Aluminium vs composite doors: How do they compare?

Author: David Ross - Sales Manager

When you’re looking for a new front door, there are a number of different factors to consider. Choosing the right material is crucial, as a front door can have a huge impact on the appearance of your property. As interior designer Karen Howes states, “The front door is so important; it is the start of the story and first and last impressions are so important”. Two popular door frame materials are aluminium and composite; however, before choosing which is suitable for you, it’s important to consider the pros and cons of each.

As the main entrance door to your home, it’s important that your front door is not only aesthetically pleasing but secure and long lasting too. Aluminium and composite front doors can both offer these benefits.

In this guide, we will take a look at both aluminium and composite front doors and examine their pros and cons, before making some direct comparisons between the two styles of front door to help you find the perfect door for your home.

In this guide:

What are aluminium front doors?

Learn more about what aluminium front doors are including their pros and cons.

What are composite front doors?

Find out more about what composite front doors are and more about the pros and cons.

Costs of aluminium vs composite doors

Find out more about how the costs of aluminium front doors and composite doors compare.

What is the difference between aluminium and composite front doors?

Learn more about the key differences between aluminium and composite front doors.

WHAT ARE ALUMINIUM FRONT DOORS?

Aluminium front doors are made from solid and sturdy aluminium. They are usually constructed using aluminium sheets with a thermal insulation material often made from plastic. The doors also use an aluminium thermal frame to help keep your home energy efficient and use either stainless steel or aluminium handles. Read more about the different front door materials here.

PROS OF ALUMINIUM FRONT DOORS

An aluminium front door has a number of benefits that should be considered before choosing your front door material and style. These include:

Excellent thermal efficiency – aluminium doors offer better thermal efficiency than wooden or uPVC front doors which means your home will not suffer from as much heat loss during the winter months, helping to save on energy costs.
Lightweight – aluminium front doors are perfect if you’re looking for a lightweight door that’s easy to open and close. Are you unsure which front door material to choose? Find out more about the different front door materials here.
Low maintenance – these doors are a low maintenance option, so the initial high cost is offset by the fact that you don’t need to pay much to keep your door looking great and ensure it lasts for many years. Read our guide to maintaining front doors.
Large doors available – aluminium doors can be made larger than other doors, which work best for larger entrances. An aluminium entrance door can add to the overall look of your home.
Match other windows and doors – aluminium windows and aluminium bifold doors are becoming extremely popular with homeowners so an aluminium door can match any existing windows and doors in your home.

Are you choosing between composite and uPVC front doors? Read our guide to uPVC front doors vs composite front doors here.

CONS OF ALUMINIUM FRONT DOORS

As with any material you choose for your front door, aluminium has some downsides to consider:

Expensive – aluminium front doors are much more expensive than another other type of entrance door you choose for your home but have similar benefits to composite doors which come with a lower price tag.
Can become stained – these doors can become water stained. So, if your front door is more exposed, they can become marked over time. This will not cause the doors to rust or degrade but can affect the kerb appeal of your home.

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WHAT ARE COMPOSITE FRONT DOORS?

Composite front doors are designed to address the common problems associated with doors made from a singular material. A Composite door combines a variety of materials, each of which is selected for its unique properties and helps to eliminate flaws. The materials combined together work better than the materials on their own.

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 here.

Composite front doors are made up of Glass Reinforced Plastic (fibreglass) which is formed into panels and fused to an internal frame with uPVC inside and attached to another frame made from wood. The core is then injected with a polyurethane insulating foam core. Composite doors can be produced in a range of colours to mimic the style of wood or uPVC doors but with the added benefits of a composite front door.

All of these elements are used within single material doors; however, when they’re combined together, they create an extremely strong and durable front door that can last over 30 years.

PROS OF COMPOSITE FRONT DOORS

A composite front door can provide a huge range of benefits:

Long lasting and durable – composite doors are incredibly long-lasting and durable but will sometimes cost less than an aluminium door. This lower cost does not affect the quality of the doors and you can expect enhanced security too.
Variety of colours and styles – composite front doors are available in a variety of colours and styles to suit any home, from traditional looking homes to more modern homes, while often mimicking the look of a wooden door. They can also be fitted with glazing or glass side panels to help introduce additional light into your home.
Low maintenance – composite doors are much more low maintenance than many other materials which means you don’t have to worry about repairing or updating your front door regularly.

Find out how composite front doors can help to increase property value here.

ARE YOU LOOKING FOR A CONTEMPORARY COMPOSITE FRONT DOOR?

Our pick:

Shop Vufold’s contemporary composite front doors

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 range of contemporary composite front doors here.

CONS OF COMPOSITE FRONT DOORS

While composite doors are a great choice, they do have a few disadvantages to consider:

They are more expensive than many other types of doors – while the long-term cost of composite front doors is often less when compared to the upkeep of wooden front doors or uPVC front doors, the initial cost is more expensive. However, this higher price is still lower than the cost of aluminium front doors.

COSTS OF ALUMINIUM FRONT DOORS VS COMPOSITE FRONT DOORS

The average cost of an aluminium front door is between £1400 to £4500, while the average cost of a composite front door is between £900 to £1500. If you opt to add glazing or glass options, this can alter the cost you will expect to pay for your composite doors. An aluminium front door will be more expensive due to the materials used and they can last for up to 60 years.

Whichever entrance door you choose, you will be provided with a high quality, long-lasting door with minimal maintenance needs, especially when compared to lower-cost materials or wooden front doors.

WHAT COLOURS DO COMPOSITE FRONT DOORS COME IN?

Composite front doors are available in a huge range of colour options; however, your colour choice will depend on the supplier you choose. Most suppliers will stock the most popular colours, but for more unusual shades, you may need to look around to find a supplier with the colour you want or a supplier who can create a bespoke door.

Composite doors are coated in glass reinforced plastic which can be made in almost any colour, providing the doors with a number of options. Popular composite front door colours include grey, white, oak and black. Black is commonly used for traditional period buildings, whereas wood is also a classic look that suits a range of property styles. White is also a versatile and flexible colour, whilst grey can also create a minimalistic, clean look. At Vufold, we offer composite front doors in dual colours, such as both black and white, blue and white, or green and white.

Vufold’s green and white Belfry traditional composite front doors

Find out more about the composite front door colours available from Vufold here.

WHAT IS THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN ALUMINIUM AND COMPOSITE DOORS?

	Composite front door	Aluminium front door
Security	Very secure	Extremely secure
Thickness	Around 44mm thick	Between 44mm – 90mm. The thicker the panel, the higher the quality of door
Maintenance	Low maintenance	Low maintenance
Lifespan	Last for 30 plus years	Last for 45 plus years
Thermal efficiency	Reasonable efficiency	Very good efficiency
Strength	Reasonably strong	Very strong

For further advice or information on our range of composite front doors, please contact our team today.

Frequently asked questions

Why choose Vufold?

At Vufold, our quality composite front doors offer exceptional energy-saving performance for thermal efficiency, enhanced security and a 10-year guarantee for added peace of mind. Our affordable and transparent pricing and seamless configuration system allow you to install a beautiful, strong and secure front door in your home within a matter of days. Other benefits of choosing Vufold include:

Outstanding thermal efficiency
Enhanced security features
Easy installation and maintenance
Sleek and stylish door front door range, offering various materials and colours.

Shop our complete range of composite front doors here.

HOW DO WOODEN AND COMPOSITE FRONT DOORS COMPARE TO UPVC DOORS?

uPVC front doors are made from melted and cooled Unplasticised Polyvinyl Chloride (uPVC), whereas composite doors are made up of a number of materials bonded together, making them a more secure, thermally efficient and durable option. Wooden front doors are also a more secure option than uPVC doors, often offering a more traditional and classic feel.

Read our full guide to uPVC vs wooden front doors here.

ARE COMPOSITE FRONT DOORS THERMALLY EFFICIENT?

Composite doors can achieve an energy efficiency rating of A, which is due to the layers of materials, preventing heat from getting through. With the door sealed tightly to avoid gaps where draughts can enter, and heat can escape, your energy bills will be much lower.

Contact us for a quotation