How should composite door frame be attached?
Discussion
We've just had a composite door fitted. The way the frame has been attached looks a little odd. About 8 screws drilled through the frame, presumably into the masonry. One's actually standing proud and very slightly fouling the door as you close it.
Does this look right? Seems odd that they'd just screw through the frame like that.


Does this look right? Seems odd that they'd just screw through the frame like that.
Rushjob said:
They'd be coming back if that were at my house.
Check if the fouling has damaged the edge of the door too!
The door's OK. A very slight mark, and I've just put the screw in another half turn. Check if the fouling has damaged the edge of the door too!
They're coming back anyway - Plenty of other snagging, but it would be good to know if there's a more 'correct' way this should have been done.
Lotobear said:
Concrete screws through the frame - generally how its down. A good fitter would have slightly countersunk the frame after doing the pilot hole to allow the fixing screw to sit more flush
Thanks. That's really helpful. Should be able to get them to do that without too much aggro.silentbrown said:
but it would be good to know if there's a more 'correct' way this should have been done.
They could have used straps, as per the detail below, but that would mean chasing out the reveals to accept the strap.When I fitted my windows I used straps as I wanted a decent reveal from face of brickwork to face of window. Where I wanted the windows to sit, If had had tried to screw through the frame I would have hit fresh air! It created more mess and lots of filling was required but was worth it IMHO.
_Hoppers said:
silentbrown said:
but it would be good to know if there's a more 'correct' way this should have been done.
They could have used straps, as per the detail below, but that would mean chasing out the reveals to accept the strap.When I fitted my windows I used straps as I wanted a decent reveal from face of brickwork to face of window. Where I wanted the windows to sit, If had had tried to screw through the frame I would have hit fresh air! It created more mess and lots of filling was required but was worth it IMHO.
Mine was like the op's, I took out the screws and countersunk the holes slightly, some of them had warped the plastic as the moron fitter had overtightened them. ffs.
I've seen some doors that have a covering strip over the fixings, looks a lot better.
I've seen some doors that have a covering strip over the fixings, looks a lot better.
Edited by megaphone on Tuesday 3rd December 08:34
I think you’ll find 99% of the composite/upvc doors in the country are fitted like that. There’s not really the thickness of profile to fully countersink them so they will always stand proud a little. You can buy plastic cover caps, or sometimes I used to use screw cups, they’re still on show but look a little neater.

J6542 said:
You still need to fix through the frame if you fit a door with fixing clips. A window is fine, but a door has to be frame fixed. Those concrete screws need a 7.5mm countersunk hole in the frame and then a 6mm hole in the brick or block.
I'm not sure about that? I have detailed numerous projects where the doors/windows are in zinc cladding and the only method of fixing is back to the internal structure with straps. Most of our projects are also LSF structures where the doors/windows are fitted before the external brick skin.Edited by _Hoppers on Tuesday 3rd December 14:25
_Hoppers said:
J6542 said:
You still need to fix through the frame if you fit a door with fixing clips. A window is fine, but a door has to be frame fixed. Those concrete screws need a 7.5mm countersunk hole in the frame and then a 6mm hole in the brick or block.
I'm not sure about that? I have detailed numerous projects where the doors/windows are in zinc cladding and the only method of fixing is back to the internal structure with straps. Most of our projects are also LSF structures where the doors/windows are fitted before the external brick skin.Edited by _Hoppers on Tuesday 3rd December 14:25
Mine are fitted with the same fixings but like others have said have been countersunk, it looks a lot neater
The good thing is they have not over tightened them and bent the frame.
It’s something that would niggle me too , i’d just do it myself and get it how i wanted. Simple job ,one at a time. But dont countersink too much.
The good thing is they have not over tightened them and bent the frame.
It’s something that would niggle me too , i’d just do it myself and get it how i wanted. Simple job ,one at a time. But dont countersink too much.
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