Help & Advice > Product Guides > External doors

Composite doors are modern (typically external) doors that can be typically made from a variety of materials. Their designs come in a variety of unique patterns and each offers a unique appearance for a variety of properties. Below you can find out more about composite doors, fitting a composite door and much more.

Table of contents

• What is a composite door made of?
• Composite door hinge adjustment
• Composite door adjustment
• How to fit a composite door
• How much does a composite door cost?
• What paint should I use to paint a composite door?
• How to change a lock on a composite door
• Final thoughts

What is a composite door made of?

A composite external door can be manufactured from various materials, depending on what material you want. Materials you can choose from include:

• PVC
• Wood
• Insulating foam
• Glass reinforced plastic

You can find out by reading our handy guide if you would like to find out more about composite doors, what a composite door is made from, their benefits and more.

How to adjust composite door hinges

There are a variety of door hinges and, as such, there will need to be considerations when it comes to adjustments for composite door hinges. A common issue is that the door hinge may have become loose or perhaps the hinge isn’t sitting correctly within the mortice.

To find out more about how to adjust your composite door hinge and any other door hinges in your property, check out our guide ‘How to adjust door hinges‘.

How to adjust a composite door

Most likely your composite door hinges will be affected by continuous usage. As such, this can cause drops or slight changes in the positioning of your doors. It’s important to know how to re-adjust the door itself to make sure your door not only looks aligned but also moves smoothly. Here’s how to adjust a composite door’s position:

Step one: Confirm whether you can claim in the future if adjustments are made as some manufacturers and installers consider this an invalidation of claims.

Step two: Make sure the door is misaligned. This will help prepare you for choosing which way the door will need to be moved to be realigned. To check the door’s misalignment, consider the following for all possibilities:

• Check the corners to see if the mitres line up with the mitres of the door’s frame.
• Use a spirit level (long length) on the top of the door to check the level.
• Confirm the gap consistency up and down, between the door and the frame, by opening the door on and viewing the lock side.

Step three: Now it’s time to choose how you adjust the door via the hinges; make sure you adjust both hinges as making a difference to one can risk issues with the final door alignment. It’s worth noting that the most common style of door hinge to adjust on uPVC doors especially is a butt hinge.

• Adjusting composite door height via hinge: To adjust the height of a composite door, remove the cap from the bottom of the hinge and use an Allen key to lift the door up and down.
• Adjusting composite door depth in hinge: To adjust the depth of the composite door, remove the centre cap to expose the middle part of the hinge; use an Allen key to move the door further in or out of the hinge’s hold.
• Adjusting composite door forward or back via hinge: To adjust how forward or back the composite door sits, remove the top cap to expose the top hinge and use an Allen key to move the door back and forth.

Please note: Allen keyhole sizes and hinges used can vary so do check with the manufacturer’s instructions before making adjustments.

As a general rule, if your composite door’s warping is more substantial, consider replacing the door.

How to fit a composite door

Find out the method to fit a composite door via our guide for more information and guidance.

How much does a composite door cost?

The cost of an external composite door can vary because of different factors. This could be due to the type of material used to make it, whether the door has glazing and other such features.

Here are just some examples of composite door costs you can find below:

What paint should I use to paint a composite door?

Typically a composite door can be purchased pre-painted to save you time. However, if you do need to add or change the colour of your door, know what paint can be used on what material. In addition, learn how you will need to prepare to paint the composite door. Some paints last longer or have a better finish than others when put onto certain materials. Here are a few reasons why you should and shouldn’t paint a composite door:

Why paint a composite door:

• Although you cannot use certain paints (e.g. latex), you can use specific oil-based enamel-type paints to ensure the paint lasts longer.

Why not to paint a composite door:

• Risk of chipping or flaking due to the outer plastic layer on many composite doors.
• Existing colours on composite doors can last for lengthy periods; this can be difficult to cover completely and risk an unfinished or untidy appearance.

If you do wish to paint your composite door, speak with the manufacturer or a professional before painting. You can even hire a professional painter of composite doors to ensure the task is done successfully. This means much less risk to the appearance and quality of your door.

If you choose to paint the composite door yourself, put on at least two layers to cover the original colour.

Alternatively, you can clean your door with a suitable door cleaner to restore the colour or keep it maintained for a longer time.

As a final resort, replace your door as this might be your best bet for changing the colour. In addition, it can give you a better chance of a cleaner result.

If you want to know how to paint other types of doors, visit our step-by-step guide on how to finish, paint or varnish a door.

How to change a lock on a composite door

If your composite door has been installed within the past 15 years, you will typically have a Euro cylinder lock installed. You can find out more about the Euro cylinder door locks in our buyer’s guide. However, to find out more about changing different types of locks you can check out our guide to changing door locks for information about changing euro cylinder door locks and more.

Final thoughts

Modernise your property with composite doors and get the most out of a contemporary aesthetic.