I live in an old house built in the 1890s. My front door is sheltered from the weather and it is wood and it is original. There is nothing wrong with it at all. Most of my neighbours have had their Lovely solid old wooden doors replaced with horrible white, bendy double glazing doors. Why?

They are less attractive, easier to break into, they get loose and saggy after barely a decade. The seals in any glass go and you get mist inside.

Does anybody else prefer Wooden doors which can last for over a century? Are are you all happy with your clean garish front doors?

Originally posted by muddycoffee
I live in an old house built in the 1890s. My front door is sheltered from the weather and it is wood and it is original. There is nothing wrong with it at all. Most of my neighbours have had their Lovely solid old wooden doors replaced with horrible white, bendy double glazing doors. Why?

They are less attractive, easier to break into, they get loose and saggy after barely a decade. The seals in any glass go and you get mist inside.

Does anybody else prefer Wooden doors which can last for over a century? Are are you all happy with your clean garish front doors?

With pvc you are stuck with white or fake timber patterns. The design of them is v poor and generally looks out of place on most houses.
And what's more all these pvc doors have a large plastic cill to step over , or trip over, and get damaged. The doors are actually detailed as windows that come to the floor. Couldn't these pvc firms get the detail right?

It really does depend, if you have had your windows replaced with double glazing, i would go with the new door too!!

I'm not too sure on them being easier tobreak in to, as most have at least 4 locks in the door!!

I live in a Housing Association house and we had double glazing put in a few years ago. We have white standard windows but they gave us wooden doors. The front one is solid wood, with 6 panels, the back has toughened glass in it for a bit of light. We got to choose which kind of door we got.

Give me wood any day. It looks os much better. There is nothing worse than those awfull wood effect placstic doors and wondows. They look dreadfull.

Our new house came with a timber framed, uPVC faced door. The beading around the glazing had gone bright yellow in the sun, so we painted the whole thing red. Looks loads better! Still prefer solid wood though.

Now don't get me started on windows......

I received a sales call from a double lazing firm. Usual speil. My reply was 'your windows have an expected lifespan of 15 years. With wooden frames, Dulux have an 8 year guarantee on their exterior gloss. It'll cost me 400 quid twice in the lifespan of your windows to have mine painted professionally. And I won't ahve my whole house full of dust and damaged decor. Why would I want your windows?'

She went a bit quiet.

My favourite are sash windows. They provide much better ventilation, and a means of escape. Modern ones are draught proof, but there are companies specialising in refurbishing your existing ones to modern draughtproof and heatloss standards.

i prefer the wooden doors i think they look a lot better and they last a lot longer.
I can see why some people have the upvc to make it match the rest of the house if they have the upvc windows but over the years it will cost a lot more to have them replaced as they become discoloured and mis-shaped

The only thing that bugs me about the wooden doors is constantly having to shave bits off to make it close in the winter without sticking.

Originally posted by Robbie_Lovin
windows replaced with double glazing, i would go with the new door too. I'm not too sure on them being easier tobreak in to, as most have at least 4 locks in the door!!

Well robbie, I certainly wouldn't. My parents had double glazed aluminium doors about 20 years ago, and they look much higher quality than the modern ones, but they look a little grubby and scratched in places, and have had to have several repairs, to locks etc.

I have an uncle who used to work in the Double glazing industry more recently however. And despite having lots of locks around the edge. Doors with panels, can often have their panels pushed through silently if they are weakend first with a blow lamp. Most of the companies have now gone onto single doors with no panels because of this.

Even without this design fault, much of the material used on the door is thin and bendy, and with a decent crow bar you might be able to pop open the door if it is in a secluded area. You would never do this on a wooden door with decent locks

Well I make furniture and as soon as I get a few days off I shall be making a lovely solid oak front door to replace the absolutely hideous uPVC door that's on there at the moment.

I'm sure a well fitted solid wood door is also more secure than a flimsy uPVC unit. My mum was broken into earlier this year - they got in through her uPVC door (and it was a pretty good one), they had some sort of crim tool designed specially for the job.

Dont any of you wooden door fans find that they warp, as the wood is natural it absorbs moisture etc and in time you find the door sticks, so you have to shave some off.

I don't think that uPVC doors look as nice, but they are more secure, and obviously need less care.... cheaper too. I think they look ok on some houses, but look terrible on some of the old stone Victorian houses.

Originally posted by mega_monty
Dont any of you wooden door fans find that they warp, as the wood is natural it absorbs moisture etc and in time you find the door sticks, so you have to shave some off. What do you think paint is for? They don't move if they don't get wet. :loopy:

Give me a wooden door every time. How else can you put a cat flap in?

We live in an older ranch style house.

http://www.realtor.com/Basics/AllAbout/TypesStyles/Articles/Ranch.asp?poe=realtor

It has the original solid red oak front door as well as floors. The door is partially sheltered from the elements (and out here, the sun will destroy something faster than rain or snow), and it's held up beautifully. It's a bit heavy, as I tell the kids "DON'T slam the door!" LOL I clean it now and again with wood oil and it looks great.
I can't imagine replacing it with any other door.

:) Sierra

Originally posted by Sierra
We live in an older ranch style house.
:hihi: I can just see your house with a uPVC door! one with a twee stained glass leaded panel. :hihi:

And in woodgrain effect :hihi: :hihi:
Just to be posh :hihi: :hihi:

(just laughing at them, not you, Sierra)

:)

Awww, no offense taken Strix. But what does "twee" mean? Hope it's nothing bad!

Sierra

Erm, kinda old fashioned and inappropriately fussy, I think.
Probably with flowers all over it in this case!

My brother in law replaced my sisters lovely wooden door with a new upvc door 7 years ago as a surprise for a christmas presant,
i thought she was going to cry when she came home and saw it, she didn't want to hurt his feelings so she didn't say anything, now she has to look at that awful thing when she comes downstairs every morning, same with her old stainless steel sink, replaced it with a brand new one, it's like tin, shinny and new but bad quality steel, nothing like the old stuff.

Door Sticking in Winter ....

I go through similar games every year. I realised after a bit that it was not necessarily the door swelling/shrinking but that the frame or doorway actually moved as well. Being on clay soil, there can be quite a bit of movement. (I have a gatepost that can move up to 2 inches at the top!)
It doesn't make complete sense as the foundations shouldn't be moving and there is no major cracking (rendering has a litle crack but it doesn't open and close) but I have had the ruler out and the door frame does move out of true and back again.

Just thought I'd share that one ...

Originally posted by max
Give me a wooden door every time. How else can you put a cat flap in?
You can get cat flaps in uPVC doors as well. I have one!!
What people don't realise about buying Upvc doors is that they still need looking after and maintaining as wooden doors do. If you do that then they'll last a lot longer than wooden doors. Its not so much the doors that are the problem. The door frames and cills tend to rot and disintegrate a lot quicker than the door itself so in the end the whole lot needs replacing anway. I definately feel there's a gap in the market for coloured gloss finish uPVC doors.
I certainly don't agree with the point about wooden doors being more secure. My doors have a 4 point deadlock jobby and an frame protector around the door to defend against crow bars and other burgularising accessories.

regarding double glazed windows v's the alternatives. Double glazing is far more efficient at insulating the house. Single pane glass may as well be an open space.

You can get double glazed wooden framed windows though.

Originally posted by Cyclone
regarding double glazed windows v's the alternatives. Double glazing is far more efficient at insulating the house. Single pane glass may as well be an open space.

You can get double glazed wooden framed windows though. As I was saying, there are companies that specialise in refurbing the old up to modern standards, including encasing your original stained glass panel in a sealed unit of double glazing. Victorian front doors are usually thick enough to accommodate this.

Originally posted by Cyclone
regarding double glazed windows v's the alternatives. Double glazing is far more efficient at insulating the house. Single pane glass may as well be an open space.

You can get double glazed wooden framed windows though.

Cyclone, this thread is about Ugly double glazing style doors not windows

Most people appreciate that double glazing windows are a good idea. And that they are a cheap and efficient way of replacing original windows. And most people choose or can only afford plasic coated frames. Rather than nice wooden framed sash style or whatever, maybe they don't want the bi annual hassle of painting or varnishing wood ones.

Originally posted by muddycoffee
....maybe they don't want the bi annual hassle of painting or varnishing wood ones. Oi!!!!! Read the thread before you start ranting!! I said earlier.... Dulux trade gloss has an eight year guarantee... Stuff it, you can go and read the original, I'm not typing it again.

And most doors have a glazed panel, so cyclone has a valid point. :rant:

and i was responding to someone else's earlier comment about windows anyway.

I think it was Strixs' comment that i was responding too.

Originally posted by muddycoffee
I live in an old house built in the 1890s. My front door is sheltered from the weather and it is wood and it is original. There is nothing wrong with it at all. Most of my neighbours have had their Lovely solid old wooden doors replaced with horrible white, bendy double glazing doors. Why?

They are less attractive, easier to break into, they get loose and saggy after barely a decade. The seals in any glass go and you get mist inside.

Does anybody else prefer Wooden doors which can last for over a century? Are are you all happy with your clean garish front doors?

The door might last a hundred years, it's the door frame that you need to look at, my nans door was knocked of it's hinges with a sledgehammer quite easily. She has replaced it with a UPVC door now.

Originally posted by nick2
She has replaced it with a UPVC door now. Of course! That naturally sledgehammer-repellent material - plastic :rolleyes: :suspect: :confused:

I think you'll find that all the security in a upvc door is around the frame. If that's the sort of neighbourhood where people wander round with sledgehammers, then I don't think you stand much chance. Burglars have been known to go through walls coz they're less secure than doors and windows on some properties.

But talking about double-glazed wooden sash windows, I need to replace six windows and they must be wooden sash windows, and I want double-glazing. Can anybody recommended anyone, or warn me off anybody?

Thanks.

If you have a good quality wooden door and frame or a good quality uPVC door and frame, I'd imagine that the average thieving get would look for an easier route to your playstation 2 or Elton John collection, I know my door wouldn't be the easiest way in ( My address isn't on here anywhere is it?!).

The locksmith who came to my mum's assistance when she was broken into said it was quite rare for them to get in through a main door as windows provide easier access.

I'd think that single glazed windows, if you're fitting them now, are against building regs so you have no choice other than double glazing, you can have double glazing with wooden frames though.

Originally posted by Strix
I think you'll find that all the security in a upvc door is around the frame.

As it was the door frame that gave way when she was burgled I think perhaps thats why she chose a UPVC replacement.
So less eyerolling please.

Originally posted by jgharston
But talking about double-glazed wooden sash windows, I need to replace six windows and they must be wooden sash windows, and I want double-glazing. Can anybody recommended anyone, or warn me off anybody?

Thanks.

Try DWS (Designer Woodwork Services) - they are off Spital Hill. They seem to specialise in new double glazed timber sash windows.

Originally posted by Strix
Of course! That naturally sledgehammer-repellent material - plastic :rolleyes: :suspect: :confused:

I think you'll find that all the security in a upvc door is around the frame. If that's the sort of neighbourhood where people wander round with sledgehammers, then I don't think you stand much chance. Burglars have been known to go through walls coz they're less secure than doors and windows on some properties.

Its not exactly just a peice of plastic though is it. It goes without saying that these types of materials are put through endless tests to achieve minimum ratings and to match up to certain regulations. I know which one I would be more comfortable having if it was attacked by a sledgehammer.
Unless you have a bank vault style front door then you are unlikely to have anything thats sledgehammer proof

Originally posted by wibbles
Unless you have a bank vault style front door then you are unlikely to have anything thats sledgehammer proof You can get some very nice steel faced domestic doors. They look like ordinary wooden doors.

You can get some very nice steel faced domestic doors. They look like ordinary wooden doors.
One of my doors is steel faced with wood. There's the remains of some chav's knee-cap embedded into it ;)

Originally posted by jgharston
One of my doors is steel faced with wood. There's the remains of some chav's knee-cap embedded into it ;) :hihi: They work then? :heyhey:

All doors and frames made by "The real Yorkshire window company" are fully reinforced with steel inside the uvpc.