Which is right for your home?
Replacing a front door is one of the most impactful changes you can make to a home — both visually and practically. The two most popular options are uPVC and composite, and they're very different products. Here's an honest breakdown to help you decide.
uPVC (unplasticised polyvinyl chloride) doors have been the standard choice for UK homes for decades. They're manufactured from a hollow PVC frame filled with foam insulation. They're lightweight, low-maintenance, and come in a wide range of styles and colours.
A composite door is built from multiple materials — a solid foam core, a timber frame, a glass-reinforced plastic (GRP) skin, and sometimes a PVC or aluminium subframe. The result is a door that looks and feels far more substantial, with a surface that closely mimics the appearance of timber without the maintenance requirements.
Composite doors win here, clearly. The solid core and reinforced construction make them significantly harder to force. Most quality composite doors come with multi-point locking systems and achieve PAS 24 or Secured by Design accreditation as standard. uPVC doors can also be secure, but the hollow construction and the range of quality in the market means there's more variation.
Both perform well compared to older timber doors, but composites generally have a better U-value (lower = better insulation). The solid foam core is more thermally efficient than the foam-filled hollow frame in a uPVC door. If energy efficiency is a priority, composite is the better choice.
This is where composite doors really stand apart. The GRP skin has a texture and depth that uPVC can't match — it genuinely looks like a painted timber door from a distance, and closer up. If the front of your home matters to you (and for kerb appeal and resale value, it should), composite is the clear winner.
uPVC doors are significantly cheaper. A mid-range uPVC door fully fitted typically costs between £600 and £1,200. A quality composite door, fully fitted, typically runs from £1,000 to £2,000+, depending on the specification and glazing. It's a meaningful difference, but composite doors tend to last longer and require less maintenance, which offsets some of that gap over time.
Both require minimal maintenance compared to timber. uPVC can yellow slightly over many years, particularly cheaper products. GRP composite doors hold their colour far better and generally just need a wipe down occasionally. Neither should need painting.
We supply and fit both uPVC and composite doors across Farnborough, Guildford, Camberley and the surrounding area. We'll be honest with you about which option suits your property and budget — we're not here to upsell you on something you don't need. Get in touch for a free quote.
Composite and uPVC doors supplied and fitted across Hampshire and Surrey.