Front Door Replacement London: Materials, Security & Planning Rules

BEFORE SELECTING A REPLACEMENT FRONT DOOR, ESTABLISH YOUR PLANNING POSITION.

NON-CONSERVATION AREAS: REPLACING A FRONT DOOR WITH A DOOR OF SIMILAR APPEARANCE AND CONSTRUCTION IS GENERALLY PERMITTED DEVELOPMENT FOR HOUSES (NOT FLATS). HOWEVER, IN MANY LONDON BOROUGHS THAT HAVE STRONG LOCALLY DISTINCTIVE CHARACTER GUIDANCE, REPLACING A TRADITIONAL TIMBER PANEL DOOR WITH A MODERN COMPOSITE OR ALUMINIUM DOOR IN A NOTICEABLY DIFFERENT STYLE MAY BE CONSIDERED A MATERIAL CHANGE OF APPEARANCE — WHICH COULD REQUIRE PLANNING PERMISSION OR AT MINIMUM ATTRACT PLANNING COMPLAINTS. CHECK YOUR LOCAL PLANNING AUTHORITY'S DESIGN GUIDE BEFORE PROCEEDING.

CONSERVATION AREAS: SOME LONDON BOROUGHS HAVE ARTICLE 4 DIRECTIONS COVERING FRONT DOORS IN CONSERVATION AREAS — SPECIFICALLY REQUIRING PLANNING PERMISSION TO REPLACE A DOOR WITH ONE OF A DIFFERENT MATERIAL OR DESIGN. THE MOST COMMONLY AFFECTED BOROUGHS INCLUDE ISLINGTON, CAMDEN, KENSINGTON AND CHELSEA, WESTMINSTER, AND SOUTHWARK. IN THESE AREAS: — REPLACING A TRADITIONAL TIMBER PANELLED DOOR WITH A COMPOSITE, UPVC, OR ALUMINIUM DOOR ALMOST CERTAINLY REQUIRES PLANNING PERMISSION AND IS LIKELY TO BE REFUSED. — REPLACING LIKE-FOR-LIKE (TRADITIONAL TIMBER PANEL DOOR IN THE SAME DESIGN, PROPORTIONS, AND COLOUR) IS GENERALLY ACCEPTABLE. — RESTORING ORIGINAL PERIOD DOORS IS STRONGLY ENCOURAGED.

HOW TO CHECK: CONTACT YOUR LOCAL PLANNING AUTHORITY OR CHECK THE CONSERVATION AREA APPRAISAL FOR YOUR AREA. IN LONDON, ARTICK 4 DIRECTIONS THAT AFFECT FRONT DOORS ARE NOTED IN THE BOROUGH'S PLANNING CONSTRAINTS MAPPING TOOL.

LISTED BUILDINGS: LISTED BUILDING CONSENT IS REQUIRED FOR ANY CHANGE TO AN ORIGINAL FRONT DOOR ON A LISTED BUILDING. EVEN LIKE-FOR-LIKE REPLACEMENT OF AN ORIGINAL DOOR REQUIRES CONSENT — THE PREFERRED APPROACH IS CONSERVATION REPAIR OF THE ORIGINAL DOOR RATHER THAN REPLACEMENT.

FLATS (MAISONETTES, LEASEHOLD FLATS): FRONT DOOR REPLACEMENT IS TYPICALLY GOVERNED BY THE LEASE — MOST LEASES REQUIRE FREEHOLDER CONSENT FOR CHANGES TO THE EXTERNAL APPEARANCE. ALWAYS CHECK YOUR LEASE BEFORE ORDERING A REPLACEMENT DOOR.

REPLACEMENT FRONT DOORS ARE SUBJECT TO BUILDING REGULATIONS IN ENGLAND.

PART L (ENERGY EFFICIENCY): REPLACEMENT ENTRANCE DOORS MUST ACHIEVE A MINIMUM WHOLE-DOOR U-VALUE OF 1.4 W/M2K OR BETTER. THIS IS ACTUALLY LESS STRINGENT THAN THE REQUIREMENT FOR REPLACEMENT WINDOWS (1.2 W/M2K FOR REPLACEMENT WINDOWS UNDER PART L) BECAUSE ENTRANCE DOORS HAVE INHERENTLY LOWER GLAZED AREA PROPORTIONS. ALL MODERN COMPOSITE DOORS, TIMBER DOORS WITH DOUBLE GLAZING, AND ALUMINIUM THERMALLY BROKEN DOORS ACHIEVE 1.4 W/M2K OR BETTER. OLDER SINGLE-GLAZED TIMBER PANEL DOORS TYPICALLY HAVE U-VALUES OF 3.0-4.5 W/M2K — REPLACEMENT WITH A MODERN DOOR DELIVERS A SIGNIFICANT THERMAL IMPROVEMENT.

PART Q (SECURITY): PART Q OF THE BUILDING REGULATIONS (EFFECTIVE FROM 1 OCTOBER 2015) REQUIRES THAT REPLACEMENT FRONT DOORS IN NEW DWELLINGS MEET PAS 24:2016 SECURITY PERFORMANCE STANDARD — A SPECIFICATION THAT COVERS LOCK CYLINDERS, MULTIPOINT LOCKING, HINGES, AND FRAME STRENGTH. FOR REPLACEMENT DOORS IN EXISTING DWELLINGS (AS OPPOSED TO NEW BUILDS), PART Q IS NOT STRICTLY STATUTORY BUT IS STRONGLY RECOMMENDED AND FORMS PART OF THE POLICE'S SECURED BY DESIGN (SBD) SCHEME THAT MANY LONDON BOROUGHS ENDORSE.

COMPETENT PERSONS AND SELF-CERTIFICATION: DOOR REPLACEMENT IS COVERED BY THE FENSA (FENESTRATION SELF-ASSESSMENT SCHEME) AND CERTASS SELF-CERTIFICATION SCHEMES. REGISTERED FENSA INSTALLERS CAN SELF-CERTIFY THAT THE REPLACEMENT DOOR MEETS BUILDING REGULATIONS WITHOUT A SEPARATE BUILDING CONTROL NOTIFICATION. ALWAYS OBTAIN FENSA REGISTRATION DOCUMENTATION AFTER INSTALLATION — THIS IS REQUIRED AT SALE AND REMORTGAGE.

COMPOSITE DOORS ARE THE MOST POPULAR REPLACEMENT FRONT DOOR CHOICE ACROSS THE LONDON MARKET. THEY COMBINE A GRP (GLASS-REINFORCED PLASTIC) EXTERNAL SKIN OVER A POLYURETHANE FOAM CORE WITHIN A TIMBER OR UHMWPE SUBFRAME. THE RESULT IS A DOOR THAT OFFERS THE WARMTH AND TEXTURE OF PAINTED TIMBER WITH SIGNIFICANTLY LOWER MAINTENANCE AND SUPERIOR ENERGY PERFORMANCE.

LEADING COMPOSITE DOOR SYSTEMS (TRADE SYSTEMS): — SOLIDOR (MANUFACTURER-LED COMPOSITE RANGE): SOLID 48MM TIMBER CORE WITH GRP SKIN. NOTED FOR SOLID FEEL AND QUALITY HARDWARE. COLOURS: 20+ STANDARD COLOURS INCLUDING CHARTWELL GREEN (POPULAR IN LONDON CONSERVATION EDGE AREAS), ANTHRACITE GREY (RAL 7016), FRENCH NAVY. — HURST (DOOR MANUFACTURER): POPULAR WITH LONDON INSTALLERS. 44MM GRP COMPOSITE WITH PU FOAM CORE. HARDWARE: AVOCET ABS (ANTI-BUMP, ANTI-SNAP, ANTI-PICK CYLINDER) AS STANDARD IN MANY CONFIGURATIONS. — KOMMERLING 76 COMPOSITE: HIGH-PERFORMANCE COMPOSITE FROM KOMMERLING'S COMMERCIAL DOOR DIVISION ADAPTED FOR RESIDENTIAL. EXCELLENT THERMAL PERFORMANCE (U-VALUE 0.8 W/M2K WITH TRIPLE GLAZED PANEL).

SECURITY FEATURES TO SPECIFY: — ABS (ANTI-BUMP, ANTI-SNAP) EURO CYLINDER: ABS CYLINDERS BY ULTION, AVOCET, YALE, OR WINKHAUS RESIST THE THREE MOST COMMON CYLINDER ATTACK METHODS. — MULTIPOINT LOCKING: 3-POINT (TOP, BOTTOM, CENTRE) AS MINIMUM; 5-POINT (TOP, BOTTOM, DOUBLE CENTRE BOLTS) PREFERRED FOR LONDON'S SECURITY-CONSCIOUS MARKET. — THUMB TURN INTERNALLY: ALLOWS RAPID EGRESS FROM INSIDE — RECOMMENDED FOR FIRE SAFETY. — ANTI-JEMMY PROTECTION: FACE-FIXED ANTI-JEM STRIPS ON LOCK EDGE TO RESIST CROWBAR ATTACKS.

COST: £900-£2,500 SUPPLY AND FIT FOR A COMPOSITE DOOR IN LONDON (DEPENDING ON SIZE, GLAZING, HARDWARE, AND STYLE). CUSTOM SIZES OR NON-STANDARD CONFIGURATIONS ADD COST.

FOR LONDON'S LARGE STOCK OF VICTORIAN AND EDWARDIAN TERRACED HOUSES — PARTICULARLY THOSE IN CONSERVATION AREAS WHERE PLANNING RULES RESTRICT MATERIAL CHANGES — TRADITIONAL TIMBER FRONT DOORS ARE THE PERIOD-APPROPRIATE CHOICE. A HIGH-QUALITY TRADITIONAL TIMBER DOOR, WELL-PAINTED AND PROPERLY MAINTAINED, CAN LAST 50+ YEARS.

TIMBER SPECIES AND GRADE: — SAPELE (WEST AFRICAN HARDWOOD): THE MOST COMMON PERIOD-STYLE FRONT DOOR TIMBER IN THE LONDON MARKET. STABLE, DURABLE, TAKES PAINT WELL. JELD-WEN BEDFORD HARDWOOD PANEL DOOR IN SAPELE IS A WIDELY SPECIFIED PRODUCT. — ACCOYA (MODIFIED RADIATA PINE): ACETYLATED SOFTWOOD WITH EXCEPTIONAL DIMENSIONAL STABILITY AND DURABILITY. GUARANTEED 50 YEARS IN EXTERNAL APPLICATIONS. IDEAL FOR BESPOKE PERIOD DOORS WHERE MOVEMENT IS A CONCERN. — IDIGBO (WEST AFRICAN): LIGHTWEIGHT HARDWOOD, PALE COLOUR — GOOD WHERE WEIGHT IS A CONCERN FOR LARGER DOORS.

PERIOD DOOR HARDWARE: PERIOD DOOR HARDWARE IS A DISTINCTIVE ELEMENT OF LONDON'S VICTORIAN STREETSCAPE. APPROPRIATE HARDWARE FOR A VICTORIAN TERRACE: — LETTER BOX: BRASS LION HEAD (HINGED KNOCKER) OR POLISHED BRASS STANDARD LETTERBOX WITH GRAVITY FLAP. SUPPLIERS: CARLISLE BRASS, SMEDBO, CROFT ARCHITECTURAL. — DOOR KNOCKER: BRASS LION HEAD OR RING KNOCKER. CARLISLE BRASS AB1 SERIES. — DOOR PULL: BRASS D-PULL OR RING PULL. — NUMERALS: BRASS HOUSE NUMBERS IN PERIOD TYPEFACE. — LETTER CAGE OR BOX BEHIND DOOR: LETTERBOX CAGED DRAUGHT EXCLUDER (SPERRIN METAL, OR DRAUGHT EXCLUSION CAGE) TO PREVENT HEAT LOSS AND LETTERBOX ATTACKS.

TIMBER DOOR PAINT: TIMBER FRONT DOORS IN LONDON SHOULD BE PAINTED WITH EXTERIOR GRADE EGGSHELL OR GLOSS: LITTLE GREENE INTELLIGENT EGGSHELL (EXTERIOR USE APPROVED); FARROW & BALL FULL GLOSS (SUITABLE FOR EXTERNAL USE WHERE SHELTERED); JOHNSTONE TRADE EXTERIOR SATIN (HIGH-DURABILITY, MORE PRACTICAL). TWO COATS ON PRIMED TIMBER; RE-PAINT EVERY 4-6 YEARS.

COST: £600-£2,000 SUPPLY AND FIT FOR A SOLID TIMBER PANEL DOOR IN STANDARD SIZES. BESPOKE HARDWOOD DOORS TO REPLICATE ORIGINAL PERIOD DESIGNS: £1,500-£5,000+ DEPENDING ON COMPLEXITY AND TIMBER SPECIES.

FOR CONTEMPORARY NEW-BUILD PROPERTIES, MODERN EXTENSIONS, AND ULTRA-MINIMALIST RENOVATIONS — PARTICULARLY IN EAST LONDON'S EMERGING AREAS AND SOUTH LONDON'S INDUSTRIAL CONVERSION MARKET — ALUMINIUM AND STEEL FRONT DOORS REPRESENT THE PREMIUM CONTEMPORARY OPTION.

ALUMINIUM FRONT DOORS: — PROFILE: TYPICALLY 70-100MM FACE ALUMINIUM WITH POLYAMIDE THERMAL BREAK (THERMALLY BROKEN) TO ACHIEVE U ≤ 1.4 W/M2K. — FINISH: POWDER-COATED IN ANY RAL COLOUR. ANTHRACITE GREY (RAL 7016) AND BLACK (RAL 9005) DOMINATE THE LONDON CONTEMPORARY MARKET. — SUPPLIERS: RATIONEL ALDAS (HIGH-END DANISH ALUMINIUM DOORS); SMART SYSTEMS ALITHERM 900; ALUK GROUP 68PD ALUMINIUM DOORS; SCHUCO ALUMINIUM DOORS (COMMERCIAL-GRADE PREMIUM). — GLAZING: TRIPLE GLAZED 44MM UNITS AS STANDARD FOR FRONT DOORS. PRIVACY GLASS (SATIN, OBSCURE, OR PATTERN GLASS) FOR FULL-HEIGHT GLAZED PANELS. — COST: £2,000-£5,000 SUPPLY AND FIT FOR A STANDARD ALUMINIUM DOOR.

STEEL FRONT DOORS: STEEL DOORS PROVIDE OUTSTANDING SECURITY, A UNIQUE INDUSTRIAL AESTHETIC, AND EXCELLENT DURABILITY. POPULAR IN LONDON'S WAREHOUSE CONVERSION MARKET AND MODERN TOWNHOUSE DEVELOPMENTS. — KEY BRANDS: CRITALL WINDOWS (ICONIC LONDON STEEL WINDOW AND DOOR BRAND, W20 SERIES); STEELCRAFT; IRON MONGERY DIRECT CUSTOM STEEL DOORS; PORTER DAVIS STEEL DOORS. — PERFORMANCE: TYPICALLY PAS 24 AND SECURED BY DESIGN CERTIFIED. INHERENTLY STRONGER THAN TIMBER OR COMPOSITE UNDER FORCED ENTRY. — THERMAL PERFORMANCE: REQUIRES CAREFUL SPECIFICATION — SOLID STEEL IS A POOR INSULATOR. THERMALLY BROKEN STEEL FRAMES WITH INSULATED DOOR PANELS ARE REQUIRED TO MEET PART L. — COST: £3,000-£8,000 FOR STANDARD STEEL DOOR; CRITTAL-STYLE FULL-HEIGHT GLAZED STEEL DOORS: £5,000-£15,000.