| If you're looking at getting a composite door but | | | | touches to your new composite door, from letter |
| don't know much about them, here's a handy A-Z | | | | boxes to thresholds and knockers. |
| of related technical and design terms. You will find | | | | M - Mid glass - Optional glass decoration that is |
| some useful tips to bear in mind when choosing | | | | incorporated into the middle panels or area of a |
| the right door for you. | | | | composite door, giving a modern feel and a touch |
| A - Arched frames - These are door or window | | | | of personality and colour. |
| frames that are arched rather than flat and only | | | | O - Oval glass / doors - A standard door in terms |
| the best companies will be able to accommodate | | | | of size and shape, but with an oval glass panel |
| this design. | | | | inset into the main door which can be decorative, |
| B - Back doors - The door that lets you into the | | | | textured or plain. |
| back of the house and this should always be just | | | | P - Panel doors - A door with a panelled structure, |
| as secure as the front door as it's a popular entry | | | | the number of panels is either six or nine, which |
| point for burglars. | | | | are raised or sunken and therefore add dimension |
| C - Composite doors - Doors made up of | | | | and design to your front or back door. |
| aluminium, GRP, fibreglass and aluminium, all | | | | R - Round pivot windows - Circular windows that |
| materials that are known for their strength, | | | | can be rotated or are able to pivot fully for easy |
| impenetrability and lightweight nature. | | | | cleaning. A round window can be a great option to |
| D - Decorative glass - Glass in different colours, | | | | complement a composite door. |
| shapes and patterns that can give a composite | | | | S - Stable door - This is a door that is split in two, |
| door an individual design touch to match the | | | | each half can then be operated (i.e. opened or |
| period or style of a house. | | | | closed) independently of the other. Popular in |
| E - External timber doors - These are the | | | | country houses. |
| predecessor to the composite door, they're still | | | | T - Textured glass - Used to add privacy to glass |
| widely available but are prone to warping and | | | | panels in doors, they let light in but do not allow |
| twisting and can require annual maintenance. | | | | people to see through. Popular for front and back |
| F - Fire doorsets - Fire doors that are perfect for | | | | composite doors with glass panels. |
| ensuring safety in your home, garage or | | | | U - UPVC - Stands for Unplasticized Polyvinyl |
| commercial property on both private and shared | | | | Chloride which is a low maintenance, lightweight |
| entrances. | | | | and easily moulded building material used in the |
| G - GRP - Glass Reinforced Plastic; this is used to | | | | manufacture of window and door frames. |
| coat composite doors making them strong, | | | | V/W - Windows - All sorts of shapes are available |
| scratch and impact resistant and to give them a | | | | including round, arch and bow and glass can be |
| smooth and aesthetically pleasing finish. | | | | textured, decorative or bespoke. |
| H - Hardware options - The perfect finishing | | | | |