I need to order a door for our back terrace. It will be coming off a, to be created, hall from house to back terrace, so not in a living room. Eventually it will be 2, the 2nd on the laundry (and possibly a 3rd double one but that can be painted same colour) but one step at a time.
I want them in anthracite as I think it looks really nice against the limstone. I really like the aluminium ones but out of budget. My original plan was to get wood and paint it. Then when I was cleaning dog dirt off my sisters door before the wedding I started questioning my traditional 100% anti PVC. Her door is and it looks really nice, easy to clean, inside white, outside green, no painting needed, could I really have been able to tell if it was painted wood had I not been cleaning it?? The terrace is east facing so gets hot sun belting on it from morning to mid afternoon. I’m really torn, it costs more than the wood but good exterior paint is expensive so the same I guess.
What do you think, would you go wood or PVC?
2nd question Leroy (I know there is the Russian thing ), briconcash and brick depot all seem to be the same price(ish), Le Payre an extra 150€ per door so has to be a no. Have any of you compared the quality of the different ones? Thoughts?
Hola….we have both brand new PVC and Alu and both are very good. The Alu was expensive and the pvc ok. The finish quality are excellent.
I would avoid all of the Brico’s and Leyroys etc and go to one of many independent firms making menuiserie. Get them to come over, complete with colour cards and ask them for a devis supply and fit.
That’s what I would do….but up to you and yes anthracite looks lovely against stone.
Since we are still waiting for a devis from a MOF menuisier, and despairing, and know all the others menuisiers in the area are booked solid we have just requested a devis from K Par K who are a national chain. Our research indicated that their technical quality is better than the main bricos like LeroyM, as is the SAV. They do all combinations and non standard sizes apparently so we will see what price is compared to brico sheds and master menuisier.
We are within 500m of william the conqueror’s chapel so din’t have free rein.
We are only allowed to have anthracite here on this lotissement, everything including fencing and all exterior windows,shutters and doors and it does look nice. Mine were done by an independent firm who installed it all for the builders and have been back twice freely when one turn and tilt window got stuck and one shutter refused to descend. My door is steel and very heavy, the downside being the the sun makes it extremely hot but no painting, just washing down everywhere with the hose or a sponge when needed. I painted the wooden windows in my old home to match the new anthracite PVC ones I had installed downstairs and it made a hell of a difference as they were just varnished wood previously but once done, everything was uniform
I have always been in the wood team because I love painting, but I have seen colour PVC windows at friends’ houses and they can look really nice. One thing however is that the cheap ones may fade in colour, especially for a dark grey. I saw some the other day that were considerably lighter at the bottom than at the top where it was shady.
It’s just the touch and the glossy aspect I don’t like so much.
And the tax dodging in general with Auchan, kiabi, Norauto, Decathlon, St Maclou etc. .. All belonging to the same family. But that’s another thread drift sorry
I am a carpenter/joiner and have done a lot of work in oak.
I fitted oak doors and windows in my French barn and they are unpainted.
Oak does not take finishes well outside, I have used most of them. I fitted this barn joinery about 14 years ago and there is no rot. There is some waterstaining and it all goes grey quite rapidly. The pores of the wood open up a bit with the passage of seasons, but if the joinery is designed properly, the angles shed rainwater before it can cause problems.
Deep reveals and overhanging eaves are good design features in buildings which also help the joinery.
PVC has disposal difficulties and is a fire hazard. It derives from the oil/plastics industry which is problematic. Aluminium can be recycled and I think it’s a good alternative to wood. But my unpainted oak suits me very well and looks just right for the building which had oak joinery originally.
Thanks for all your input. I would love to be able to afford custom made and fitted stuff but I just have to do what I can. Every independent one I’ve looked at is massively more, like 3 or 4 or more times the price! I ordered the PVC, it is only one and if I don’t like it I will get wood and paint for the others and swap it out down the track. Leroy win, particularly as they had a 20€ off for installing and ordering on their app (another against my principles but Education National not coming through with many hours for this year means my principles count for less that normal ). It is mainly glass with only a very small edge so I think it will be just fine!
I’ll update once we’ve picked it up! I’m just excited to be getting on with our most structural change to the house, an opening from house to then access the terrace far more directly!
‘Haut Gamme Fenetres’ in Poland are to be recommended. I have seen their product in several friends houses and was sufficiently impressed to order from them for our house. I am awaiting delivery (6 -8 weeks).
They certainly work with pvc, two colour pvc and aluminium. They may well offer wood also. The quality is good and the prices are considerably favourable to any French option for made to measure that I have found.
I also have solid oak doors (which slide along a rail) in my little all-timber house, as well as beams on my terrace and a sturdy oak gate. As oak is rot-proof, it doesn’t need any treatment; the wood’s grain adds to its beauty, one just has to accept that it will age naturally. And no stress about having to maintain the paintwork !
When we were looking for a front and back door, we wanted wood, knowing that we would paint whatever we bought. So we wrote to Sikkens HO and sought their advice. They were very good in the information they gave - not only about the particular Sikkens one to use, but also how to apply it and they gave a link to a good brush and roller company. We’ve had the doors about 2 years (or more) but not had the time to paint and install them. Everything has been bought (doors, paints, rollers, brushes) - they’re just still in their wrapper in the hall. One day soon …….
Thank you Jane, so well put . Once it’s in and we can knock through it will mean we finally have indoor access to our shower room! Only taken 11 years (we do have an inside toilet ). It will be life changing!!
For what it’s worth 22 years ago we bought everything for our renovation, including all internal doors, from them. Everything has worn very, very well. I’ve no idea how they are these days. The staff were also very helpful
), briconcash and brick depot all seem to be the same price(ish), Le Payre an extra 150€ per door so has to be a no. Have any of you compared the quality of the different ones? Thoughts?
!
). It is mainly glass with only a very small edge so I think it will be just fine!
. Once it’s in and we can knock through it will mean we finally have indoor access to our shower room! Only taken 11 years (we do have an inside toilet