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External doors are found in different materials, shapes, sizes, and styles. At Aspire Doors, we can fully customise your external door to suit your home and lifestyle.
For this article, we’re concentrating on door styles and materials. There are many styles of doors for you to choose from, and these styles are made in 4 types of material. With so much to choose from, we’re here to help you on your door journey.
Firstly, let’s take a look at external door materials…
There’s no ‘best type’ of external door. Every material has its pros and cons; the majority of which comes down to personal preference.
Wood adds character to your home’s exterior; it’s great if you want a country-cottage vibe.
While wood is sturdy, it is one of the hardest materials to maintain. It’s very susceptible to weather damage and needs treating every few months. If you fail to treat the wood, you risk your doors cracking or warping, which leads to wood rot.
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Aluminium is the second most expensive material on our list. It’s high-quality, comes in a lovely finish, in a range of colours, and is less likely to warp, crack, or expand from the elements.
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uPVC is the cheapest material on our list. You’ll find that it’s the most commonly used, too.
The downside to uPVC is its appearance and heat-resistance. Timber and aluminium doors tend to be more aesthetically pleasing, though you can now find uPVC doors that are pre-coloured in greys, blacks, and even wood patterned. uPVC doors tend to expand and contract as the temperatures change. This can cause gaps around the door frame in time.
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As with the material, the style of your external door is down to personal preference; however, there are a few factors that you need to consider as well as how the doors look.
Bi-fold doors are a beautiful addition to any home. They have large glass panels in the door, which brings an abundance of light into your home. If you have a well-kept garden, external bifold doors excel in bringing the outdoors in.
The downside to external bifolds is the wall space that is required. To fully open a bifold door, the doors will concertina until you reach the door’s edge. The door panes are stacked up against each other, which can be bothersome for people with small spaces or limited wall space.
Sliding doors are a great alternative to bifold doors. They offer all the benefits of bifold doors but don’t take up internal wall space.
The panes of the door slide over or under the other resulting in very little space being lost. In fact, sliding doors are a great alternative to standard internal doors if your floor space is limited.
The only downside to sliding doors is that they don’t have a swing-open traffic door, and one of the panes won’t open like bifold doors do.
External French doors are an excellent way of bringing the outdoors in if you haven’t got the budget or wall space for a bifolding or sliding door.
French doors can open outwards or inwards depending on your preference; however, we always advise that your French doors open outwards where possible.
French doors that open inwards take up floor space; even if you have the space available, outward-opening French doors are the best option.
External doors are your typical one pane door, similar to a front door. This is the most cost-effective type of external door, and they’re really easy to install without hiring a professional.
The downside to a standard external door is the limit of natural light that it allows into your home; however, you can buy a standard external door with glass inserts.
Written by Aspire Doors
13th August 2020
Family run and customer focused, we believe every home deserves beautiful doors. From single internal doors to large external bifolds, we've been helping customers choose their dream doors for over a decade. Whether you're a tradesperson or a homeowner, our expert team is dedicated to guiding you every step of the way, from product selection to installation support.
Written by Aspire Doors
13th August 2020
Family run and customer focused, we believe every home deserves beautiful doors. From single internal doors to large external bifolds, we've been helping customers choose their dream doors for over a decade. Whether you're a tradesperson or a homeowner, our expert team is dedicated to guiding you every step of the way, from product selection to installation support.
Our family values mean honest advice, real conversations, and help when you need it.
All of our products are delivered safely and reliably to any Mainland UK postcode.
Our expert support team are always on hand to answer your questions. Drop us a line today.
Unit 2, Hayleys Manor Farm, Upland Road, Epping Upland, Essex CM16 6PQ
Our easy-to-follow external door measuring guide takes you through everything you need to
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External doors are the primary safety concern for all homeowners; they provide us with a
Our family values mean honest advice, real conversations, and help when you need it.
All of our products are delivered safely and reliably to any Mainland UK postcode.
Our expert support team are always on hand to answer your questions. Drop us a line today.
You’ll need to trim mm off the left & right of each door
You’ll need to pack mm either side of the frame
You’ll need to trim mm off the top and bottom of each door
You’ll need to pack mm above
You’ll need to trim mm off the left & right of each door
You’ll need to pack mm either side of the frame
You’ll need to trim mm off the top and bottom of each door
You’ll need to pack mm above
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