For a front door, yes. A composite door is thicker, heavier, more rigid and better looking than a uPVC door, and it holds its seal and its shape better over the years. For a back door or side door, uPVC is often the better buy, because it does the essentials well at a friendlier price and nobody is judging your kerb appeal from the garden.
We fit both, so we’ve no reason to push you either way. Here’s how they compare.
Where composite wins
- Strength and feel. A composite slab is typically 44mm or 48mm thick with a dense core. A standard uPVC door is built around a 28mm panel in a hollow reinforced frame. You notice the difference the first time each one closes.
- Looks. Composite skins are moulded with a woodgrain texture and come in a wide range of colours, so they pass for a painted timber door. uPVC has improved, with foils in anthracite, oak and other finishes, but it still looks like uPVC up close.
- Security. The rigid slab is harder to flex or kick through, and our composite doors are built to the police-backed Secured by Design standard. A good uPVC door with multi-point locking is secure, but the panel is its weak spot.
- Long-term performance. Because the composite slab doesn’t flex much, the compression seal around it stays effective. Thinner uPVC panels can move slightly over time, which is where draughts creep in.
Where uPVC wins
- Price. It costs less, sometimes a lot less, for the same opening.
- Weight. Lighter, which matters on a side door that’s opened fifty times a day.
- Good enough. For a back door onto a garden, a uPVC door with multi-point locking and double glazing does the job.
Our honest take
Most of our Wolverhampton customers who compare both in the showroom choose composite for the front and uPVC for the back. If budget only stretches to one upgrade, spend it on the door people see and the door burglars try first. Compare the uPVC door range alongside composite and ask us to quote the pair.
Thinking about a composite door? We supply and fit them across Wolverhampton, and you deal directly with us, the owners. Call 01902 633355, message us on WhatsApp, or design your door online and we’ll put a proper price together for you. Finance options are available if you’d like to spread the cost.