Thinking about a UPVC front door for your home? It’s one of Britain’s most popular home improvements choices.
There’s now more choice than ever and thousands of companies out there who would love to do the work for you.
The main reasons homeowners get new front doors are around security – keeping your home safe from unwanted and unwelcome visitors – and comfort – it’s another layer of warmth for your home, complimenting any double glazing or cavity wall insulation you may already have had installed.
In this article, we’re going to be looking at the price of a new front door as well as the many different types available.
If this is something you’re thinking about doing soon, then Tradesmenprices.co.uk can connect you with 3-4 reputable, qualified local new front door companies. These front door installers are well-known locally for their excellence in both product delivery, new front door installation, and after-sales care.
They’ll provide you with quotes free of charge and there’s no obligation to buy. Better still, they don’t employ salespeople so you’ll never feel under any pressure from these local companies.
Click To Compare QuotesUPVC Doors Prices
First, let’s look at the most popular types of doors on the market. If you’re a homeowner wanting to replace your front door, what’s best in terms of both style and economy?
- Unglazed UPVC/PVC Front Doors – prices start from £250 (supply only)
uPVC doors are the biggest selling type of new front door in the UK and they have been for the last three decades. They are solidly built, have in-built re-enforcements, handle inclement weather really well, and you can get a quarter of a century’s life out of one. Many have a 10 year plus warranty on supply too. To make your home more secure, they can come with multi-point locks, latches, hooks, and deadbolts.
- Glazed UPVC/PVC Front Doors– prices start from £275 (supply only)
- Glazed uPVC front doors cost more than unglazed uPVC front doors. The main difference between them is that glazed uPVC front doors have one of more panel of double glazing built into the actual door.
- Unglazed Composite Doors – prices start from £750 (supply only)
Composite doors are made from fibreglass. Their frames are steel-reinforced and their centre is highly insulating because of its contained hard foam. They are normally decorated with a choice of up to 6 panels or in a cottage style.
- Glazed Composite Doors – prices start from £800 (supply only)
These double-glazed doors cost more than unglazed composite doors. The main difference between unglazed composite doors and glazed composite doors is the presence of double glazing which is built into the door.
- Composite Doors with sidepanels – prices start from £1,000 (supply only)
This is an option for homeowners with wider door frames and who enjoy letting more light into their home. They can be designed in a number of different styles incorporating many aesthetic elements according to your personal taste.
All of these five main types of doors offer excellent safety features, add security to your home, protect against the weather, and are available in classic or more contemporary designs.
uPVC/PVC is the clear winner in terms of price making them perfect for a homeowner with a budget. In the rest of the article, we’ll look at everything you need to know about uPVC front doors and how to get one for your home.
Click To Compare QuotesUPVC Front Doors Fitted
The cost of getting a new front door fitted varies on both the style of the door and the company you choose to fit it.
UPVC front doors supplied and fitted can cost between £350 and £600 depending on who you work with. In case you’re considering it, UPVC back door fitted prices are essentially the same.
What factors can influence the price you pay for your new front door?
- Choice of colours
We all associate uPVC doors fitted in the last few years with their bright, white, attractive colour. It comes as a surprise to many homeowners choosing a new front door that there are dozens of colours available to choose from, including White Knight, Dual Golden Oak, Dual Anthracite Grey, and more.
- Grids
Grids are decorative adornments to your new front door – for example, Astragal Bars and Traditional Georgian Bars which give a beautiful and authentic look and feel to your new front door.
- Add-ons
That extra personalisation through accessories like spyholes for a tenner or above, knockers from around £15, letterplates starting at a tenner, and custom sills from a tenner.
- Insulation
For further protection, you can add more insulation to your door – prices start at around £20. You can also add warm edge spacer bars for a tenner and sealing tape for a fiver. You can upgrade from double glazing on your door to triple glazing and that will put up the price by around £20 or more.
Click To Compare QuotesDoubled glazed front door cost fitted
You have two options for fitting your double glazed front door – do it yourself or pay a trusted local installer.
DIY – once you have selected the front door you want from your list of front door prices, it’s time to get started. Don’t forget that you will have to cost in not just the PVC door price, you have to budget for the UPVC door cost and frame price to keep within your budget.
Installing a new front door yourself is not easy – in fact, it’s a two-person job. You first have to remove your current door and frame – it’s after that you’ll install the new door.
You will have to be precise on measurements so the door is the correct size. Take three measurements each – vertical and horizontal, remembering to take off 1 centimetre from the smallest measurement. Make sure that the measurement is from brick to brick.
You’ll then have to take delivery of or collect your new door frame. Factories do occasionally produce faulty doors so make sure everything looks OK once you’ve taken off the packaging.
Once you’ve taken off your old door, the frame needs removing next. You’ll have to pry it out using a bar, a chisel, and sometimes a hammer. You can actually damage your brickwork at this stage so you do have to be careful. Once that’s done, make sure the silicon is cleared from the surface as well as the mastic.
Now you fit the sill – have a spirit level to hand to make sure it’s in the exact right position. You then align your new sill with shims and with packaging, taking care to secure the sill with silicone.
Now, place the new door and its new frame into the space. You’ll need to ensure that the bottom is plumb and try to open the door to see that it’s working correct. Using a drill, make some holes into both the brickwork and the frame. Then, fasten it with bolts and anchors, at all time making sure the door remains plumb.
Now, for each side, you secure it with drilling. First the hinged side, the lock side next. If the door isn’t shutting properly, make the necessary adjustments.
Next, make sure the plastic packers are positioned correctly. For the hinge side, you need one vertical and one horizontal packer from the bottom. For the lock side, it’s the opposite.
Once this is right, you now need to check that your new front door locks fine after being closed properly. If it does, fill in the beads and tap it down with a hammer.
It’s now time for the last bit – fine-tuning adjustments. For this, have a screwdriver ready. This is to get rid of play by calibrating the latch. For smooth opening and closing, fine-turn the hinges.
Now, the seal. Make sure you have cleaned the frame by sealing it to bricks with silicone sealant (waterproof).
As you can see, there’s a lot to do and you’ll need to rope someone else to do it.
If you want to work with a professional installer, you can get 3-4 quotes from trusted, vetted, local tradesmen using the quote form above. They can take the hassle of installation away from you. There’s no charge to using the service and there’s never any pressure from anyone to buy anything.
Click To Compare QuotesUPVC door and frame price – frequently asked questions
Why would someone want a new front door?
A new front door can really improve how your home looks from the outside and how it feels on the inside. It could be that you’re planning to put your property on the market soon and are looking for ways to maximise value. It could be that, compared to the rest of your home, the doors looked old, dated, and tired and you want the door to fit in with the rest of your property.
What are the main advantages of having a new front door installed?
The main advantages are that a new front door looks good, keeps the warm in and the cold out, and is much better at stopping unwanted visitors from getting in.
What are the disadvantages of getting a new front door?
There is an element of disruption when you have a new front door installed. Your installers will need access to the front area of your home, especially around where the door is to be fitted, and other areas too.
If it is a particularly cold day, your home will have no front door for a few hours meaning that the temperature will drop quickly inside your house.
Will I need planning permission for a new front door?
Generally not. However, if you live in a listed building or a conservation area, it’s always better to check with your local authority planners prior to either buying your new door and/or having it fitted.
Where can I buy a new front door from?
There are plenty of places you can buy a new door from. If you want to buy a new door that either you would install or you would get someone else to install, you can buy from them major DIY and home improvement retailers. There are also many online options you can consider too.
If you want to use an installer (who will more likely than not get the new door cheaper than you can because of his/her company’s buying power) to help you choose the door and the frame and then who will install it, you can find many suppliers online and in the local papers.
To get 3-4 quotes from trusted, vetted, local tradespeople in your area, please scroll to the top of the page and fill in our form.
Click To Compare QuotesShould my front door installer be part of any professional organisation?
Most of the time, your new uPVC/PVC door and frame will be fitted by a time-served and professional joiner or carpenter. Despite the fact that changing a door doesn’t sound that difficult when you think about other home improvements, it’s a tricky, time-consuming job because your installation has to be accurate to the millimetre and it involves the use of lots of different types of working equipment.
For peace of mind when dealing with a new door installer, you might want to check to see if they are members of:
- Glass & Glazing Federation (GGF),
- The Fenestration Self-Assessment Scheme (FENSA),
- FairTrades / TrustMark accreditation
How long does it take to install a new front door?
Generally, a few hours. Once your current door and frame have been removed, fitting and sizing the door will take about an hour. Then your installer will affix the locks, the handle, and hinges – that’ll be done in about 3 hours.
Thinking about the whole job, if your installer arrives at 8 in the morning, they’ll probably be there until around 1-2pm in the afternoon.
Before I get a new front door, what should I ask my potential installer?
Any time you spend money on a major home improvements project like the replacement of a front door, it’s best that you feel personally happy and comfortable with the person doing it. For your own peace of mind, make sure to ask the following questions
- what colours can I choose from for my uPVC front door?
- have you fitted doors in this area before? Do you have any pictures I can see?
- are you members of a professional trade body?
- how can you make my uPVC door unique to me?
- are your doors “Secured by Design”?
- can you fit a low threshold door? (ideal for wheelchair users and prams)
Why should I get a quote for a front door from Tradesmenprices.co.uk?
With so much competition out there among glaziers and new door companies for your business, it pays to shop around. And shopping around is not just about price, it’s about finding an installer you feel happy dealing with on a personal level and one who can offer the range of options you want for your new front door and who is an expert in fitting them.
You can use the form at the top of the page to get 3-4 quotes from local, trusted, vetted installers used by people in your community. Our service is 100% free and you’re under no obligation to make a purchase from any of our experienced tradesmen.
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