Composite Front Doors
in Chester, Deeside
& North Wales
Solidor, Hallmark and Rockdoor composite doors — 48mm solid timber cores, weather-tight seals and PAS 24 locking. Fixed quote within 24 hours, most doors fitted within 7–10 days.
Composite Doors — the honest version
What it is
A composite front door is built from a solid timber core wrapped in a woodgrained GRP (glass reinforced plastic) skin, hung on a reinforced uPVC or aluminium outer frame with multi-point locking. Heavier, more secure and better insulated than a uPVC door, better weathering than a timber door.
Who it's for
Homeowners replacing a tired uPVC door, a rotten timber door, or an original 1930s door that's stopped closing properly. Popular with landlords for the security and low maintenance.
When to book it
Replace if the door drops, sticks, whistles in the wind, has a single latch and Yale rather than multi-point locking, or has any visible damage to the outer skin.
Why it matters who fits it
We fit Solidor, Hallmark and Rockdoor because their door-manufacturing tolerances are tight, the timber cores don't warp, and every component from cylinder to letterbox is specified rather than the cheapest available.
What happens if you leave it — and what most people get wrong
A front door is your home's single most important security and weather barrier. When it fails, the failure is not subtle.
- •Failed weather seals let driving rain past the threshold — carpet gets wet, laminate buckles, hall gets cold.
- •A dropped door strains the multi-point locking and eventually the lock stops throwing properly.
- •Snap-off cylinder locks (still on many older uPVC doors) are the primary attack vector for opportunist burglars.
- •Warped or rotten timber doors give no meaningful security at all — a shoulder is often enough.
- •Choosing a door on colour alone without specifying the cylinder security rating.
- •Fitting a heavy composite door on the original uPVC frame — the frame twists and the door drops within a year.
- •Skipping the anti-snap TS007 3-star cylinder to save a few pounds on an otherwise secure door.
- •Using a cheap composite skin that fades and chalks in the sun within 3–4 years.
Five steps, no surprises
Every install runs the same way. It's how we hit 3-week lead times on standard jobs and 48-hour survey turnaround.
Free On-Site Survey
We come out within 48 hours of your enquiry, measure every aperture accurately and check reveals, sills, lintels and drainage. No pressure, no gimmicks.
Written, Itemised Quote
You get a fully itemised quote — profile system, glass spec, colour, hardware and finish. Composite doors back in 24 hours, windows typically within 3 days.
Order & Manufacture
Once approved, we place the order with our trade suppliers. Standard windows and doors run ~3 weeks, bespoke items 4–5 weeks. Stock composite doors 7–10 days.
Expert Installation
Our own installers fit every job. Frames set square and plumb, sealed with low-modulus silicone and expanding foam, internal beading, no drafts or gaps.
Testing & Handover
Every window and door is tested for operation, locking and seal. Site left clean, old frames removed, care advice given, guarantees registered with Assure.
What you actually get — not marketing talk
Genuine Security
PAS 24 tested, 3-star anti-snap cylinders as standard, hookbolt multi-point locking. Insurance-recognised.
Weather-Tight
Twin gaskets and a solid threshold seal against wind-driven rain — no whistle, no draft, no water on the mat.
Thermally Efficient
48mm solid core with a U-value around 1.4 W/m²K — dramatically warmer than a hollow uPVC door.
Colour-Stable Finish
GRP skin that holds colour for 10+ years — no repainting, no fading, no chalking.
Fast Turnaround
Standard doors from stock in 7–10 days. Fully bespoke Solidor and Hallmark colours in around 3 weeks.
Genuine Options
Any RAL colour, dozens of glass patterns, hardware in chrome, gold, black, satin or brushed — spec it your way.
How we spec & fit composite doors
The composite door market is full of look-alikes. What separates the good doors from the bad ones is the core, the skin thickness, the cylinder and the frame reinforcement.
Materials & systems
Solidor
48mm solid laminated timber core (one of the thickest on the market), 2mm woodgrain GRP skin, Ultion 3-star cylinder as standard. 20+ colours, 40+ designs.
Hallmark
44mm solid core, choice of woodgrain or smooth finish, PAS 24 tested, digital lock options available.
Rockdoor
Reinforced with S-glass composite (used in body armour) between skin and core, PAS 24 tested, popular in exposed and higher-risk locations.
Cylinders & Hardware
TS007 3-star anti-snap, anti-bump, anti-pick cylinders standard. Yale, Ultion, Brisant Secure — choose based on insurance requirements.
How we install
- Old frame removed in full — we don't over-fit a composite door onto a tired uPVC outer.
- New frame packed and shimmed to true square, fixed with structural frame fixings into brick or block.
- Threshold sealed with a compressed weather bar and DPC-integrated seal so water tracks outward, not inward.
- Multi-point locking adjusted so the hooks throw with a firm but not forced pull — the sign of a correctly hung door.
- Cylinder set proud of the escutcheon by less than 3mm to remove the snap-attack lever.
Variations & options
Front Doors
Solid, half-glazed or fully-glazed with decorative or plain glass. Sidelights and top lights available.
Back & Utility Doors
Same construction, often plainer designs, sometimes with cat flaps or dog flaps built in at manufacture.
French Doors
Pair of composite doors with a central mullion — traditional style with modern security.
Stable Doors
Split top and bottom door — popular on cottages, farmhouses and country properties. Locks independently top and bottom.
Disability-Friendly
Low-threshold options that meet Part M for level access — useful for retirement bungalows.
Situations we typically fit this for
- Replacing a 1990s uPVC front door that's dropped, stopped closing properly, or has a snap-off cylinder.
- Farm and cottage renovations where a stable door in a heritage colour is the right look.
- Landlord portfolios upgrading security and EPC across multiple properties.
- Higher-risk locations — end of a cul-de-sac, isolated properties — where Rockdoor's ballistic-grade reinforcement is worth having.
- Level-access retirement homes where the threshold detail matters as much as the door.
Composite Doors we've fitted across Chester & North Wales
Real jobs — measured, ordered and fitted by our own team.
Composite Doors — your questions answered
How much does a composite front door cost fitted?
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It depends on the door range, glass, colour, hardware and whether sidelights are involved. After a free survey we get a written, itemised quote back to you within 24 hours.
How long does installation take?
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A single front door takes 3–5 hours to fit properly. You're not left with a hole in the wall — the old door comes out and the new one goes in the same day.
Are composite doors secure?
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The doors we fit are PAS 24 tested with 3-star anti-snap cylinders, hookbolt multi-point locking and reinforced frames. Insurance companies recognise them.
What guarantee do I get?
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10 years on the door slab, 5 years on glass units, 1 year on hardware — plus the Assure Insurance-Backed Guarantee.
How long is the lead time?
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Solidor and Hallmark from stock 7–10 days. Bespoke colours and designs typically 3 weeks.
Can I keep my existing frame?
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Almost never. Composite doors are heavier and the frames are engineered together — retro-fitting onto an old uPVC frame usually causes the door to drop within a year.
Will the colour fade?
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The GRP woodgrain skin holds colour for 10+ years without repainting. Darker colours in strong sun may show minor sheen change over a decade — this is normal.
Are composite doors better than uPVC doors?
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For front doors, yes — better security, better thermal performance, better weathering and better looks. uPVC is still a good option for back and utility doors where cost matters more.
Do you fit smart locks?
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Yes — Yale Conexis and Ultion Nuki digital cylinders are both compatible with the doors we fit. Specify at quote stage.
Do you serve Wrexham and Ellesmere Port?
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Yes — Chester, Deeside, Mold, Buckley, Flint, Wrexham, Ellesmere Port, Neston and the surrounding towns and villages.
Get a Written Quote for Your Composite Door in 24 Hours
Free survey booked within 48 hours. Written, itemised quote back the next day. Solidor, Hallmark and Rockdoor — spec'd for your home, not upsold.
Other things we fit for homes across the region
Fitted across Chester, Deeside & North Wales
Family-run installer based in Ewloe, roughly 30 miles across the border into North Wales and Cheshire. Prefer a chat first? Call 07946 759187 or book a free survey.