External Glazed Door Types – Advice From Double Glazing Dundee Professionals
External glazed doors sit at the front, back, or side of your home and need to handle weather, security, and thermal efficiency while still giving you kerbside appeal. Here are some of the most popular types.
Composite Doors
Composite doors are made from a combination of materials (typically a solid timber core with a glass-reinforced plastic skin) and they’ve become the most popular choice for front doors in the UK over the past decade.
They’re strong, secure, and low maintenance, and they come in a wide range of colours and traditional designs with options for half glazed or fully glazed panels.
A half glazed composite door gives you the security of a solid lower section with a glass panel at the top to let light into the hallway.
Fully glazed composite front doors are less common but doors available in this style can look striking on the right property. The glazed panels in composite doors use toughened or laminated glass as standard, which is stronger than standard glass and gives you peace of mind on security.
French Doors
French doors are a pair of hinged doors that open outward (or inward) from a central point, with large panes of glass running the full height of each door.
They’re a classic choice for connecting a living room or kitchen to a garden or patio, and they flood the room with natural light when closed while giving you a wide opening when both doors swing open.
French doors offer a traditional look that suits period properties and more classic home designs.
Modern french doors come with multi-point locking, double or triple glazing, and low-E glass for good thermal efficiency, so they perform far better than older versions that were known for being slightly draughty.
Sliding Patio Doors
Sliding patio doors use large panes of glass that slide horizontally along a track.
They take up no floor space when opening (unlike french doors, which swing into or out of the room), and the slim frames on modern glazed patio doors mean you get maximum glass and maximum light. Sliding doors work particularly well in rooms where space is tight, because the door panel tucks neatly behind the fixed pane rather than projecting into the room.
Sliding patio doors are available in two, three, or four-pane configurations depending on the width of the opening.
Bifold Doors
Bifold doors are doors that concertina back on themselves to create a wide, unobstructed opening between your home and garden.
A set of glazed bifold panels folds and stacks neatly to one or both sides, giving you an opening that can span three metres or more. They’re popular in kitchen-diners and open-plan living spaces where homeowners want to blur the line between indoor and outdoor.
Bifold doors cost more than standard french doors or sliding doors, but the visual impact and the sense of space they create can be dramatic.
Door Frame Materials
The door frame material affects how your glazed door looks, how well it insulates, how much maintenance it needs, and how long it lasts. The four main options for UK homeowners are uPVC, aluminium, composite, and timber.
uPVC Doors
The most affordable and lowest-maintenance option.
Modern uPVC door frames are available in a range of colours and woodgrain finishes. They won’t rot, warp, or need repainting, and they perform reliably in Scotland’s wet climate.
A practical choice for back doors, patio doors, and french doors where cost and ease of upkeep are the priority.
Composite Doors
These cleverly designed doors combine a solid timber core with a weather-resistant outer skin, giving you the strength and insulation of wood without the upkeep.
The solid core also makes them significantly harder to force than hollow alternatives, which is why they’ve become the default choice for front doors.
They’re available in a wide range of colours and styles, covering both modern and traditional designs.
Aluminimum
This material offers the slimmest frame profiles, which means more glass and more light for any given opening.
Aluminium frames are powder-coated for durability and are available in virtually any colour. They’re the go-to choice for bifold doors and larger sliding doors because they’re strong enough to support wide, heavy glass panels without bowing.
Timber
Timber door frames suit traditional or period homes where you want an authentic wooden door look.
Timber is naturally insulating and beautiful, but it requires regular maintenance (repainting or staining every three to five years) to stay in good condition. This maintenance is particularly important for Scotland’s wet and harsh weather.
Glazing Options for Doors
The type of glazing in your new door affects thermal efficiency, noise, security, and privacy. Here’s what to look for when choosing the glass for your glazed door.
Double Glazing
Double glazing uses two or more glass panes separated by a gas-filled gap (usually argon) that acts as insulation. All new external doors should be double glazed at minimum to meet building regulations.
Triple Glazing
Triple glazing adds a third pane and a second insulated cavity, which reduces heat loss even further and improves soundproofing.
If you’re investing in a new door, triple glazing is well worth the additional cost for the improvement in thermal efficiency and noise reduction.
Glass Types
Innovation in the window and glass industry has come a long way, here are some of the styles you can get for your new door.
Clear Glass
Clear glass lets the most light through and gives you an unobstructed view. This makes it the standard choice for patio doors, french doors, and bifold doors where you want to see the garden.
Frosted Glass
This style of glass obscures the view while still allowing light to flow through.
It’s commonly used on front doors, side panels, and any glazed door where privacy matters. Frost patterns range from a subtle texture to a fully opaque finish.
Textured Glass
This style of glass comes in a variety of patterns (reeded, stippled, flemish, and more) that add character while controlling visibility. Textured and decorative glass works well on front doors and interior doors where you want light without a clear glazed view through.
Low-E Glass
This glass has a coating that reflects heat back into the room, improving thermal efficiency without affecting how much light gets through.
It’s standard on most modern double and triple glazed doors.
Safety Glass
Safety glass is a requirement for all glazed doors under UK building regulations.
This means either toughened or laminated glass, both of which are stronger than standard glass.
Toughened glass shatters into small, blunt pieces if broken, while laminated glass holds together because of a plastic interlayer bonded between the panes of glass. Both types give you peace of mind on safety and security.
What to Look for When Buying a New Door
When you’re ready to look for doors and start comparing options, these are the things that matter most.
Thermal Performance
Your door is the barrier to the outside. Make sure you don’t let the outside in.
Always check the U-value of the door. A lower number means better insulation.
Our doors achieve U-values as low as 0.8 W/m2K, which is well above the minimum required by building regulations.
Security
Look for multi-point locking systems, toughened or laminated glass, and anti-snap cylinder locks.
A good glazed door should meet PAS 24 security standards as a minimum.
Guarantee
A reputable company will offer a long guarantee on both the product and the installation.
The Advanced Group stands behind the doors we supply and the installations we provide. That’s why we are proud to offer 15-year guarantee on every door we fit.
Finance
Doors are an investment, and spreading the cost makes it easier to choose the right product rather than compromising on budget.
We offer 0% APR and up to 5-years of interest free credit on all windows and door.
Contact The Advanced Group Today to Learn More
If you’re not sure which type of door suits your property or you’d like expert advice on the glazing options, book a free home survey and our team will talk you through our range.
With hundreds of doors to choose from, we are sure to have the perfect door for you in store. And we will look after your old windows and doors to ensure responsible disposal.
To learn more information or if you want help finding the right fit for your home, budget, and taste, contact our friendly team today.
