The exterior of your home is the first thing that your guests and visitors will see. According to research conducted by Dulux Weathershield, it takes less than 10 seconds for people to make a judgement about you based on the colour of your front door!

You may not have thought much about the colour of your front door before, but first impressions count. So if you want to make a good one, why not personalise your home and reflect your personality by changing the colour of your front door? It’s a great place to start and is fairly inexpensive to do.

But which colour should you choose? Whether you go for a bright colour, a black door, or  decide to make a statement with a red coloured door, each reveals something about you.

Read on to find out more.

How To Pick A Front Door Colour

Classic Colours

If you want to make sure your colour choice won’t date, why not opt for a classic colour shade that won’t go out of style quickly.

Consider a navy blue door, which apparently could signal that you’re intelligent.

Classic red = a passionate resident – apparently a very popular choice in London.

A black front door suggests that you are a mysterious type with a great sense of style.

Brown can be beautiful in the right shade. A light brown front door can mean that you have a good heart, whilst dark brown can mean that you like to keep to yourself and are quite a private person.

Bold And Bright Colours

When you think of the colour yellow, you think happy, sunny, and joyful. If you choose a yellow front door you’re thought to be welcoming and friendly aka. great hosts!

Shades of purple have increased in popularity in recent years and they’re very Instagram friendly. If this is your shade of choice there are added benefits – in the practice of feng shui, it is the only colour that can be placed in any direction. It also signifies creativity.

Pink front door lovers are hopeless romantics, as well as nurturing and fun.

How Do I Prep My Front Door For Painting?

If you feel inspired to change the colour of your front door, you’re probably wondering where to start. Don’t worry, it’s very simple.

1. Choose your paint colour and make sure that it is weatherproof. A DIY store can advise you if you are unsure.
2. Whilst picking up your paint, it’s wise to think about buying a primer too to make sure your paint goes on smoothly and lasts longer.
3. Remove your door’s metal accessories, including door handle, letterbox and knocker, if you have one.
4. Clean your front door using soap and warm water
5. Repair any cracks with a filler
6. Sand down your door
7. Wipe down with methylated spirit

Now you’re ready to apply your primer and after that, your new paint colour.

Better yet, let us do the hard work for you. Get in touch to choose a low maintenance PVC or Composite Door option. We have over 50 standard colours to choose from or we can match any RAL colour.

Does your home need a new front door?

Whether it’s style or functionality at the top of your list of priorities, there’s one deciding factor that easily tops all others: cost.

So, how much does a front door cost to replace?

Here’s everything you need to know about how much it costs to replace a front door in the UK.

How Much Does A Front Door Cost To Replace?

In short: probably around £1,500; but don’t panic, that figure is a bit deceiving.

In the UK, the national average cost for a new front door runs between £500 and £2,500. So, while you could wind up paying a lot more than that initial £1,500, you could also wind up paying a lot less.

At the lowest end of the spectrum, you could find a perfectly good front door that will only run you about £250. On the other hand, for speciality or custom doors, your final bill could be well over £4,000.

What Can Affect The Cost Of A Front Door?

Above, we discuss the average cost of a new front door in the UK, but what causes the massive discrepancy between prices?

One of the most significant factors in determining the overall cost of a new front door is the material.

Price aside, the material you choose is entirely dependent on aesthetic choices and any security concerns you may have. Here’s a little more information about the cost of different materials and how to decide which is right for you.

uPVC

uPVC doors are generally the cheapest front door option available, running between £400 and £650. But, just because they’re cheap, that doesn’t mean they don’t come with perks.

uPVC doors tend to be extremely weather resilient and can last upwards of 35 years. That said, uPVC doors don’t always look as good as their wood or composite counterparts.

Pine

If you’re looking for a traditional wood door on a budget, pine may be the best choice for you. While pine doors can run as low as £120, their average cost can top out at well over £1,000.

Pine doors tend to be easy to repair, and you can repaint them if you ever want to change up your decor. That said, pine doors may not hold up as well to weathering, and tend to only last 15 years or so.

Mahogany

Another fantastic natural wood option is mahogany, which tends to run between £300 and £1,450. Mahogany comes with a lot of extra perks that make it well worth the cost.

Aside from the aesthetic flexibility of natural wood, mahogany is naturally resistant to decay and insects. However, mahogany, like most natural wood doors, requires a fair amount of upkeep.

Oak

As the most expensive popular natural wood option, a new oak door can run from £300 to upwards of £1,800. On top of all of the other perks that come with a natural wood door, oak is one of the most sustainable options available today.

That said, oak doors can require a lot of maintenance to stay weatherproof.

Composite

Composite doors come with the heftiest price tag, running anywhere from £650 to well over £2,500. That said, these doors are by far the best option when it comes to security and durability.

On top of having a long lifespan, over 30 years, composite doors can help cut back on noise pollution in your home and are very easy to maintain.

Ready To Replace Your Front Door?

So, how much does a front door cost to replace? Unfortunately, there is no definitive answer to this question the final price of your new front door is entirely up to you. That said if you want to ensure you’re getting the best prices, you need to start by selecting a reliable installer.

Are you ready to replace your front door? We’re here to help.

Contact us for more information about our services, or to schedule a consultation today.

N.B These prices are standard, entry level and are exclusive of installation.

Safety is always going to be a top priority for every homeowner. This is particularly true when you are thinking about making changes or renovations to the property. It is one of the reasons why many people avoid investing in external bifold doors. But, how secure are bifold doors?

We’re pleased to say that bifold doors do provide a very high level of security for your home and could beat similar options, including the typical patio doors which you may have right now.

Read on to find out more about how secure bifold doors are.

How Secure Are Bifold Doors?

Bifold doors have become extremely popular over recent years due to their aesthetic design. They also provide practical benefits including a higher level of energy efficiency as well as being a space-saving option.

But how secure are bifold doors? Despite many people believing that these kinds of doors will attract criminals keen to break in, this is not actually the case. Bifold doors can actually strengthen the security of your home, but how?

It’s actually more difficult to break into a bifold door than the typical sliding doors or french doors that most homes have. This is due to the fact that you can purchase bifold doors with multi-point locking systems and an inline tracking system included.

Ultimately, this means that the door should be impossible to lift off the mechanism. The doors will also be attached to a gear which will need to be removed as well.

There are other components too including lock pins made from hardened steel. Most bifold doors now also have double glazing windows which are far more difficult to smash.

The bottom line here is that even well-equipped thieves will struggle with bifold doors and as such, won’t even bother to try.

How Can I Make My Bifold Doors More Secure?

If you are looking to add additional levels of security to your bifold door, then you need to think about the locking system that you have in place. While adding additional locks are more expensive, it will provide you with the comfort you need to know your home is secure, if your current locking system is out-of-date.

There are a variety of locks that you can consider including:

• Keyed locks – These provide a maximum level of security as long as you don’t make the mistake of leaving the key outdoors in a place that you think is hidden. This is the first place a thief will look.
• Drop bolts – This type of lock is immediately apparent and as such can act as a deterrent. They can be installed quickly without any issues but should not be used as a primary locking system.
• Twin point – This locking system will be present in the centre of the bifold doors. It can operate from the top and bottom and you can secure the door in one easy movement.

How To Lock Your Bifold Door The Right Way

Leaving your door unlocked accidentally does cause a security risk. As such, you should make sure that you know how to lock your new bifold doors the right way.

To do this, lift the handle, then turn the key. Through this process, the multipoint lock system will snap into place. All you need to do is make sure the door is closed properly and your door will be securely locked.

If your bifold door is out of alignment, this can stop the multipoint locking system from working correctly. So, if you feel your bifold doors are out of alignment, take a read of our guide on how to adjust aluminium bifold doors.

We hope this simple guide has shown that bifold doors can be one of the best ways to secure your home, not to mention that they look fantastic too. They are particularly recommended in areas where there is a high crime rate and you want an extra level of protection for the back entry points of your home.

If you’ve been looking around for aluminium bifold doors prices then we can guide you even further. Please don’t hesitate to get in touch today on 020 8397 4040 and a member of staff will be happy to help.

French doors, or uPVC doors as they are also known, are a massively important feature of any home, and they can go a long way toward boosting the aesthetic appeal of the property, as well as making the home more practical in the process too. In this article, we will talk you through the process of how to adjust uPVC doors to stop draughts.

Caring For uPVC Doors

You need to make sure you are focused on the way in which you care for your uPVC doors and look after them as much as possible. Ensuring that you get the best possible usage out of these doors is vital and one way of achieving this is to ensure they are weather tight from draughts and other outside elements.

How To Adjust uPVC Doors To Stop Draughts

Here are some of the top ways you can go about adjusting your uPVC doors in order to prevent draughts and keep the warm air in your home.

Check The Alignment

There are a lot of things you can do to make sure your uPVC doors are working in the best possible way, and a good place to start is to check whether or not the door is out of alignment.

Now, there are a few things you can do to achieve this, and you should begin by checking for cracks and gaps and making sure the hinges are lined up as well as they can be.

This may well be one of the more basic tasks you can undertake, but it is also incredibly important.

Fit A Weather Seal

You also need to consider fitting a weather seal, as a way of preventing the air from getting through into the home. There are a lot of factors that can play a part in making the home more comfortable, and never overlook the importance of a seal for your doors.

There are different types of weather seals to choose from, and it is important to understand what is right for your uPVC doors. You might find yourself in a position where you can sort this yourself, or it might be a case of hiring someone and getting them to take charge of this for you to ensure you have the correct fit.

Upgrade Your Doors

In addition to making sure you have checked the seals and the potential cracks that might be letting draughts into the home, you may also need to consider upgrading your doors.

If you feel replacing your uPVC doors is the best option, it would also be a good time to think about factors such as choosing double glazing or triple glazing, which a professional window and doors installer can help with.

When It Is Time To Call The Experts

Learning how to adjust uPVC doors to stop draughts is one of the most important things you can do for your home. There are a lot of factors that will allow you to improve the home and the way in which it is going to endure in the future.

However, there may come a time when you need some help from the experts. This is where we come in. If you need help with either adjusting existing uPVC doors or looking to simply replace them completely, we can help.

Call our friendly and family-run team today on 020 8397 4040 or email info@cosyhomeswindows.com. We can run through the available options and prices with no obligation.

When the glass panes within a wooden door becomes chipped, smashed, or shattered, it can cause major problems. Aside from compromising the aesthetic beauty, it may produce a safety hazard and reduce the home’s insulation. If it’s an external door, it may put you at greater risk from burglars and outside dangers too. As such, this is an issue that requires immediate action. While you may fear that replacing the entire door is your only option, it may be possible to find a quicker, easier, and cheaper solution simply by replacing the glass pane. Therefore, we have written an article on how to replace a glass pane in a wooden door to help you tackle this issue.

Remove The Financial Strain, Replace The Pain

Let’s face it; doors are expensive, especially if it’s the front or back door. Aside from the materials, you’ll need to dispose of the existing door and think about additional ideas like getting new keys cut. Moreover, this is a job where only a professional job will do while it’s also one that will require a lot of time.

Opting for a glass pane replacement service may open the door for skilled DIYers to complete the work themselves. If not, the fact that this type of job can be completed far sooner will lower the costs. Given that the glass pane is the cheapest part of the door too, this route will be kinder to your pocket, not to mention a far more practical solution.

The Process

Removing a glass pane is a little difficult and requires the right tools, but it’s hardly the most difficult home repair job. Tape over the glass for safety and use a Stanley knife or blade to cut the through the paint and sealant. Next, use a chisel to remove the wood out of the panel. Take out the glass and measure the opening and ensure the new glass is 1/8th of an inch smaller than the opening itself.

Use nails to secure the glass back into the panel before applying the sealant. Nail holes should be filled in, and you’ll want to paint the door for a better aesthetic. On another note, try to find safety glass rather than the outdated panes that were used on older doors. After all, this is probably one of the main reasons that the glass broke in the first place. Job done.

Need Help?

While it’s still quicker and easier than replacing the door, you may wish to have professional support. After all, the importance of your door cannot be overlooked for a second. Whether it’s in order to get the best results or simply save time, Cosyhomes is ready to help. Our friendly technicians can replace the glass units in a fast, efficient, and affordable manner, leaving you with peace of mind.

We offer an array of support. Whether it’s sourcing the right materials at the best price before completing the task, using our skills and experience to complete the work, or a combination of both doesn’t matter. If you need support restoring your door to its former glory, it’s crystal clear that ours is the only help you’ll need. Contact our team today on 020 8397 4040.