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UPVC (Unplasticized Polyvinyl Chloride) doors are one of the most popular door choices in the UK. UPVC is a hard plastic material commonly used in windows and doors. They are in wide use because of their beneficial properties in that they tend to be pollution, moisture and rust resistant, which means they are more durable than other materials for your external doors.
If you are looking to stop people from gaining entry to your home via the door, then UPVC is a good choice. Due to the strength of the material and the integral locking mechanism, these doors are very hard to force open. Behind the uPVC surface, there is a steel frame that gives the extra strength to prevent the average burglar entering your home using force.
UPVC door locks can be very secure and it provides you with the flexibility to tailor your security solutions to confirm to the different standards of TS007:2012.
When you have a UPVC door you have the option to choose the colour and finish to match your preference. They come in a variety of styles, from modern to traditional. So, if you have a vision in mind for the aesthetic look for the front of your house, a UPVC door might give you the choice you need.
External doors can be expensive and you should not compromise the security of your home with a poor quality cheap door.
That being said, especially in the current times, one’s budget can dictate your choice. But uPVC doors compared to other composite or aluminium solutions, can be very cost effective as the material costs are low and the installation is not too difficult for a professional installer.
Once you have installed your UPVC door, there should be no need for any further work – once it is done, it is done!
UPVC doors retain their strength and structure for years and years and do not require sanding, varnishing, or repainting (like wooden doors). If the door requires cleaning, then hot soapy water (and elbow grease) is all you need to make it look pristine again.
As everyone has become more environmentally conscious, we need to think about our choices from a ‘green’ aspect when it comes to making purchases. UPVC doors can be recycled up to 10 times! That, along with the fact that uPVC doors can last for many decades, this makes them the most environmentally friendly option.
Extreme weather, temperatures, dirt, pollen, or dust will not affect your UPVC door, like they would with other materials. UPVC does not conduct heat, which means it doesn’t absorb heat and will keep your home as cool and comfortable as possible. UPVC doors also provide fantastic noise insulation for your home.
Your external doors are exposed to all kinds of weather and, in this country, lots of rain. So it is common for your front door to become very wet at times. Other materials might start corroding, but you do not need to worry about this with a UPVC door. Due to the material used, uPVC doors are extremely durable, they do not chip or corrode. This means they can last for decades.
If you have identified that your uPVC door is allowing a draught into your home, then it could be that it needs to be adjusted. Sometimes doors can become unaligned – which not only can cause a draught, but can also cause functionality issues like your door handle not lifting to engage the locking mechanism.
You can normally identify by eye if your door might need to be adjusted if there are gaps around the edge of the door between the door and the frame or if the gap between the door and the wall is different from the top to the bottom.
If your door does need adjusting, it is normally best to get your local Locksmith to help. Contact Lock Guy if you live in Essex in the areas that I cover.
Although the problem will most likely be that the door is out of alignment, there could be another problem with the door. Check if there are any obstructions at the bottom of your door such as dirt or stones. If so, this could be the cause for the cold air being let in. If the problem of cold air is still occurring after the debris has been removed from the bottom of the door and the area has been cleaned, then the uPVC door needs to be adjusted because it has most likely fallen out of alignment.
Otherwise, if your uPVC front door is old and has started to let a draught into the house, then it is probably damaged as they can be more susceptible to this over time. Carefully check the door to see if there is any damage to the door or the door frame, and if there is, the best thing to do is to get a replacement uPVC door.
Firstly, try to draught-proof the door. There are simple products available from hardware stores that might solve the issue.
If not, find where the Allen key spot on your uPVC door hinge is and insert and rotate the Allen key to adjust the door. The door should then be reversing towards the door frame, and this procedure should be repeated until the uPVC door is appropriately level and balanced.
There are a number of variations of door hinges, so it is not possible to be too prescriptive in this article.
If you live in my area and are having difficulty adjusting your uPVC door, or just want a professional to come out and have a look at the door, then contact Lock Guy for support.
Got a question about a lock issue you may have? Why not have a look at the FAQ page or one of the helpful advice videos on the Media page.