Composite door question

Soldato
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2 Apr 2006
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I had a composite door fitted in the summer and now that winters here I'm wondering if it's sealing correctly. There's no noticeable draught but if I push against the door from the inside when closed, there's a bit of movement. Is this normal or shouldn't there be any play with the handle in the locked position?
 
They do swell and contract like most doors and can be adjusted so any rattle or unwanted movement isn't excessive. A little bit of play in colder weather should be fine. Don't want to adjust it too much so that when it swells in summer it doesn't close properly.
 
We've just had a composite door fitted and have the same problem but ours has less movement at the top than the bottom. The only trouble is we need the bottom to be a good seal as the garden floods on occasion so got the fitter coming back tomorrow to check it out.
 
Yes, I had considered that a possibility. I'm going to bring a thermal camera home tomorrow just to be sure there's no cold air coming in. Thanks for the replies guys. :)
Couple of lengths of loo roll taped the length of the door will show you if you’re getting a draft. No need for fancy pants thermal camera :p
 
Also I know that one of the major composite door manufacturers has recently started to have a lot of problems with excessive warpage and shrinking / expansion with their doors. Check that your door is still perfectly true
 
I had two Endurance composite doors fitted in December, one of which was already warped so waiting on them to replace that. I think it's a risk with any of the manufacturers. When I was researching, both Solidor and Rockdoor had lots of complaints around warping. My reason for choosing Endurance is that they have a 3mm bowing guarantee.
 
So..I'm looking at replacing my front door with a composite one...you can see I was looking a year ago from my post above...you never replied @SimonR so I've got no idea who to avoid!

Has anyone heard of 'Ultimate' composite doors? They seem to be a foam/wood mix and price seems ok but can't seem to find much in the way of reviews. They are used by my local glazing firm.

Have got hopefully some quotes coming from Rockdoor and Endurance shortly...just had one from Solidor for £3k with just a fairly standard door and side window. Reviews of Solidor don't seem to good these days so may avoid that one...
 
If I could go back I'd definitely look at an aluminium door. No bowing, no creaking and cracking.

Still waiting for my endurance doors to be looked at, again.

The first front door arrived with incorrect glazing. This was replaced by the fitter, and the door later replaced due to the bowing. Sadly Endurance had fitted the wrong glazing again, so the fitter had to swap it over and the trim doesn't fit flush with the door now. And still lots of draughts due to not making contact with the frame seal. The weather brush strips further inside are cheap and don't go all the way round, big gaps where the hinges are. Had to add some brush tape to block out the major draughts and socks as a draught excluder at the bottom.

Oh and I regret getting a slam door, I should have gone for a lever handle. Pain in the backside making sure I have the keys all the time so I don't get locked out, and a lever handle seals batter, and you can't close it quietly early in the morning/night.

The rear door also has issues with the glazing trim not being flush and sticking out at the corners, came like that from the factory and waiting on the fitter to come back and say whether it's a manufacturing fault. He did quickly look whilst changing the bowed front but I imagine thought better of it taking the 9 panes out, would probably never get them back in.
 
If I could go back I'd definitely look at an aluminium door. No bowing, no creaking and cracking.

Still waiting for my endurance doors to be looked at, again.

The first front door arrived with incorrect glazing. This was replaced by the fitter, and the door later replaced due to the bowing. Sadly Endurance had fitted the wrong glazing again, so the fitter had to swap it over and the trim doesn't fit flush with the door now. And still lots of draughts due to not making contact with the frame seal. The weather brush strips further inside are cheap and don't go all the way round, big gaps where the hinges are. Had to add some brush tape to block out the major draughts and socks as a draught excluder at the bottom.

Oh and I regret getting a slam door, I should have gone for a lever handle. Pain in the backside making sure I have the keys all the time so I don't get locked out, and a lever handle seals batter, and you can't close it quietly early in the morning/night.

The rear door also has issues with the glazing trim not being flush and sticking out at the corners, came like that from the factory and waiting on the fitter to come back and say whether it's a manufacturing fault. He did quickly look whilst changing the bowed front but I imagine thought better of it taking the 9 panes out, would probably never get them back in.
If you recall I totally ignored all of your advice and went for an Endurance door anyway :D

It was fitted yesterday and looks banging. I can only suggest your fitter may have ballsed things up? The door opens even quieter than a lever door and the slam lock is just a gentle pull/push. I don't know what you had before but I had a door that allowed gale force winds, so maybe I am skewed, but this seems to pretty much eradicate all draughts. Coming down stairs this morning was the first time since moving in I wasn't side swept by cold air.

I will report back in a few months/years tho :D
 
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Ours does move if you push it hard enough. Just the seals compressing though. The door fits perfectly.
Yeah same. Almost feels a bit like loft insulation and if you squash it too much, maybe it doesn't do anything. The house is significantly warmer. In fact I have just binned the interior door to the utility :D

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If you recall I totally ignored all of your advice and went for an Endurance door anyway :D

It was fitted yesterday and looks banging. I can only suggest your fitter may have ballsed things up? The door opens even quieter than a lever door and the slam lock is just a gentle pull/push. I don't know what you had before but I had a door that allowed gale force winds, so maybe I am skewed, but this seems to pretty much eradicate all draughts. Coming down stairs this morning was the first time since moving in I wasn't side swept by cold air.

I will report back in a few months/years tho :D
Yeah the fitter didn't adjust the door properly given it's not making a seal on the frame. They're back at some point in the next couple of weeks, I don't hold out much hope >.<

The glazing was Endurances fault, as is the trim issue around the glazing, which is compounded by the fitter fluffing up having to refit the correct glazing. Not sure I want the fitter trying to fix the rear door trim as it's 9 panes, it'll be one of those jobs it doesn't go back together again haha.

Edit: rear door is fine at the moment, no draughts. There were after first install and they adjusted the alignment.
 
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