Dudley · West Midlands
Composite Doors in Dudley
Our glaziers fit composite front and back doors across Dudley, removing the old frame, levelling the new doorset and explaining how the work is approved.
- DY2
- DY1
- B64
- Guide from £1,295
Dudley: replacement front door
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.
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.
Composite door prices depend on the door style, core type, colour, glass design, side panels or toplights, hardware finish and lock specification. Removing an old frame from a deep or uneven opening, or fitting a new threshold, adds labour. See the guide prices for typical ranges; the written quote fixes the figure.
A composite door slab usually combines a glass-reinforced plastic (GRP) outer skin, moulded with a woodgrain texture, over an insulated core. Some cores are high-density foam, others solid timber. Timber-cored slabs tend to feel heavier and more solid when closed, while foam cores are lighter and insulate well.
What's included
- Fitting, adjusting, sealing and finishing around the frame
- Written guarantee terms and advice on building regulations sign-off
- Made-to-measure composite doorset in your chosen colour
- Multi-point lock with anti-snap cylinder
About Dudley for this job
- Postcodes covered
- DY2, DY1, B64 and the surrounding area, including Brierley Hill, Tipton and Kingswinford
- Coast
- Dudley is well inland, around 82 km from the nearest coast, so salt exposure is not usually a factor.
- Daylight and sun
- In Dudley the midwinter sun reaches about 14° above the horizon at noon, with roughly 7.4 hours of daylight, rising to about 61° and 16.6 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 Dudley
| 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
In England, replacing a whole window, roof window or glazed external door is building work. It has to be notified to building control, either by an installer registered with a competent person scheme such as FENSA or Certass, or through a building notice to the council. Replacing only the glass in an existing frame is a repair and is not notifiable.
Choosing your composite doors
Glass designs
Clear, obscure, bevelled or decorative glass in sealed cassettes, with toughened or laminated panes for safety and security.
Solid timber core
A heavier slab with a timber core under the composite skin, giving a solid feel and sound when the door closes.
Low threshold
A low-profile aluminium threshold for step-free or near step-free access, used where drainage and shelter allow.
Composite Doors in Dudley: questions
Do I need planning permission to replace my front door?
In England, replacing a house's front door with one of similar appearance usually does not need planning permission. Listed buildings need listed building consent for significant works, and conservation areas or Article 4 directions can restrict changes to front doors, colours and materials. Flats may need permission, so check with your council if your home falls into any of these.
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.
How much does a composite front door cost?
The cost of a composite door depends on the style, core type, colour, glass, side panels or toplights, hardware and lock specification, plus the condition of the opening. A plain door in a standard colour sits at the lower end, while doors with glazed side panels and premium hardware cost more. See the guide prices; the written quote fixes your price.
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.
Do you cover Dudley for composite doors?
Yes. We can quote for composite doors across Dudley and the surrounding West Midlands area, including postcode districts DY2, DY1 and B64, and nearby Brierley Hill, Tipton and Kingswinford. 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 Dudley
Free survey for new glazing, clear guide prices and one point of contact for every glazing job.