UK Door Response installs Secured by Design doors that meet PAS 24 security standard (resists forced entry for 3+ minutes—enough to deter 90% of burglars). We survey existing frame (measure opening, check condition, assess security weaknesses), specify composite/uPVC door with multi-point locks (5-point locking, anti-snap cylinder, steel-reinforced frame), 44mm insulated core (U-value 1.0, triple-sealed), glazed panels if required (laminated safety glass)—then remove old door, fit new frame with DPC membrane, hang door with 3 hinges (hinge side security, can't lever off), adjust locks, and provide 3 keys + 10-year guarantee.
Survey week 1. Door manufactured to exact size week 2 (custom colors/glass). Old door removed morning. New frame fitted, door hung, locks adjusted same day (4-6 hours). FENSA certificate week 3.
PAS 24 standard (Police-approved Secured by Design): resists forced entry methods (lock picking, cylinder snapping, kicking, shouldering, crowbar attack) for minimum 3 minutes under test. Multi-point locking (5 points: top, middle, bottom, and two side bolts engage when key turned). Anti-snap cylinder (breaks at weak point if attacked, leaving internal mechanism intact—can't be picked). Composite doors: GRP (glass-reinforced plastic) skin, 44mm insulated foam core, timber subframe. uPVC doors: multi-chamber frame, steel-reinforced, U-value 1.2. Costs: composite £900-1,200 (most popular), uPVC £600-800, timber £1,400-1,800 (traditional, requires maintenance). Savings: replacing old timber door (U 3.0) with composite (U 1.0) saves £90/year heating (door is 10% of heat loss in typical house). Also reduces insurance premiums (some insurers discount 5-10% for PAS 24 doors).
📞 0333 600 0995PAS 24 is UK Police standard for secure doors. Tests: forced entry (kicking, shouldering), lock manipulation (picking, bumping), cylinder attack (snapping), hinge side security (can't lever hinges off). Composite doors meet PAS 24 via: 44mm thick (vs 35mm budget doors), GRP skin (won't dent/crack), steel-reinforced frame, multi-point lock (5 points), anti-snap cylinder (TS007 1-star minimum), 3 stainless steel hinges (hinge bolts prevent lifting). Cost: £900-1,200 (includes frame, hardware, installation). Brands: Solidor (premium, £1,100-1,400), Distinction (mid-range, £850-1,100), Composite Doors (budget, £700-900). Styles: 30+ designs (contemporary, traditional, cottage), 20+ colors (any RAL), glazed panels (obscure/clear, triple-glazed). U-value: 0.8-1.0 (better than uPVC 1.2, much better than old timber 3.0+). Insurance-approved (Secured by Design logo = 5-10% premium discount with some insurers). Guarantee: 10 years frame + hardware, lifetime GRP skin (won't fade/warp).
Traditional doors have 1-point lock (Yale latch or mortice deadlock). Multi-point locks engage 5+ points when key turned: top shoot bolt, bottom shoot bolt, central deadbolt, two side roller bolts (lock into frame at multiple heights—impossible to force open without breaking frame itself). Locking sequence: turn key once (deadbolt engages), lift handle (shoot bolts extend), turn key again (locks everything). Anti-snap cylinder: TS007 3-star rated (best), snaps at sacrificial break point if attacked (leaves internal cam intact, door remains locked). Kite-marked cylinders (BSI tested). Cost: multi-point lock £120-180 (retrofit to existing door if frame suitable—saves buying new door), full door replacement £900+ (includes frame, lock, door). Maintenance: spray WD-40 on lock mechanism annually, check alignment (door should close smoothly without forcing—misalignment wears lock).
Door U-values measure heat loss. Part L requires U 1.4 or better for replacement external doors. Composite doors achieve U 0.8-1.0 (44mm insulated core, triple-sealed perimeter, low-E glazing if glass panels). uPVC doors: U 1.2 (multi-chamber frame, insulated panels). Old timber doors: U 2.5-3.5 (single panel, poor seals, gaps around frame). Heat loss calculation: 2m² door at U 3.0 loses 60W per degree difference. At 15°C indoor-outdoor difference (typical winter), that's 900W continuous loss = 21.6kWh/day = £1.30/day at 6p/kWh gas. Upgrade to U 1.0 reduces loss to 300W = 7.2kWh/day = £0.43/day. Saving: £0.87/day × 180 heating days = £157/year. But this assumes door is primary heat loss route—realistically door is 8-12% of total, so actual saving £90-120/year for typical house. Payback on £1,000 door: 8-11 years (longer than windows but security benefits are main reason to upgrade, thermal is bonus).
Composite: £900-1,200. GRP skin (looks like timber, any color, won't fade), 44mm foam core (best insulation U 0.8), steel-reinforced frame, maintenance-free (wipe clean, no painting). Pros: most secure (PAS 24 standard), best thermal, longest guarantee (10 years). Cons: heavier than uPVC (needs strong hinges). uPVC: £600-800. Multi-chamber plastic frame, steel-reinforced, insulated panels, U 1.2. Pros: cheapest, good security (PAS 24 available), maintenance-free. Cons: looks plastic (less premium than composite), can discolor over 15 years. Timber: £1,400-1,800. Solid wood (oak, hardwood), traditional appearance, can be any color. Pros: authentic look (essential for listed buildings), can be repaired (composite/uPVC must be replaced if damaged). Cons: needs repainting every 5 years (£150-200), can warp if not maintained, more expensive. We recommend: composite for most (best balance security/thermal/maintenance), timber only for conservation areas or customer preference.
Standard composite door: 30dB noise reduction. Acoustic composite door: 42-44dB (near-silent indoors even with main road outside). How: thicker core (50mm vs 44mm), mass-loaded vinyl layer (dense rubber sheet dampens vibration), acoustic seals (compressed neoprene gaskets around perimeter—4 seals instead of 3), laminated glass panels (if glazed—acoustic interlayer stops sound transmission). Cost: +£200-300 vs standard composite (total £1,100-1,500). When worth it: busy roads, airports, city centers, shift workers needing daytime sleep. Example: 75dB traffic noise → 33dB inside with standard door (audible hum), 22dB with acoustic door (whisper-quiet). Building Regs don't require acoustic doors but Approved Document E (Resistance to Sound) recommends 30dB minimum for conversions of use (e.g., house near motorway converted from non-residential—Planning may require acoustic doors to approve change of use).
Back doors more vulnerable than front (hidden from street, burglars prefer rear entry). Same PAS 24 standard applies but additional measures: hinge bolts (3 per door—prevent levering off hinges from outside), sash jammers (internal bolts that wedge door closed, can't be forced even if lock picked), laminated glass (if glazed—can't smash to reach inside handle, takes 30+ hits with hammer vs 1 hit for standard glass). French doors (pair of doors opening outward/inward): shoot bolts top+bottom on inactive door (locks into frame above/below), multi-point lock on active door, meeting stiles reinforced (central join point between doors—common attack point). Cost: back door £800-1,100 (same as front but often smaller), French doors £1,800-2,500/pair (two doors + reinforced frame). Patio doors: not same as French doors (sliding not hinged)—see separate patio door upgrade (multi-point slide locks, laminated glass, anti-lift devices).