Composite doors are modern front doors, which are similar to uPVC in the level of maintenance and energy efficiency, but carry the traditional charm of wooden doors with their appearance. Composite doors are constructed from a variety of materials including a very tough fibreglass skin, a reinforced wood and composite PVC frame and a thermal foam core. These materials combined create the perfect front door, both in appearance and function. Composite doors come in a number of different options, with solid and glazed styles and different hardware for you to choose from. The styles with large windows make perfect back doors, as the doors are suited to all external situations. The glazing used in composite doors is often tempered, which is both four times stronger than standard glass and safer as when it breaks it shatters into blunt cubes instead of sharp shards.
Double glazing, also sometimes known as twin glazing, is commonly used in modern windows and doors. Most people know what double glazing is, either from experience of buying or from the multitude of advertisements that we are exposed to. For those who do not know, double glazing is glazing made from two panes of glass which are separated, allowing air to remain trapped between the two. As air does not conduct heat well, it acts as a thermal barrier. This allows the heat inside a home to remain inside and the cold air outside to remain outside. A single pane of glass would allow heat to escape at a rapid rate. Double glazing in doors can be clear, like windows, or it can have a design. This design is applied to the external pane of glass. The internal pane can remain clear or, if preferred, can be textured to allow for privacy.
Triple glazing is a much newer concept than double glazing. Many people will not know what exactly triple glazing is. Triple glazing is decorative glass which uses three panes of glass instead of just two. The central glass pane in the construction is the glass which holds the decorative design. This could be bevelled, embossed, stained or textured glass, or a combination of all. This glass is then encased in the final glazing construction between two sheets of clear glass. This is done for many reasons. Firstly, the end unit is easy to clean as both external glass surfaces are smooth and flat. Usually it would be difficult to clean in bevels and around lead strips. Secondly, it allows for stained glass designs which are traditionally joined with lead to be protected, offering a higher level of security. It offers the same benefits as double glazing when it comes to thermal insulation and sound proofing.
When choosing a front door, you may also wish to choose side panels. These are the panels either at one side, both sides or the top of your front door. Side panels can be glazed, or in the same composite materials as your composite door. Composite side panels can have glazing which matches the glazing in the front door, clear glazing or obscure textured glass. conservatories cardiff