Are composite doors better than uPVC?

For a front door, yes — on almost every measure that matters. Composite doors are more secure (PAS24 as standard vs. an upgrade on uPVC), more thermally efficient (denser core, better U-value), and hold colour and shape better through Cornwall's coastal weather. uPVC is cheaper but shows its age faster.

How much more do composite doors cost than uPVC?

A fitted composite door in Cornwall starts at £1,395 vs. roughly £795–£1,095 for a fitted uPVC door of the same size. The £300–£600 difference typically pays back through better thermal performance, longer life, and higher resale-friendly kerb appeal.

Which lasts longer, composite or uPVC?

Composite. A quality composite doorset has a 30-year design life vs. 15–20 years for uPVC. Composite skins don't yellow or discolour, don't warp in the sun, and the dense core doesn't hollow out over time.

Are uPVC doors secure?

They can be — modern uPVC doorsets can meet PAS24. But it's often an upgrade, not the default, and the reinforcement is thinner steel than a composite frame. If security is a top priority, composite is the safer default.

Do composite doors keep heat in better than uPVC?

Yes — typical composite U-values are 1.0–1.4 W/m²K vs. 1.4–1.8 W/m²K for uPVC. On a Cornish home with the front door in daily use, that's noticeably less draught and slightly lower heating bills.

Can I have a composite front and uPVC back door?

Yes, plenty of Cornish homeowners do exactly this — composite on the front for kerb appeal and security, uPVC (or composite) at the back for lower spend. We're happy to quote both.

Comparison

Composite doors vs uPVC — the honest breakdown.

We fit both. Here's the like-for-like comparison — no marketing spin — from Cornwall installers who see how each holds up in real coastal conditions.

Get a free quote vs Timber doors

Anthracite Grey fully-glazed composite back door on a red-brick home

Green cottage composite door with three diamond glass panels

Black traditional composite door with arched fanlight on a Victorian red-brick terrace

Head-to-head

Composite vs uPVC on every metric that matters.

Metric	Composite	uPVC
Typical fitted price (Cornwall, 2026)	£1,395 – £2,895	£795 – £1,395
Security (PAS24)	Standard	Upgrade / not always
Thermal U-value (W/m²K)	1.0 – 1.4	1.4 – 1.8
Slab thickness	70mm dense composite	28–44mm hollow uPVC
Colour retention (10 yrs)	Excellent — GRP skin	Fair — can yellow
Warp resistance	Excellent	Fair — can bow in heat
Design life	~30 years	15–20 years
Kerb appeal	Timber-effect finish	Plastic finish
Coastal (salt-air) suitability	Very good	Fair
Guarantee (Cornwall Composite Doors)	10 years written	n/a (we don't fit)

FAQ

Composite vs uPVC questions, answered.

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Get a fixed quote on a composite door for your Cornish home.

Free, no-obligation surveys across Cornwall. Written 10-year guarantee on every install.

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We cover the whole of Cornwall.

From Bude to Land's End, Padstow to the Lizard — our Cornwall-based surveyors and installers fit composite doors across every town, village and coastal parish in the county. Same standard, same 10-year guarantee, wherever you are.

Truro

Falmouth

Newquay

St Austell

Penzance

Bodmin

Bude

Launceston

Saltash

Redruth

Camborne

Helston

Liskeard

Wadebridge