't believe how well made they were, especially for the price

[badboyburt]

Dont select Jeldwen, ive had them supply over 200 internal veneered FD30 doors, 3 months after handover to the client they have all been ripped out and renewed, they all shrunk and the veneer delaminted, Jeldwen admitted the core of the door was damp when they where laminated, I mentioned this when the carpenters fitted the locks as the internal core was dripping, but they assured me it wasnt a problem,

Next issue, the replacement doors have also done exactly the same, its now a legal issue between the client and Jeldwen.

over 400 doors supplied and still not one closes properly.