Composite or uPVC? Choosing the Right Door for Scottish Weather

Looking for the right front door for your home in Scotland? In this guide, we compare composite doors vs uPVC doors, covering everything from security and insulation to weather resistance and cost. With cold, damp weather in Glasgow and across the West, your door choice matters more than ever.

Contents:

1. Security: Which Door Is Safer?
2. Durability & Longevity
3. Wet Weather Performance
4. Sunlight, Warping & Colour Fading
5. Colour & Design Options
6. Lock Quality & Hardware
7. Weight, Feel & Fitting
8. Cost Comparison
9. Sustainability & Environmental Impact
10. Energy Efficiency & Insulation
11. Summary

🔐 Security: Which Door Is Safer?

Composite doors offer top-tier home security. With a solid timber  core and a GRP skin, they’re built to withstand force. Ours come with high-spec multi-point locking systems and reinforced frames. Our Stronghold range doors also have 32mm triple glazed units as standard.

uPVC doors also offer good security and are Secured by Design but are more lightweight and less robust under attack. Locks can be upgraded, but the door itself offers less resistance to intruders.

The truth is that if an intruder wants to break into your house, it is highly unlikely that they are going to gain entry through your front door. The noise required to break through a modern front door would alert the whole street. Whilst security is a consideration, look for any new door to be Secured by Design.

🕰️ Durability & Longevity

Composite doors last 30+ years with minimal maintenance. They’re scratch-resistant, won’t swell in damp conditions, and maintain their shape in all seasons.

uPVC doors last around 15–20 years but may become brittle or discoloured with time, especially in sun-exposed locations.

 

🌦️ Wet Weather Performance in Glasgow Homes

Glasgow homes face constant wind, rain and cold. Your front door must withstand this year after year.

• Composite doors resist warping, swelling, and draughts. Perfect for Scottish homes exposed to harsh weather.
• uPVC doors are weather-resistant but more prone to expansion, draughts, and minor warping over time.

☀️ Sunlight Warping & Colour Fading

Composite doors come with UV-resistant coatings that prevent fading and distortion. Even south-facing homes in Scotland can trust their colour and shape to last. Our Stronghold Composite Doors are 100% UK Manufactured and designed for the British climate. That said, if your front door is south facing and you choose a dark colour, it will heat and cool, and this can sometimes lead to slight warping due to the timber slab inside. The technology and construction has improved hugely in the past 10 years to help prevent this.

uPVC doors are slightly more prone to discolouration and heat distortion, but improvements in new technology means that you can expect a newly installed uPVC door to last you well beyond the 10 year guarantee.

Both types of door now offer excellent protection against colour fading and warping.

🎨 Colour & Design Options

Composite doors offer hundreds of colours and woodgrain effects that mimic real timber. Decorative glass, chrome handles, and bold colours are easy to customise. We have a full range of doors to match anything you want, and our painting service can match any Ral, F&B or BS Colour. Stronghold Composite doors are 32mm triple glazed as standard.

uPVC doors offer slightly more limited colour choices and a plainer appearance. Our door panels are premium and look like a composite door, but up close you can tell the difference. Standard colours are white, anthracite grey, black, rosewood and oak. Any other colours can be achieved but will come with a higher price tag. Our uPVC door brochure can be seen here.

 

 

⚙️ Lock Quality & Hardware

Both options come with multi-point locking systems. Our Stronghold Range comes with stainless steel hardware in Champagne Gold, Graphite, White, Black, Satin Stainless Steel or Polished Stainless Steel.

Our uPVC doors are fitted with premium locks and are Secure by Design. Our hardware options are Chrome, Brushed Silver, White and Gold.

 

⚖️ Weight, Feel & Fitting

Composite doors are heavier and more solid — they feel premium when opened and closed. That weight means professional installation is key for long-term performance. 3 Star High Security Euro Cylinder as standard.

uPVC doors are lighter and easier to install, but they can feel less secure and durable under everyday use.

 

💷 Cost Comparison: Composite vs uPVC Doors

Let’s do a price comparison based on a white front door, with no sidescreens, a letterbox and a lever handle:

• uPVC Door: £1,000
• Composite Door, Pioneer Range: £2,000
• Composite Door, Stronghold Range: £2,400

uPVC is cheaper upfront, but composite offers better insulation, security, and lifespan — making it a better long-term investment.

🧠 Final Thoughts: Which Door Should You Choose?

For most Scottish homeowners — especially those living in older, draught-prone houses — a composite door offers better value, better insulation, better durability and better kerb appeal. While uPVC doors still have their place, particularly for budget-led projects and back doors, composites have become the most popular choice for good reason.

 

 

Choose a Composite Door if you want:

• Maximum security

• Best thermal performance

• High-end appearance

• Long-term durability

• A premium finish to suit the property

Choose a uPVC Door if you want:

• Lowest upfront cost

• Simple, clean design

• A durable, low-maintenance solution for rental properties or tighter budgets

📞 Ready to Upgrade Your Door?

At Williams Windows, we supply and install both composite and uPVC doors in Glasgow and across the West of Scotland. Our experts are here to help you choose the perfect door for your home and budget. Visit our Clydebank factory to see each type of door in real life.

👉 Book a no-obligation appointment

📞 Call us on 0141 941 3050
📧 Email us at info@WilliamsWindows.co.uk

Williams Windows & Doors is based at 60 Beardmore Way, Clydebank, serving all of Glasgow and the surrounding areas.