When it comes to choosing a front door for your home nowadays, there are plenty of options available. Whilst this can be a good thing, it can also make it hard to decide on the right one to choose for your home! That’s why we’ve put together this guide, in hopes that our expert knowledge and advice will help you make a decision.
Looking specifically at aluminium and timber doors, we’ll be comparing the two, offering insight into the advantages and disadvantages each has to offer in terms of their different functional and stylistic properties.
So, without further ado, let’s get straight into it!
Choosing the Right Front Door for Your Home
Your front door doesn’t only act as the threshold to your home, rather it offers so much more. For one, it acts as a functional barrier, keeping you protected from the outside elements and helping to maintain a consistent, comfortable temperature inside.
It also acts as a highly important security feature, allowing you to enter and leave your home with ease whilst stopping unwanted personnel from doing so. Not to mention, your front door acts as one of the first impressions of your home, presenting it as either inviting or off-putting!
Keeping all these elements in mind, there are several factors, then, that go into choosing a front door – more than you originally might have thought! In particular, you’ll want to be considering the following:
- Security
- Style
- Energy efficiency
- Maintenance
- Cost
The last one is especially important to remember – it’s all very well finding the ideal front door that ticks all of your boxes, but if it isn’t within your budget, then it might as well tick none!
Aluminium vs Timber: What are the Differences?
Two of the most popular materials many people choose for their front door are aluminium and timber. The former is often associated with the clean, sleek design of modern architecture, whilst the latter offers more of a traditional aesthetic that never goes out of style. But in what other ways do they differ?
Style
As we just mentioned, aluminium doors are the epitome of modern architecture. Visually, they appear incredibly sleek, clean and minimalistic. Traditionally, aluminium doors come in a pale or steel grey colour, however they can come in a wooden-like appearance, with various options for panel styles and feature windows within the door. They can also fit larger glass panes thanks to their strength allowing for a more slender frame, if you’re looking to let more natural light into your home.
As for timber doors, these offer a much more traditional aesthetic, one that looks quaint and inviting. You can further customise the appearance of these doors by treating them with a wood stain to achieve a particular hue and really help the natural wood grain stand out, then covering this with a varnish for a brilliant shine and protection. Timber also offers a naturally charming look as it ages and silvers.
If you are a fan of both doors’ aesthetics equally, then to make a decision between the two it would be good to consider the appearance of your house as a whole. For example, if your house boasts more of a contemporary design with clean lines and smooth walls, then aluminium doors may be better. On the other hand, if you own a rustic cottage with stone walls, then a timber door would be much more fitting.
Security
If security is a key concern for you when it comes to your home, then you may prefer the characteristics of aluminium doors. Aluminium door frames are incredibly strong, which is why they’re able to be made so thinly – in fact, they are roughly thrice as strong as timber, making them much more resistant to force and subsequently highly resilient against potential intruders.
In comparison, the strength of timber doors further depends on the timber that is used. For example, softwoods, such as pine, are more easily broken than hardwoods, such as oak. Timber is also more susceptible to environmental damage, such as rotting and warping, which can weaken the door. With that said, this is considered by manufacturers, thus many timber doors are treated with certain finishes to counteract such weaknesses and may be made from a combination of materials in order to ensure a basic standard of strength.
To summarise, both doors can be made to offer an adequate level of strength and security, although aluminium doors still take the crown if having the most secure option is non-negotiable for you.
Energy Efficiency
One reason timber doors have withstood the test of time and have remained popular for centuries is thanks to their naturally insulating properties. Timber is effective at keeping the cold out and the warmth in and vice versa in the summer, which can subsequently help you save on your energy bills. With that said, it’s also known to expand and contract with temperature changes, thus may not offer an airtight seal around your door frame, which can let some heat escape your home.
In comparison, aluminium is a thermally conductive material, meaning that heat is able to pass through it more easily. As such, it’s not as energy efficient as timber is. However, this has been considered by manufacturers, which is why many aluminium doors nowadays come with an insulating polyamide thermal barrier inside the frame.
On top of this, many aluminium doors also come with a heat reflective coating to further improve their thermal properties. They are also able to maintain a tight seal around the door frame. As for the glass in both types of door, this usually uses double glazing technology in order to maximise energy efficiency further.
Maintenance
Both doors will require cleaning every now and then in order to maintain their appearance, however timber doors do tend to require more frequent maintenance than aluminium ones in order to preserve their integrity.
In order to keep it in the best condition, you will need to occasionally clean a timber door and will likely need to sand and recoat it every so many years with paint and wood treatment. This ensures you get the maximum life from your timber door, which can last up to 45 years, in comparison to the 30 years offered by aluminium doors.
Of course, if you’re happy to compromise 10-15 years in the lifespan of your door for less frequent, hassle-free maintenance, then you’ll be glad to know that aluminium doors simply require wiping clean with a cloth and some cleaning solution.
Cost
A crucial factor that must be considered when making any decision that involves considerable finances is your budget and the cost of what you’re looking to buy. Whether you’re looking for an affordable temporary solution or looking to invest in the best long-term outcome, you should always set out your budget before anything else.
As for the costs of aluminium and timber doors, which is the cheaper of the two? The answer is timber. Generally speaking, the high level of security and minimal maintenance offered by aluminium doors, along with the added insulation to improve their energy efficiency, means they tend to be more expensive than their timber counterparts. There’s no denying that they are a worthwhile investment in the long run.
With that said, timber doors are still a cost-effective alternative. Timber doors do still tend to be more expensive than some of the other options out there, as is reflective of their high quality, making them an ideal median if you’re not looking to pay the price for an aluminium door, but are still looking for a durable, energy efficient and attractive door for your property.
View All Aluminium Windows and Doors at Our Door Showroom
Whether you’re looking for reliable aluminium or timber doors, we’ve got you covered here at Prolux Systems Ltd. From entrance doors that welcome guests into your home to bifold doors that bridge the gap between your home and garden, our doors can be used in a range of domestic applications to suit your needs.
As well as SMART aluminium doors and Bereco timber doors, we also offer Profile 22 uPVC and Solidor composite doors.
Visit our showroom in Cornwall to experience the doors we provide firsthand and utilise the expertise of our friendly consultants, or get in touch with us today to discuss your requirements with one of our helpful experts.