Composite front door side panel options and configurations
Author: Amanda Hewer - Operations Manager
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When looking for a new front door for your home, the large number of choices available can make choosing your door a difficult process. Once you have decided composite is your ideal door materialon, there are even more factors to consider.
Composite front doors are available in various styles, including side panels, which makes them a fantastic option for your home. Understanding what the side panels are, the benefits they offerto your home and the available options can help you to choose the perfect door for your home.
IN THIS GUIDE:
Learn more about what composite doors with side panels are.
Find out more about the main benefits of installing a new composite door with side panels.
Find out more about the key factors to consider when choosing side panels for your front door.
Learn more about what it might cost to buy a composite front door with side panels included.
What are composite doors with side panels?
A composite front door is an excellent choice for a front door. Unlike uPVC doors, which are primarily made from plastic, composite doors are manufactured using a range of materials such as glass reinforced plastic, timber and an insulated core.
These elements combined creates doors that are extremely solid and durable as well as lightweight. Composite front doors are available in almost every style and continue to rise in popularity.
Side panels are glass panels that can be placed on one side or either side of the frame of your door to improve the aesthetics of your home. You may choose side panels to fill a larger gap in your home, than a single front door or to bring more natural light into your home. Composite front doors can be customised to meet your needs.
Read our full guide to composite front doors here.
ARE YOU LOOKING FOR A TRADITIONAL COMPOSITE FRONT DOOR?
Our pick:
Shop Vufold’s traditional composite front door range
Thermally Efficient - U Value of 1.4 W/m2K (Energy Rating B)
Safe and Secure - PAS 24 in line with Document Q tested
Easy Install - full fitting kit included
Guarantee - 10 Years.
View our traditional composite front door range.
What are the benefits of a composite door with side panels?
Adding a composite door with side panels to your home has a range of benefits:
- Introduce more light into your home – glazed side panels can help to bring more light into dark entrance halls or make you home feel bigger. This can create a beautiful flood of light into your entrance and downstairs hallway.
- Fill a larger space – you may have a wider space to fill than smaller homes so side panels can provide a great way to fill this space and add something extra to your home.
- Enhance kerb appeal – in addition to improving the light in your home, side panels can help to improve kerb appeal and increase security.
Find out more about composite front doors here.
What to consider when choosing side panels
When you are choosing side panels for your home, there are a variety of factors that you should consider.
Match your door
Think about whether the side panels you install will match the colour of your door. This is important as it will impact the overall look of your front door. A poor colour match could affect the entre look of your front door so matching the side panels to your door is the best way to tie everything together.
View our range of composite front doors here to find out more about the colour options available.
ARE YOU LOOKING FOR A NEW ALUMINIUM FRONT DOOR
Our pick:
Shop Vufold’s new aluminium front door ranges
10-year guarantee
Multi point locking system
High-density foam core and polyamide thermal breaks
Double and triple glazed aluminium front doors available.
View the new aluminium front door range.
Door design
It’s essential to consider the design of your door and how the side panels will fit in with this. This will also need to be factored in when matching the door to the overall style of your home. For a modern look to your home, glass side panels can provide an excellent addition while opening out and improving the light in more traditional, period properties.
Read more about the different types of door styles available here.
Glazing
The glazing you opt for will depend on the design of your door, the style of your home, and how much light you want to introduce into your home. It’s possible to have side panels made of just composite materials with no glazing or side panels that are mostly glazing. You can also opt for frosted glass to help improve privacy as well as other glass options.
Find out more about front door glazing options here.
ARE YOU LOOKING FOR A MODERN COMPOSITE FRONT DOOR?
Our pick:
Shop our contemporary composite front doors
These modern and contemporary Evolution composite front doors are superbly engineered. Not only will they offer eye-catching style but the highest levels of security, thermal efficiency, strength, and rigidity. All have a 10-year manufacturing guarantee. Available in various designs and colour options.
View our modern composite doors.
Size of the opening
You should also examine the size of the door opening you have available. This will determine the size of the side panels and whether they are suitable for your property at all.
Wider and larger openings benefit greatly from side panels, but homes with a narrower space can enjoy smaller composite panels. There are sizes available or a range of different homes and opening requirements.
.Read how to measure for a new front door here.
Thermal efficiency
The glazing you install within your side panels is not just reliant on the style or design you’re creating for your home.
When installing side panels with your door, it is also vital to consider the level of thermal efficiency you want to bring to your home. Composite front doors are an excellent choice when it comes to thermal efficiency but introducing glass into your entryway can reduce this. Ensuring that the glazing in your side panels is sufficient, such as double glazing or triple glazing, should be a key consideration.
With all this in mind, there are plenty of composite door side panel choices to suit most home designs and sizing needs - the freedom and flexibility you have will mainly depend upon your supplier.
Find out more about front door thermal efficiency here.
What does a composite door with side panels cost?
When it comes to choosing a door for your home, one of the leading considerations is cost.
The average price for a composite door with side panels will vary based on the size of the opening and the glazing options you wish to install. A composite front door can cost between £900 and £1500 but this price depends on the design, glazing and the size you require.
As you can see, introducing composite door side panels into your home is the perfect way to update the look and feel of your property while improving security and many other features. The exact style and design of the door and side panel will depend on your property and personal taste but, the right side panels can create beautiful kerb appeal for your home, improved thermal efficiency and more.
For more information or advice on our range of composite front doors, please contact our team today.
Frequently asked questions
How do wooden and composite front doors compare?
Composite doors are much more durable than wooden doors and are known for their strength and reliability. However, composite front doors tend to be more expensive than wooden front doors. Both materials have their own unique advantages, and wooden front doors tend to provide a more homely, traditional feel.
How do you choose a colour for your front door?
When choosing a front door colour, consider your personal design preferences, as well as the overall look and feel of your property. For example, you may want all of your doors to be matching, such as your sliding and bifold doors.
Are composite front doors secure?
When fitted with a high-quality and well-fitted lock, a composite door is one of the most secure on the market. As well as offering excellent security, composite doors also require very little maintenance and can withstand the elements incredibly well.
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About Amanda Hewer
Having been at Vufold for around 12 years now, Amanda became operations manager after spending time in Customer Service, Sales, Order Processing and our Warehouse. Amanda likes that no two days are ever the same and believes her successful career stems from her keen interest in people, helping them achieve their goals and striving for constant improvement across all departments.
Read more about Amanda Hewer