If you're replacing a tired front door, the choice usually comes down to two options: composite or uPVC. Both have their place, but they're built differently, perform differently, and price differently. Here's a straight comparison.
How they're built
A uPVC door is a hollow plastic shell reinforced with steel or aluminium inside. It's the same material as your double-glazing — light, durable, and cheap to manufacture.
A composite door is built like a sandwich: a 70mm GRP (glass-reinforced plastic) skin on the front and back, a high-density polyurethane foam core in the middle, and a hardwood or solid timber sub-frame running through the centre for rigidity. It's roughly three times the weight of a uPVC door — and that weight is the first clue to how it performs.
Security
Composite is the stronger of the two by a meaningful margin. The GRP skin can't be levered or jemmied the way a uPVC shell can, and the solid core makes it almost impossible to kick or shoulder through. Every composite door we make is tested to PAS 24 with police-approved Secured by Design multi-point locking as standard.
uPVC doors can be specified to PAS 24 too — but in practice the hardware is what does the work; the door itself remains the weak point. If security is your main reason for upgrading, composite is the obvious answer.
Thermal performance
Composite doors are noticeably warmer to the touch. The foam core has a U-value around 1.4 W/m²K — significantly better than a typical uPVC door at around 2.0 W/m²K. In a UK winter, you can feel the difference: composite doors don't lose heat through the panel itself.
If your front door faces north or east — i.e. takes a battering all winter — a composite door will pay back its premium in heating bills inside a few years.
Looks
uPVC doors are limited to a handful of styles, usually with surface-printed or moulded panel detail. Composite doors are properly moulded — the panel work has actual depth, and the woodgrain finish reads as wood from the kerb. Composite also accepts a wider colour palette, including premium shades like Chartwell green and a wide range of bespoke RAL colours.
Longevity and maintenance
Both are essentially zero-maintenance — just a wipe with soapy water once or twice a year. uPVC tends to discolour over time in direct sun (especially darker shades on south-facing elevations). Composite holds its colour for the life of the guarantee.
Most reputable manufacturers — us included — offer a 10-year guarantee on composite doors. uPVC doors are typically guaranteed for 5–10 years depending on the supplier.
Price
There's no getting around it — composite doors cost more. A fully fitted composite door from us starts at £642, and most customers end up around £900–£1,400 depending on glass, colour and size. A uPVC equivalent is typically £400–£700 fitted.
That said, a composite door fitted by a reputable installer should be a fit-and-forget purchase for 15+ years. Over that lifetime the cost-per-year is roughly the same as a uPVC door that needs replacing every 8–10.
| Composite door | uPVC door | |
|---|---|---|
| Construction | GRP skin + foam core + timber frame | Hollow plastic shell + steel reinforcement |
| Typical U-value | ~1.4 W/m²K | ~2.0 W/m²K |
| PAS 24 security | Standard | Optional upgrade |
| Colour stability | 10-year guarantee | 5-10 year guarantee |
| Typical fitted price | £900–£1,400 | £400–£700 |
| Typical lifespan | 15-20+ years | 8-10 years |
When uPVC still makes sense
If you're a landlord fitting a back door on a rental, or replacing a side door on a flat where the front of house isn't visible from the street, uPVC is a perfectly sensible call. We don't sell it ourselves — there are plenty of local installers who do.
Bottom line
If this is your main front door, you live in it, and you plan to be there for more than a couple of years — get the composite. If you're patching up a rental or a rarely-seen back entrance, save the money.
Frequently asked
Are composite doors really stronger than uPVC?+
Yes, by a significant margin. The solid foam-and-timber core and 70mm GRP skin are physically harder to force than a hollow uPVC shell, even one with steel reinforcement. PAS 24 testing reflects this — composite passes with margin to spare.
Do composite doors warp in sun?+
No. The GRP skin is dimensionally stable across temperature ranges far broader than anything you'll see in the UK. uPVC can soften slightly in extreme heat on dark colours, but neither material is a real concern in this climate.
Is the price difference worth it?+
On a main front door, almost always — especially if it's overlooked from the street, faces a busy road, or takes weather. On a hidden side door, often not.