Poole · Dorset
Composite Doors in Poole
Timber doors in Poole that swell, stick or need repainting can be replaced with low-maintenance composite doors that look like painted timber.
- BH15
- BH14
- BH17
- Guide from £1,295
Poole: composite doors
Glass in a door, and in any side panel within 300mm of the door's edge, counts as a critical location when it is within 1500mm of the floor. In England, Approved Document K expects that glass to be safety glass that breaks safely, such as toughened or laminated glass.
In England, Approved Document L sets the limiting standard for a new door in an existing home at a U-value of 1.4 W/m²K, or a Doorset Energy Rating of band B for a mostly solid door. Doors with more than 60% of the face glazed may instead meet band C.
Replacing a front door usually takes a day on site. The old door and frame are cut out, the new frame is fixed, packed and squared, the slab is hung and adjusted, and the frame is sealed outside and trimmed inside. Plaster around older frames sometimes needs making good afterwards.
Letterplates can be a security weak spot, because tools can be fed through to reach the inside handle or keys. A letterplate with an internal cowl or restrictor, or a door with no letterplate and a wall-mounted post box, reduces that risk. Keys should be kept away from the door.
What's included
- Fitting, adjusting, sealing and finishing around the frame
- Survey, measuring and threshold check
- Multi-point lock with anti-snap cylinder
- Written guarantee terms and advice on building regulations sign-off
Poole at a glance
- Postcodes covered
- BH15, BH14, BH17 and the surrounding area, including Bournemouth, Ferndown and Christchurch
- Coast
- Poole is about 1 km from the coast or a tidal estuary, so salt air and wind-driven rain are worth planning for. Near the sea, salt air corrodes plated door furniture and lock parts more quickly, so marine-grade or stainless hardware is worth considering. Exposed doors also face wind-driven rain, so a well-sealed frame, weatherbar and threshold drainage matter more than usual.
- Daylight and sun
- In Poole the midwinter sun reaches about 16° above the horizon at noon, with roughly 7.7 hours of daylight, rising to about 63° and 16.3 hours in midsummer. Dark-coloured doors in direct sun get much hotter than pale ones, so follow the manufacturer's guidance on colour for south and west-facing entrances. Glazed panels and side lights bring daylight into dark hallways, especially on north-facing elevations.
- Access and setting
- Street-facing front doors in towns and cities face more passers-by, so anti-snap cylinders, laminated glass and letterplate guards are worth specifying. Conservation areas may control front door styles and colours, and flat entrance doors onto shared corridors normally need fire-rated doorsets.
- Rules in England
- Approved Document K requires safety glass in critical locations in England: glazing in doors and in side panels within 300 mm of a door, up to 1500 mm above floor level, and any glazing in walls or partitions up to 800 mm above floor level.
Guide prices in Poole
| Typical job | Guide price inc VAT |
|---|---|
| Composite front door, supplied and fitted | £1,295 – £1,795 |
| Door with one side panel | £1,695 – £2,295 |
| Door, side panel and top light | £1,895 – £2,595 |
Get a guide price for your size
Replacing windows and doors with similar ones is usually permitted development for houses in England. Flats, listed buildings and homes in conservation areas or covered by an Article 4 direction can need permission, so check with the council first.
Choosing your composite doors
Hardware finishes
Handles, knockers, letterplates and numerals in chrome, satin, gold, black or graphite, chosen to match the door style.
Insulated foam core
A lighter slab with a high-density foam core, offering good thermal performance and a wide range of styles.
Solid timber core
A heavier slab with a timber core under the composite skin, giving a solid feel and sound when the door closes.
Composite Doors in Poole: questions
What guarantee comes with a composite door?
Manufacturer guarantees apply to the door slab, frame, glass and locking hardware, and the terms are confirmed in writing. Guarantee terms for the installation are set out in writing with your quote, so you know what is covered before you go ahead. Keep the paperwork with your building regulations certificate for when you sell the property.
What glass can I have in a composite door?
Composite door glass comes in sealed cassettes with clear, obscure, bevelled, leaded-effect or decorative designs. Any glass within 1500mm of the floor in a door should be safety glass, and laminated glass adds security because it stays together when struck. Obscure designs give privacy in hallways while still letting daylight in.
Are composite doors more secure than uPVC doors?
A well-specified composite door is usually stiffer and harder to force than an older uPVC panel door, but security depends mostly on the lock, cylinder, hinges and glass. Look for a multi-point lock, an anti-snap cylinder such as TS 007 3-star or SS312 Diamond, laminated glass and a door tested to PAS 24.
Can a composite door be fitted with a level threshold?
Yes, composite doors can be supplied with a low aluminium threshold for step-free or near step-free access. In England, where a house built in 1999 or later has a level threshold at the main entrance, the replacement should keep it. Low thresholds need good drainage and some shelter from driving rain, which the glazier checks at survey.
Do you cover Poole for composite doors?
Yes. We can quote for composite doors across Poole and the surrounding Dorset area, including postcode districts BH15, BH14 and BH17, and nearby Bournemouth, Ferndown and Christchurch. Start with your postcode on the quote form and a glazier will arrange a free survey before giving you a written quote.
Get a written quote in Poole
Free survey for new glazing, clear guide prices and one point of contact for every glazing job.