Choosing the right external or internal doors for your project is important as it can influence the design and look of your home significantly.

Selecting the right internal doors can also make a substantial change to the look and feel of interior spaces.  With the rise in popularity of broken-plan (the design trend revolutionising open-plan living spaces) aluminium framed glass doors with glass walls are fast becoming a popular choice to separate living areas - whilst offering the appearance of an open-plan space.

Aluminium external doors have several benefits over timber, composite or PVCu doors and many of these benefits are very important when deciding what type and style of doors to invest in.  Aluminium doors can meet the needs of most property renovation projects and new builds.

Here are some of the best reasons to use aluminium for front, side or rear doors:

Extra large to small doors

Flexibility of sizing is one of the significant reasons to choose aluminium doors rather than doors in alternative materials which are generally restricted to standard opening sizes.

If you need or want wider and taller doors, then aluminium door frames can be over 1.2m wide and many models over 2.4m high.  This is well above the size capabilities of uPVC or composite doors (dual material doors).

Aluminium doors remove the need for side or top panels to pad out the space, often a requirement with uPVC and composite doors.

Cottages and character properties often have smaller doorways.  uPVC and composite door manufacturers are generally unable to produce these smaller sizes due to the nature of those materials, whereas the extreme flexibility of aluminium means smaller aluminium frames can be readily produced.

In conclusion, aluminium is the best material for small or large size doors due to its malleability, strength, and flexibility.

More Design Options

Composite doors and PVCu panelled doors are designed around panel slabs in set designs with a choice of door designs.  The choice is therefore somewhat limited compared with that available for aluminium doors.

This is largely because the number of mid-rails, bottom rails, mullions and transoms available for aluminium doors means you can create your own specific design so your new doors are unique to you and not part of a stock range.

Strength and Durability

Aluminium is one of the strongest and lightest materials used for doors, making it an ideal choice for front and back doors, as well as bifolding, sliding and French doors.

Aluminium door frames have a high strength to weight ratio, so they can support large panes of glass, allowing more natural light into your home. Most aluminium front and back doors are manufactured with corner ties and cleats for enhanced strength and security. Smart automatic integrated locking options have now been introduced to the residential market for ease of living.

More Glass, Cleaner lines

Aluminium door frames, whether it’s a folding, sliding, or swinging style are slimmer than the chunkier frames of uPVC and timber, so more natural light enters your home.

The lighter aluminium doors also allow smaller and more discreet door hardware, such as hinges to be used but with no loss of security.

Aluminium doors should add value to your home and enhance its kerb appeal.

Security

Aluminium external doors can have multi-point locking systems fitted with robust hidden hinges, welded joints, key-locking handles as well as smart automatic locking options to keep your home safe and secure.

More colour and timber-effect options

Aluminium frames are widely available in any RAL colour, with textured, metallic, and wood effect finishes - and even different colours inside and out of each door.  The ease to apply the colour to the frames means it is much easier to match to other colours in aluminium compared to foiled uPVC doors.

Unbeatable Thermal Efficiency

Aluminium doors have a thermal break to help keep your property stay warm in the winter and cool in the summer.  Within aluminium ultra-thin frames, most of the door is formed of double or triple glazing to save money on heating bills and keep the heat of the sun out during the summer.

The Green Choice - 100% Recyclable

Aluminium is 100% recyclable and so at the end-of-life stage the aluminium frames can be melted, put back into production with no loss of quality, and ready to be used again. Therefore, old frames will not end up in landfill.

Resistant to the Elements

Aluminium door frames are durable due to the long lifespan of aluminium lasting over 30 years up to 40 years or more (compared to an average lifespan of 20 years for uPVC).  Nor will aluminium doors warp, corrode, or flex over time.

Easy Maintenance

A quick clean of the frame every few months should keep aluminium doors looking their best.

Invest in your Home

Aluminium doors are not the cheapest door type available, but when it comes to such an important element of your home, they provide enhanced quality, longevity, thermal efficiency, and attractive aesthetics to enhance and benefit your home.  Remember the proverbs “buy cheap, buy twice” and “good work ain’t cheap, cheap work ain’t good”.