uPVC Doors: Should You Get One for Your Home?

If you’re looking for a new front door, it’s a good idea to know your options and choose carefully. As part of your property security and the first thing that many visitors see, it’s an important element of your home.

uPVC doors are currently a very popular type of front door and might be the product that you need. But they do have their downsides. Read on to find out more about their pros and cons.

The pros of uPVC doors

Low maintenance

A big bonus to uPVC doors is that they’re low maintenance. They’re not easily damaged by heavy weather – they’re resilient and non-porous so water simply runs straight off them. Unlike wooden doors, they don’t need treating to prevent warping and rotting. They also don’t need painting or staining.

To keep your uPVC door looking good, all you need to do is wash it every so often. If you look after it, it can last well over 10 years.

Energy-efficient

Another advantage to uPVC doors is that they’re energy-efficient. They’re well insulated, which means that they have good thermal performance. This will help to keep your home cosy and your energy bills low.

Affordable

People also buy uPVC doors because they’re affordable. They’re usually cheaper than composite doors so can be a good material to choose if you have a limited budget. There are lots of companies that supply them so prices tend to be very competitive.

The cons of uPVC doors

Hard to customise

A downside to uPVC doors is that they’re hard to customise. They usually only come in white or wood effect, which gives you a pretty limited choice of colours and effects. And once your door’s been installed it’s very hard to change its colour, size, locks or furniture. So if you want a unique-looking door, uPVC may not be the material for you.

Difficult to recycle

Another disadvantage to uPVC doors is that they’re difficult to recycle. They need to be dissembled before they can be recycled, which can be difficult. This means that many uPVC doors don’t get recycled and end up in landfill sites. Wooden doors, on the other hand, degrade naturally so are more environmentally-friendly.

Deteriorate over time

Unfortunately, over time uPVC doors can discolour and become brittle. They’ll usually last for a long time, but towards the end of their lives they can become yellow and break or shatter easily.

So uPVC doors are great if you’re after a front door that’s low maintenance and affordable, but not ideal if you’re looking for something unique. To learn more about your other options, see our articles on composite and wooden doors.