Friday 29 January 2010

Front Door Security - Secured by Design

If you live in the UK, you can be assured that when you buy a product endorsed by the Secured by Design scheme, you are getting a high quality security product.

Secured by Design is an initiative set up by the UK Police. Its aim is to phase out security flaws within products, by subjecting them to more severe tests than standard security tests. If a product passes these intense tests, it is approved as being Secured by Design.

Many products don't make it through the vigorous tests, but composite doors are one of the few front doors to pass with flying colours.

http://www.SecuredByDesign.com

Friday 15 January 2010

New Front Door Security

Being a key access point to your home, it is important to have the right level of security for your front door. Not only vital to protect your possessions and family, the best security also helps to lower the cost of your home contents insurance.

It can be a bit of a mindfield, assessing the security risks of your home and finding solutions. Luckily, when it comes to front door security, the Front Door Blog has written some informative guides to help consumers make informed choices.

New Front Door Security Guides



Front Door Security #1 - The Front Door
Front Door Security #2 - Hinges
Front Door Security #3 - Glass & Glazing

There are currently only three guides in the series, but readers are promised that there will be more in future.

If you're buying a new front door, there has been an increase of informative blogs and articles recently, which help you to be less baffled by the terms of sales people and make the choices which suit you.

Tuesday 12 January 2010

Front Doors & Design

Last post, I talked about the different front door styles. This post covers the composite door designs on offer.

Composite doors come in seven different designs. Some of these designs have different glazing options - ranging from one glass panel to several glass panels. Overall, there are fourteen different doors you can choose from.


The Westminster Composite Door


A classic design that features six panels. It comes in 3 options - unglazed, 2 glazed panels or 4 glazed panels. For those who like their privacy but want to allow light into their entrance hall, the 2 glazed panel design is perfect, allowing light to filter through two small windows in the top of the door without allowing visitors to easily see inside.


The Kensignton Composite Door


A simple, smart design, featuring the standard four panels. Available without glazing or with the top two panels glazed. Suited to most doorways, this design is a firm favourite.


The Chigwell Composite Door


Very similar to the Kensington door, but with slightly more stylised upper panels. Only available in one option, with two glazed upper panels.


The Dalston Composite Door


Another variation on the Kensington, but with two arched upper panels. Again, only available in one option with two glazed panels.


The Mayfair Composite Door


A very fine and attractive design, the Mayfair features a wheel window at the top of the door. This design is available in 3 glazing options - the first with a panelled wheel, the second with a plain 1 panel wheel and the last a plain 1 panel wheel with two glazed panels.


The Trafalgar Composite Door


This door makes a brilliant back door. Available in two options, both featuring one large rectangular window.


The Finsbury Composite Door


For those who have a dark hallway, the Finsbury is an excellent choice. With the choice of one large arched window or a panelled window, you can ensure the light passes into your home.

Each glazed design comes with a number of glass designs to suit your tastes. If you're worried about privacy, there's a large range of obscure backing glasses to protect your interior from prying eyes.


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What is a Composite Door?
New Front Door Style

Friday 8 January 2010

New Front Door Appearance

There are many different styles and colours of new front doors. Choosing can be easy if you take in to consideration the overall style of your home. Modern doors come in a range of designs which range from classic and traditional to more modern designs. Simple or extravagent, you are likely to easily find something which suits you.

When you have chosen the overall design of your door, it is time to think about the other aesthetic options. Composite doors come in seven external colours. No matter what colour the outside, the inside is white so that your hallway will always be light and airy. This means you can happily choose a darker colour, such as black or dark wood, and you will not have to worry about the interior being too gloomy or not matching your colour scheme. Although the doors are made from a GRP skin, they do not look plasticy. They have been finished with an attractive, deep woodgrain appearance. Because of the composite materials used, the door doesn't need to be sanded or painted again. UV protection and a high resistance to any cosmetic damage will keep the door looking bright and fresh.

If you choose a composite door with glazing, you will have to decide on a window design. Again, there are many choices over a range of different styles. There are colourful designs and more subtle, elegant designs. People who choose front doors with large windows often worry about their privacy. With composite doors this is not a problem. There are obscure glasses with different levels of privacy which back the glass, allowing you to have the external design of your choice AND the privacy.

Not only do you get to choose the main customisations of your door, but you also get to select the finer details. Select the door hardware that suits your needs and then match the finish of that hardware to your already chosen door style.

By the time you have finished, you will have created your perfect door, unique to your tastes and home.

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Front Door Checklist

Monday 4 January 2010

New Front Door Blog

Buying a new front door can be a very lengthy process. With so many options on the market today, it can be difficult to know where to start looking. Is the company reputable? Can you purchase online? These are all things worth considering.

Hopefully, you should already have in mind what you would like for your home. Your entrance door holds a lot of weight for the entire look of your home. It also plays a large part in first impressions. Because of these reasons, a good front door can really add value to your home.

New Front Door Checklist


This is a short list of things you should have in mind before you even start looking for a new door.

  • The style, colour, glass and hardware of your front door

  • The security requirements of your front door

  • The energy efficiency requirements of your new door

  • The budget you have to buy a new front door

  • The measurements of your entrance way