Cheap secure external door

[Adsibob]

The original door we were going to use for our side door is a bit knackered and my builder has said he would have to charge me £450 to refurbish it and I might as well get a new one. Although it's Sapele and nice and heavy and had a nice Banham lock, it has a rubbish U value and the wood may have rotted in one part, so I think he's right.

Can anyone recommend an external door with a fairly good U value and preferably PAS24 or similar rated. Really doesn't need to be passive standards, just something in the 1.1 region that is fairly airtight. I don't care what it looks like, but it needs to be secure and open outwards. No glazed panels to keep it cheap.

 

I probably also need a door frame.

[SimonD]

11 hours ago, Adsibob said:

my builder has said he would have to charge me £450 to refurbish it

 

That's a price that says I don't want to do it if ever I saw one. Have you looked to find some local restorer that's better set up to do it? Last time I needed something like this I walked into a few local antique furniture places and asked who they used. You could also ask at your local reclamation yard. But I'm sure google could help too.

 

11 hours ago, Adsibob said:

just something in the 1.1 region that is fairly airtight

 

You're really looking at a doorset then as it'll be built to function as a unit. Otherwise you're into weatherstrips etc. and fitting the door to a separate frame - your builder would probably want 450 to do this properly by the sounds of it.

 

Would be a shame to throw away a good door in favour of something that probably wouldn't get close in quality, or be cheap.

[Adsibob]

34 minutes ago, SimonD said:

Would be a shame to throw away a good door in favour of something that probably wouldn't get close in quality, or be cheap.

Yes, well this was my thinking and why I asked him at the outset of the project 15 months ago that we would be keeping this door (albeit moving it).

[SimonD]

32 minutes ago, Adsibob said:

Yes, well this was my thinking and why I asked him at the outset of the project 15 months ago that we would be keeping this door (albeit moving it).

 

Frustrating. Builders can be masters of avoidance, that's for sure. A local carpenter/joiner can perhaps sort it all out for you without bothering the builder. Might be a relief for him if he's just got to make the new rough opening.

[Mr Punter]

I have used the GRP composite doors and they seem easy to fit and low maintenance.  Probably about £500 + VAT and fitting.