External Doors for London Homes: Composite, Timber, Steel, and Aluminium — Specification, Security, and Planning Guide

COMPOSITE DOORS ARE THE DOMINANT EXTERNAL DOOR TYPE INSTALLED IN LONDON RESIDENTIAL RENOVATIONS — ACCOUNTING FOR AN ESTIMATED 70 TO 80% OF ALL FRONT AND BACK DOOR REPLACEMENTS. A COMPOSITE DOOR HAS AN OUTER SKIN OF GRP (GLASS-REINFORCED POLYMER — FIBREGLASS) OR MOULDED THERMOPLASTIC OVER A RIGID FOAM CORE (TYPICALLY EXPANDED OR EXTRUDED POLYSTYRENE) WITHIN A TIMBER STAVE OR ENGINEERED TIMBER FRAME.

SOLIDOR (HARDWOOD TIMBER SOLID CORE COMPOSITE): SOLIDOR IS A UK-BASED COMPOSITE DOOR COMPANY WHOSE MAIN DIFFERENTIATOR IS A SOLID TIMBER CORE — 48MM OVERALL DOOR THICKNESS WITH A LAMINATED VENEER TIMBER (LVL) CORE RATHER THAN THE FOAM CORE USED BY MOST COMPETITORS. THE SOLID CORE PROVIDES EXCELLENT RIGIDITY, A SOLID "SLAM" AND SOUND WHEN CLOSING (WHICH CLIENTS ASSOCIATE WITH QUALITY), AND VERY GOOD IMPACT RESISTANCE. SOLIDOR DOORS ARE AVAILABLE IN OVER 20 TIMBER COLOURS AND A WIDE RANGE OF PANEL DESIGNS. THERMAL PERFORMANCE: U-VALUE 0.7 TO 1.1 W/M'K (CENTRE-OF-DOOR, WHOLE DOOR VALUE APPROXIMATELY 1.2 TO 1.4 W/M'K INCLUDING FRAME).

ROCKDOOR ULTIMATE (POLYPROPYLENE OUTER SKIN COMPOSITE): ROCKDOOR IS A PREMIUM COMPOSITE DOOR BRAND WITH A POLYPROPYLENE OUTER SKIN (HARDER THAN STANDARD GRP — HIGHER SCRATCH AND DENT RESISTANCE). THE ULTIMATE RANGE HAS A CENTRAL FOAM CORE REINFORCED WITH A STEEL PERIMETER STIFFENER. THERMAL PERFORMANCE: U-VALUE 0.8 W/M'K FOR THE COMPOSITE PANEL (WHOLE DOOR VALUE 1.2 TO 1.5 W/M'K).

ENDURANCE COMPOSITE DOORS (ULTION CYLINDER STANDARD): ENDURANCE IS A UK COMPOSITE DOOR MANUFACTURER THAT SUPPLIES ITS DOORS WITH THE ULTION HIGH-SECURITY CYLINDER AS STANDARD — A 3-STAR TS007:2014 RATED CYLINDER WITH ANTI-SNAP, ANTI-PICK, ANTI-DRILL, AND ANTI-BUMP PROTECTION. ULTION CYLINDERS ARE SPECIFICALLY NAMED IN MOST UK SECURED BY DESIGN (SBD) SPECIFICATIONS. ENDURANCE DOORS COMPLY WITH PAS 24:2016 AS STANDARD.

PAS 24 AND SECURED BY DESIGN: ALL COMPOSITE DOORS SPECIFIED FOR LONDON RESIDENTIAL PROJECTS SHOULD MEET PAS 24:2016 (ENHANCED SECURITY PERFORMANCE FOR DOORSETS) — THIS IS NOW A BUILDING REGULATIONS PART Q REQUIREMENT FOR NEW DWELLINGS. FOR REPLACEMENT DOORS IN EXISTING DWELLINGS, PART Q DOES NOT TECHNICALLY APPLY — BUT SPECIFYING PAS 24-COMPLIANT DOORS IS BEST PRACTICE AND IS RECOMMENDED BY METROPOLITAN POLICE SECURED BY DESIGN INITIATIVE. SECURED BY DESIGN (SBD) IS THE OFFICIAL UK POLICE INITIATIVE FOR CRIME PREVENTION THROUGH ENVIRONMENTAL DESIGN — SBD-CERTIFIED DOORS HAVE BEEN THIRD-PARTY TESTED TO EXCEED PAS 24 REQUIREMENTS.

TIMBER EXTERNAL DOORS REMAIN AN IMPORTANT PART OF THE LONDON RENOVATION MARKET — PARTICULARLY FOR CONSERVATION AREA PROPERTIES, LISTED BUILDINGS, AND CLIENTS WHO PREFER THE AESTHETICS AND SUSTAINABILITY OF TIMBER OVER COMPOSITE.

ACCOYA TIMBER (ACETYLATED WOOD — PREMIUM SPECIFICATION): ACCOYA IS A MODIFIED TIMBER PRODUCED FROM SUSTAINABLY SOURCED RADIATA PINE THAT HAS UNDERGONE ACETYLATION — A CHEMICAL PROCESS THAT CONVERTS FREE HYDROXYL GROUPS IN THE WOOD TO ACETYL GROUPS, REDUCING THE WOOD'S ABILITY TO ABSORB MOISTURE. THE RESULT IS A TIMBER WITH STABILITY CHARACTERISTICS CLOSER TO TROPICAL HARDWOOD BUT FROM A FAST-GROWING PLANTATION SPECIES. ACCOYA IS RATED CLASS 1 (50+ YEARS ABOVE GROUND SERVICE LIFE) WITHOUT PRESERVATIVE TREATMENT AND IS DIMENSIONALLY STABLE — SHOWING VERY LOW MOISTURE-RELATED MOVEMENT (SWELLING AND SHRINKING). FOR LONDON EXTERNAL DOORS WHERE TIMBER SWELLING IN WINTER WET WEATHER CAUSES STICKING, ACCOYA DRAMATICALLY REDUCES THIS PROBLEM. ACCOYA IS FSC AND PEFC CERTIFIED. COST PREMIUM OVER STANDARD SOFTWOOD: APPROXIMATELY 40 TO 70%.

HARDWOOD EXTERNAL DOORS (IDIGBO, SAPELE, EUROPEAN OAK): IDIGBO (AN AFRICAN HARDWOOD) AND SAPELE ARE POPULAR HARDWOODS FOR EXTERNAL DOOR CONSTRUCTION — BOTH OFFER GOOD STABILITY, NATURAL OIL CONTENT THAT RESISTS MOISTURE ABSORPTION, AND ATTRACTIVE GRAIN. EUROPEAN OAK (QUERCUS ROBUR) IS THE PREMIUM CHOICE FOR LISTED BUILDINGS AND HERITAGE CONSERVATION AREA DOOR REPLACEMENTS IN LONDON — OAK MATCHES THE ORIGINAL TIMBER USED IN VICTORIAN AND EDWARDIAN LONDON TERRACE DOORS. HARDWOOD DOORS SHOULD BE FACTORY-PRIMED WITH A PENETRATING STAIN AND END-GRAIN SEALED BEFORE DELIVERY TO SITE.

ENGINEERED TIMBER COMPOSITE CORE DOORS (JELD-WEN, XL JOINERY): MOST MID-MARKET TIMBER EXTERNAL DOORS ARE BUILT WITH AN ENGINEERED TIMBER CORE (LAMINATED VENEER LUMBER STILE AND RAIL CONSTRUCTION WITH MDF OR PARTICLEBOARD INFILL) RATHER THAN SOLID TIMBER. THIS APPROACH REDUCES COST AND IMPROVES DIMENSIONAL STABILITY VERSUS SOLID SOFTWOOD. JELD-WEN AND XL JOINERY ARE THE DOMINANT UK VOLUME TIMBER DOOR SUPPLIERS TO THE LONDON RENOVATION TRADE.

STEEL AND ALUMINIUM EXTERNAL DOORS ARE INCREASINGLY POPULAR IN LONDON RENOVATIONS — PARTICULARLY FOR CONTEMPORARY EXTENSION DESIGNS AND FOR COMMERCIAL-RESIDENTIAL MIXED PROJECTS.

HÖRMANN STEEL EXTERNAL DOORS (INDUSTRIAL-INSPIRED DOMESTIC DESIGNS): HÖRMANN IS A GERMAN MANUFACTURER KNOWN PRIMARILY FOR GARAGE DOORS BUT WITH A STRONG RESIDENTIAL EXTERNAL DOOR RANGE. THE HÖRMANN THP 700 STEEL DOORSET FEATURES A POLYURETHANE FOAM-FILLED STEEL DOOR LEAF WITH THERMALLY BROKEN STEEL FRAME — PROVIDING A WHOLE-DOORSET U-VALUE OF 0.7 TO 1.0 W/M'K. STEEL DOORS PROVIDE EXCELLENT SECURITY INHERENTLY (STEEL LEAF IS RESISTANT TO KICK-IN — VERY HIGH LEVER RESISTANCE VERSUS TIMBER OR GRP COMPOSITE). HÖRMANN RESIDENTIAL DOORS ARE AVAILABLE IN RAL COLOUR OPTIONS AND IN FLAT/CORRUGATED PANEL DESIGNS THAT SUIT CONTEMPORARY LONDON EXTENSION AESTHETICS.

ALUMINIUM EXTERNAL DOORS — SMART ALITHERM 400 AND SCHUCO ADS 65: FOR CONTEMPORARY LONDON EXTENSIONS AND FRONT DOORS WHERE A CLEAN, MODERN AESTHETIC IS REQUIRED, THERMALLY BROKEN ALUMINIUM DOORSETS ARE INCREASINGLY SPECIFIED. THE SMART ALITHERM 400 IS A STANDARD THERMALLY BROKEN ALUMINIUM RESIDENTIAL DOOR SYSTEM — WIDELY FABRICATED BY LONDON ALUMINIUM SPECIALISTS, AVAILABLE IN RAL COLOURS, WITH A U-VALUE (WHOLE DOORSET) OF 1.3 TO 1.6 W/M'K. THE SCHÜCO ADS 65 HI (HIGH INSULATION) IS THE PREMIUM THERMALLY BROKEN ALUMINIUM DOOR SYSTEM — WHOLE DOORSET U-VALUE 0.87 W/M'K. ALUMINIUM DOORS ARE LOW MAINTENANCE (NO PAINTING, NO SWELLING, NO TIMBER ROT) AND ARE SUITABLE FOR CONSERVATION AREA APPLICATIONS WHERE THE CONSERVATION OFFICER AGREES THAT THE SLIM ALUMINIUM SECTION IS CONSISTENT WITH THE CHARACTER AREA APPRAISAL.

EXTERNAL DOORS IN LONDON RENOVATION PROJECTS MUST COMPLY WITH BUILDING REGULATIONS PART L (THERMAL) AND, FOR NEW DWELLINGS, PART Q (SECURITY).

PART L THERMAL REQUIREMENTS FOR EXTERNAL DOORS: UNDER APPROVED DOCUMENT L (ENGLAND, 2021), THE MAXIMUM U-VALUE FOR REPLACEMENT EXTERNAL DOORS IN EXISTING DWELLINGS IS 1.4 W/M'K (WHOLE UNIT) WHERE THE DOOR IS MORE THAN 60% GLAZED — AND 1.6 W/M'K FOR DOORS THAT ARE MORE THAN 60% SOLID (NON-GLAZED). FOR NEW DWELLINGS (NEW BUILDS AND CONVERSIONS), THE SAP CALCULATION SETS THE PERFORMANCE TARGET — TYPICALLY A WHOLE DOORSET U-VALUE OF 1.4 W/M'K OR BETTER IS NEEDED TO ACHIEVE COMPLIANCE IN A STANDARD SAP ASSESSMENT. THE MOST ENERGY-EFFICIENT COMPOSITE DOORS (SOLIDOR, ROCKDOOR ULTIMATE WITH TRIPLE-GLAZED SIDE LIGHTS) ACHIEVE WHOLE-UNIT U-VALUES OF 0.7 TO 1.1 W/M'K — COMFORTABLY MEETING PART L.

PART Q SECURITY REQUIREMENTS (NEW DWELLINGS ONLY): APPROVED DOCUMENT Q (ENGLAND) REQUIRES THAT IN NEW DWELLINGS, ALL GROUND-FLOOR AND FIRST-FLOOR ACCESSIBLE EXTERNAL DOORSETS MUST MEET OR EXCEED THE PERFORMANCE REQUIREMENTS OF PAS 24:2016 (SECURITY FOR DOORSETS). THIS REQUIREMENT APPLIES TO ALL HOUSE BUILDERS AND DEVELOPER CONVERSION PROJECTS IN ENGLAND. FOR REPLACEMENT DOORS IN EXISTING DWELLINGS: PART Q DOES NOT STRICTLY APPLY — BUT SPECIFYING PAS 24-COMPLIANT DOORS IS STRONGLY RECOMMENDED FOR BOTH SECURITY AND INSURANCE PURPOSES.

EXTERNAL DOOR REPLACEMENTS IN LONDON ARE SUBJECT TO PLANNING RULES DEPENDING ON THE PROPERTY TYPE AND PLANNING DESIGNATION.

PERMITTED DEVELOPMENT FOR FRONT DOOR REPLACEMENT: REPLACING A FRONT DOOR WITH A NEW DOOR USING SIMILAR MATERIALS AND OF SIMILAR APPEARANCE IS PERMITTED DEVELOPMENT IN MOST CIRCUMSTANCES — NO PLANNING PERMISSION IS REQUIRED. A TIMBER DOOR REPLACED WITH A COMPOSITE DOOR OF SIMILAR PROPORTIONS AND COLOUR IS GENERALLY PD. CHANGING FROM A PANELLED TIMBER DOOR TO A FLAT CONTEMPORARY STEEL DOOR MAY NOT BE PD IF THE LPA DETERMINES THE CHANGE MATERIALLY AFFECTS THE EXTERNAL APPEARANCE.

CONSERVATION AREA PROPERTIES: IN LONDON CONSERVATION AREAS, ARTICLE 4 DIRECTIONS TYPICALLY RESTRICT CHANGES TO THE FRONT ELEVATION — INCLUDING DOOR REPLACEMENT. IN THESE AREAS, REPLACING AN ORIGINAL TIMBER PANEL DOOR WITH A COMPOSITE DOOR (EVEN IF IT VISUALLY MATCHES THE ORIGINAL) REQUIRES PLANNING PERMISSION. MOST LONDON LPAs WILL GRANT PERMISSION FOR COMPOSITE DOORS IN CONSERVATION AREAS WHERE THE DOOR PROFILE, PANEL DESIGN, GLAZING PATTERN, AND COLOUR CLOSELY MATCH THE CHARACTER OF THE ORIGINAL. TIMBER DOORS IN PERIOD DESIGNS ARE OFTEN THE PREFERRED OPTION FOR CONSERVATION OFFICERS.

LISTED BUILDINGS: ANY CHANGE TO AN EXTERNAL DOOR ON A LISTED BUILDING REQUIRES LISTED BUILDING CONSENT — INCLUDING COLOUR CHANGES, IRONMONGERY CHANGES, AND THRESHOLD CHANGES — IN ADDITION TO ANY REQUIRED PLANNING PERMISSION. LISTED BUILDING OFFICERS IN LONDON BOROUGHS TYPICALLY REQUIRE LIKE-FOR-LIKE REPLACEMENT OF ORIGINAL TIMBER DOORS WHERE THEY SURVIVE.

EXTERNAL DOOR COSTS IN LONDON VARY FROM BUDGET COMPOSITE TO BESPOKE HARDWOOD.

COMPOSITE EXTERNAL DOORS (SUPPLY ONLY): BUDGET (DIRECT-TO-CONSUMER COMPOSITE, STANDARD COLOUR): £600 TO £1,200. MID-MARKET (SOLIDOR TIMBER COMPOSITE, ROCKDOOR ULTIMATE): £1,200 TO £2,000. PREMIUM (SCHÜCO ALUMINIUM FRONT DOOR, HÖRMANN THERMOPRO): £2,500 TO £5,000.

TIMBER EXTERNAL DOORS (SUPPLY ONLY): SOFTWOOD PRIMER-ONLY (XL JOINERY, JELD-WEN): £400 TO £800. HARDWOOD (IDIGBO OR SAPELE, PRIMED): £800 TO £2,000. ACCOYA TIMBER ENGINEERED: £1,500 TO £3,500. BESPOKE OAK PANELLED DOOR (FOR LISTED BUILDING): £3,000 TO £8,000+.

INSTALLATION (SUPPLY AND INSTALL OF FRAME + DOOR, INTERNAL AND EXTERNAL MAKING GOOD, HARDWARE): £250 TO £600 FOR A STANDARD COMPOSITE DOOR REPLACEMENT. £400 TO £900 FOR A TIMBER DOOR WITH NEW FRAME AND LINTEL CHECK. £800 TO £2,000 FOR A BESPOKE DOOR WITH BESPOKE FRAME AND ASSOCIATED MASONRY WORKS.