The first energy rated doors have been launched just weeks after the British Fenestration Ratings Council (BFRC) introduced the Door Efficiency Ratings (DER) scheme.
Door-Stop is the company to bring energy efficient doors to market, and all their doors are registered under the scheme’s criteria.
Included are French, external pedestrian, folding and sliding doors. And all are available in a variety of materials and come double glazed.
Chris Mayne, general manager of the BFRC, said: “The BFRC is delighted to announce the UK’s first DER ratings in such a short time after the scheme was launched.
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In the UK, housing estates have been springing up all over the place. And the majority of these houses have uPVC front doors.
It?s not just at the front either. They?ll more than likely have uPVC doors fitted at the back of the property too. This is because uPVC doors have a number of qualities that make them a great addition to your home.
Security
In today?s world, it?s always in the back of our minds that our home is not secure. But with uPVC doors you can be at peace.
These doors are extremely tough, so the chances of someone breaking in are very slim. In fact, just having uPVC doors will deter burglars in the first place.
And if the door is also fitted with double glazing or laminated glass, it?ll making forced entry that much harder.
Energy efficiency
Just like double glazing and other insulation measures, uPVC doors can instantly lower your energy bills as heat loss is reduced.
This is a great time to invest when energy prices are soaring, for both gas and electricity. And as winter approaches, you?ll certainly want your home to stay as warm as possible, without expensive bills.
Noise reduction
If you live near a busy main road or train line, you could find noise a real problem when all you want is some peace and quiet.
uPVC doors will deflect the noise away from your home, rather than let it filter in. This could even be beneficial if there are road works nearby, or a neighbour is in the middle of construction work.
No maintenance
Older doors need repainting every few months and the aesthetic appeal is lost under wear and tear.
However, uPVC doors are great in interchangeable weather conditions and any dirt can be wiped off easily with a cloth.
Picking a new front door for your home is a decision that shouldn?t be taken lightly. It?s the first thing you see when you enter the property and the last thing you see when you leave.
Therefore, you want something that fits in well with the style of the rest of the house. You also want to ensure that any panes are double glazed and it comes with a locking mechanism to provide the upmost door security.
uPVC front doors tend to be the most popular and when you have one installed, there is normally a variety of security measures on offer.
This helps to keep your mind at peace and ensure you feel safe in your own home.
Obviously it?s not just you that sees your front door, and it will become something that gives visitors their first impression of your property.
This is particularly important later down the line when you want to sell up, and any potential buyers could be put off by an ugly front door.
To see a range of styles and colours available for double glazed doors, fill in our Quick Quote form and you?ll receive up to five quotes in minutes.
Our professional vetted companies will be able to advise you on the best front door for you.
On the frontline defence of any home security setup is the front door and back door.? If you think about it, door security can be a tricky area to get right.? On one hand, it?s a real inconvenience having to waste time unbolting a number of ugly locks, but then again you don?t want to compromise on safety.
Fortunately, with the advent of new home security technology, front door security and patio door security has improved significantly without having to compromise on design aesthetics.
To review the very latest in double glazed doors for home security, follow the link and see what the industry experts have to say on Door Security.
Cat flaps are most commonly located in the bottom panel of a kitchen door that leads outside. In practicality it is the most convenient place, and there are no problems with heat loss or leaks when it?s cold or raining.
Ideal doors have a bottom panel of roughly 2ft x 2ft in which to fit the cat flap. It?s normally positioned in the middle of the panel, as near to the floor as possible.
Sometimes it?s not possible to fit the flap as low as you wish, but cats seem to cope adequately even if it is a little higher than ideal.
Fitting a cat flap in a wooden door
Wooden doors are the easiest to fit cat flaps into, and can be a straightforward DIY job. Essentially all that needs to be done is to take out the original glass and replace it with plywood.
Then it?s just the task of cutting out a hole in the new panel to the size you need, and attaching a cat flap.
Fitting a cat flap in a double glazed aluminium door
This is a different ball game altogether. You can use plywood to replace the double glazed window and stain it up, or use an uPVC sandwich panel if the door is white.
Because of the varying level in methods of design and construction of aluminium doors, it could be a straightforward job, or require specialist attention.
For the easier doors, there will be a removable interior wedge and four external aluminium beads.
You will need to contact a specialist if your door does not have all four beads.
Fitting a cat flap in an uPVC double glazed door
The double glazing can almost always be removed from a white or wood grain door fairly comfortably. A uPVC sandwich panel will comfortably match the framework of most double glazed doors.
However, one of the pitfalls here is the different shades of white available. Remarkably, there are seven common shades on the market, so ensure you find the perfect match. The supplier you are dealing with should have a colour swatch available on request.
To find a local double glazing door supplier with both you and your cat in mind, click the following link – Double Glazing Supplier Directory
Buying double glazed doors can be a daunting process, especially when talking to various door installers and suppliers.? With a constantly expanding range of styles and materials on the market, variations in door security options and government regulations, buying double glazed doors can be a complicated business. It needn?t be!
At DoubleGlazing.com we recognise the importance of providing straight forward and uncomplicated advice. To see the latest double glazing doors advice from the industry experts, follow the link to view our Tips for Buying Double Glazed Doors.
French doors add a sense of style to the home and as they don?t particularly provide much privacy, they?re purely a fashion accessory.
French doors are traditionally made from hardwood. Exterior French doors tend to be doubled paned to provide extra insulation, while having a decorative grille embedded between the two sets of glass.
It was in the 1970s that the popularity and demand for doubled glazed French windows and doors really took off.
This surge continued throughout the 80s because of the dramatic visual difference they made to the home. French windows and doors cut down brick use, while causing little disruption during installation. It gave an instant ?modernised? appearance, and offered good value.
This revolution came hand in hand with the paved patio area, accompanied by the obligatory BBQ and white plastic table and chairs set. Of course, the brightly coloured parasol was not far behind.
The early 90s saw a gradual shift away from this look, and despite their bland starkness, double glazed sliding patio doors became a novelty.
Now French doors are back, and it looks likely that they?ll remain for a while. As people move house, part of the remodelling stage seems to be replacing the old patio sliding doors with double glazed French doors. The demand is now much greater and sometimes decorative sidelights are fitted to highlight the door feature provided there?s enough room.
French doors have a place for both the interior and exterior of a home, but can be more expensive over traditional doors. However, this additional cost is likely to be reclaimed later on as they?ll typically increase your property?s value.
And of course, if you fancy yourself as a DIY guru, you can install the French doors yourself, saving money on the initial purchasing costs.
Follow the link to learn more about the different Types and Styles of Double Glazed Doors.
Can you believe that one of the most popular items on e-bay is the modest back door?
Seriously, I fib not ? but as much as I love the idea that someone somewhere out there is packing up their back door as I type, wrapping it in brown paper and carefully sticking on one enormous stamp, this has to be wrong somewhere along the line doesn?t it?
With the impressive array of qualified double glazing suppliers in the UK, combined with the highly competitive market, surely finding a reputable double glazing company specialising in new and replacement back doors at reasonable prices cannot be that hard?
Obviously I am wrong, or perhaps this is just the internet gone mad, but I?m pretty sure if I was looking to purchase an item as big as a door, that needed correct fitting and was a substantial security feature of my home, e-bay would not be my first port of call…
Well it?s not quite that drastic, but in order to keep in line with government legislation it?s important that all new or replacement double glazing installations are carried out to a standard that ensures the highest environmental benefits.
Professionally installed double glazed windows and doors have a significant impact on your homes carbon footprint, its energy consumption and therefore the properties overall value. Councils are in charge of ensuring that all installations meet the necessary criteria and as with all things in the modern age there is paperwork to be accounted for. Whether fitted by a FENSA registered company or other certifiable body or signed off on by the council itself, new double glazing requires the correct documentation.
Home owners from 1st October 2008 are solely responsible for the EPC (energy performance certificate) relating to their property, which is particularly important when selling.
In short, if you are investing in new windows or doors, or any double glazing upgrade, then the whole process will run far more smoothly if you take the time to source a reputable double glazing firm. Ideally they should be using high grade raw material i.e. UPVC and toughened glass and preferably be FENSA or CERTASS registered with a team of experienced fitters.
