Advantages of modern PVC doors over other materials

Advantages of modern PVC doors over other materials

The decision to choose a front door is not only a matter of aesthetics, as equally important is its durability, which depends on the materials used in production. The most valued are those that will be durable, resistant to damage and equipped with special anti-burglary and anti-theft systems. The best exterior doors will also be good at suppressing noise from the street and providing an impenetrable barrier to thieves and burglars. Do modern PVC structures offer users such a set of advantages, and which is better to choose – PVC or steel doors? Let’s look for answers to these questions and clarify doubts about the different types of front doors.

What are modern PVC doors?

Polyvinyl chloride, known by the acronym PVC or commonly referred to simply as PVC/PVC, has proven its usefulness and versatility in many industries. As a plastic, it is resistant to chemical, biological and atmospheric agents, and is lightweight and moldable, so it works well in many construction and building applications. It is also among the materials that are easy to keep clean without special maintenance. Thus, full PVC doors present the advantages sought by those who are thinking of choosing a solution that is uncomplicated to care for. The choice and installation of PVC doors is an investment for many years, but they do not calculate better than aluminum or steel variants in every application. Surprising to some is the fact that a PVC door leaf is… heavy! This is a matter of their construction, since they require an internal framework to stiffen them so that the leaf works properly in the frame and does not sag. This also means that for larger door sizes, PVC as a material simply won’t do.

Why choose PVC doors over wooden doors?

Solid wood doors are less common than they used to be, because modern steel doors can look just as impressive, and they don’t have as many drawbacks due to maintenance or adjustments. You can also consider the choice: aluminum or PVC doors as an alternative to wood? Here the advantage is shown by aluminum, which is relatively the lightest, and in the case of large, wide doors the risk of settling and sagging of the door leaf over the years decreases. Interestingly, the belief still persists that PVC has far better insulating properties than aluminum. However, modern production technologies, including the door’s used thermal insulation and millimeter precision, put the lie to this claim. On the other hand, the advantage of PVC doors over wooden ones is mainly due to two reasons – a more favorable purchase price and resistance to weathering. Polyvinyl chloride resists the sun’s roasting rays, is prepared for seasonal temperature fluctuations and is not intimidated by humidity or direct exposure to rain.

How do PVC doors affect thermal and acoustic insulation?

Energy-efficient construction requires that the entrances use thermally insulated doors that provide an adequate thermal transmittance. As for the models made with PVC, they show extremely good insulation, both thermal and acoustic. The compact structure of the pressed panels and their filling with PUR or XPS hard foam translate into the fact that the finished door is simply quiet and warm. The use of additional reinforcements guarantees appropriate static and strength parameters, and the door leaf, so stiffened, adheres well to the seals, so that blowing and sources of sound penetration from the outside are eliminated. This guarantees, among other things, a low value of the heat transfer coefficient (Ud), although the results achieved by the best steel doors are still some way off.

Purchase and maintenance costs of PVC doors compared to other materials

Price is sometimes the deciding factor in specific applications, for example, in facilities such as hotels, boarding houses or public buildings, where the main criterion is the final value of the order. If these are purchases counted in tens or hundreds, then the savings will be noticeable. In addition, the low production cost of polyvinyl chloride, the ease of processing PVC and the general popularity of this material make it a relatively cheap solution. This is of considerable importance during purchase and installation, but also in the long term in terms of maintenance. All maintenance and care activities do not require the use of specialized preparations, and the cleaning itself is effortless, which is conducive to regular washing and taking care of the neat appearance of the front door.

Aesthetics and design of modern PVC doors.

A variety of glazing variants, a wide range of shapes and handles, and an extensive color palette – these are the advantages of steel doors, which are also present in models made with polyvinyl chloride. PVC doors also offer the option of embedding infill panels, insulated glass or batch decorative panels in the sashes, allowing you to order customized versions. The range of colors offered by manufacturers is sizable, but not as much as in the case of steel doors, although woodgrain designs are common. PVC exterior doors with an extension are available on the market, and when it comes to design, bolder and bolder designs are being proposed, from conventional designs to avant-garde sashes for modern architecture. Since aesthetic issues are not a constraint, the final decision and choice: PVC or aluminum, or perhaps steel doors, will be weighed when studying their overall advantages and disadvantages. However, when ordering unusual shapes and sizes of doors, aluminum and galvanized steel sheet have a significant material advantage, since PVC is not the best material for this type of construction. It should also not be forgotten that PVC entrance doors do not achieve as good stability and rigidity as steel counterparts. As a result, they have poor anti-burglary performance, and it is difficult to consider them if you care about this very aspect of household security, as they may not provide an adequate level of protection against intruders in the event of attempted break-ins.