Composite doors are more common than you might think, but what exactly are they and why should you consider getting one? If you’re in need of a new door, then read on – in this blog, we’ll familiarise you with the advantages of a composite door over a wooden one, and highlight the limitless options available to you, as well as point out a few favourite choices! By the end, you should be ready and confident to replace your old wooden door with a brand-new composite.

Where did composite doors come from?

They’re fairly recent – It was in 1996 that Rock Door introduced composite doors to UK homes. They were purpose-built to address concerns of security whilst having the same appearance as wooden doors.
They’re made from a mixture, or “composite”, of different materials. These include a GRP skin on the outside, and a dense inner core.
They were designed to replace wooden doors – Composites have a grained wood-like surface that gives them the same appeal as traditional wooden doors, setting them apart from earlier replacement doors such as UPVC.
They gave British homeowners new colour options – Outside of painting one’s door, oak, mahogany and white were the standard colour options available; with the introduction of composite doors, one could have a door in red, black and green without need for painting, and without the risk of chipping or peeling paint.

The advantages of composite doors

Weather resistance – British weather is notoriously unpredictable, and composite doors can withstand it, rain or shine. With a GRP skin (short for glass reinforced plastic), a composite door reflects rain and withstands fading; whereas a wooden door can soak up moisture and deform, making it unreliable for security or insulation, and a painted finish can crack or peel from prolonged heat exposure.
Energy efficiency – Composite doors are multi-layered, which is effective in providing thermal breaks to restrict heat loss from indoors, as well as limit the entrance of draught from outside; without thermal breaks, single-layered wooden doors allow draught and heat to easily pass through.
Low maintenance requirements – Composite doors do not need to be repainted due to hardy fade-resistant skins, and they can easily be wiped clean with a damp cloth; painted wooden doors can fade, and need to be repainted to look like new, costing money to do so.
Designed for security – Indeed, composite and wooden doors are sturdy, but the latter can fail in security when it warps due to changes in temperature and moisture absorption. As well as being weather-resistant, our composite doors also include toughened safety glass and a Yale multi-point locking system as standard.

Types of composite doors we offer

Composite front doors – The face of your home. Available in a variety of styles and with the same appearance as wooden doors, making them a perfect replacement to any old door.
Composite back doors – Take advantage of the same security and thermal efficiency as our front doors, and the same range of styles too!
Composite stable doors – Versatile in that they can operate as a single door, or as two separate components. Allows you to keep small children and pets safe while you ventilate your home on a sunny day.
Composite french doors – Create a grand entrance with twin doors in any our styles. French doors share the same frame, and the same high security locking system.
Composite Rock Doors – Known as the Original Composite Door, Rock Door is a brand renowned for security. We offer single-leaf doors, as well as a selection of stable doors.

Composite front door in olive with arched glass and bevels

The Lothian, an example of a traditional style composite front door, with a bevelled glass design.

Composite door styles we offer

Traditional composite doors – Elegant and symmetrical in appearance, the timeless designs of our traditional composite doors make them perfect replacements for older style homes. Choose from a variety of traditional glass styles, as well as contemporary ones for a modern but refined touch.
Contemporary composite doors – These doors tend to have a flat panel, and more liberal compositions of glass, such as off-centre designs. Our Monza subset of styles have a grooved appearance similar to cottage style doors, but with horizontal rather than vertical grooving.
1930s style composite doors – With glass configurations in quarter measures, and colourful and leaded glass designs, these composites capture the spirit of the 1930s.
Cottage style composite doors – Perfect for rural homes, each panel has vertical grooves, and glass sits within the top section of the door. Box Lead and Diamond Lead glass compliment the rustic look of our cottage style composites.

1930s style traditional arch composite front door in yellow with Edwardian style glass

Our London door, with the Edwardian style Oasis glass design, is one of our 1930s styles.

What options can I have with a composite door?

Lever handles or pull handles – These two types of handles differ in their operation, with levers twisted to open and close, and pull handles pulled or pushed to achieve the same results. Handles are both an aesthetic and operational choice, with levers suited to traditional doors, and bar handles best for contemporary styles.
Knockers and spyholes – Knockers are a traditional way for visitors to make themselves known, while spyholes allow homeowners to see who’s on the outside without opening the door. There are even knockers with integrated spyholes.
Toplights and side panels – Sitting atop and to the sides of your composite door respectively, toplights and side panels allow natural sunlight to enter through more spacious entranceways. Flag windows are side panels that are set above ground level.
Backing glass – Most double-glazed composite doors, as well as toplights and side panels, include the option for backing glass, which is a decorative layer of glass that also provides a degree of obscurity.
Catflaps and pet doors (for dogs & larger cats) – Options are available for manual or microchip-activated. Should a door style not accommodate a catflap/pet door, it can alternatively be fitted within a side panel (if size permits).
An array of finishes – These include colours, grey tones and woodgrains, the lattermost mimicking the appearance of natural wood. It is also possible to have the frame matched to the finish of the composite door.

Monza composite front door in anthracite grey

A Monza door, part of our most popular contemporary styles, in anthracite grey, the most popular composite door finish.

The most popular choices for composite doors

Grey is the most popular finish – Specifically, Anthracite Grey (RAL 7016). A dark tone that adds sophistication to traditional and contemporary doors alike, particularly favourable with the former.
Twin vertical is the best for traditional composite front doors – Our Dorset 4-panel front door is a timeless design of twin vertical glass panels in the top, and slightly smaller twin solid panels below.
Monza are a modern fave – our range of Monza composite door styles is the top choice for contemporary properties, followed by our 3-glass square Lincoln.

Ready for an upgrade?

Get ready to see a transformation in style and comfort. You can order your new composite door in one of these easy ways:

Call us free – On 0800 910 1122. Our door experts are ready to help you.
Send us a message – Either via our Contact Us page, or quickly via the blue tab on any page.
View our doors online – Have a look at a wide range of composite door styles, and even customise your favourite before placing an order. All of our doors are available Fully Fitted or Supply Only.

Choose a Fully Fitted composite door

or

Choose a Supply Only composite door

What is a composite door?