subject: Go for a well-rounded finish with a composite arched door [print this page] Go for a well-rounded finish with a composite arched door
After so many years of being used to houses fitted with ordinary-looking rectangular doors, it can be quite a shock to discover that the new generation of composite doors comes in any other shape.
But this is now possible thanks to the latest sheet-moulded compounds (SMCs) and glass-reinforced polymer (GRP), both materials which come with the durability and good looks of uPVC, but add into the equation compression-moulded panels which can be given an authentic wood grained look.
GRP material can be painted in any colour. It has long been used in the manufacture of fittings and furniture in public spaces, for example parks and bus and railway stations, because it is known to be very durable and easily cleaned, always presenting an attractive yet hard-wearing finish.
With a composite arched door, wood is used in the construction, but nowhere on the door is it exposed. Instead, it is used internally to simply add strength to the door's structure.
So why is a composite arched door so strong? This is because the materials involved in its manufacture the SMC and GRP are bonded by a process known as thermosetting, which means the door's skin and facings cannot expand or contract with variations in temperature.
Compression moulding is used to create the door panel's design. This might include a graining pattern, designed to give the door the authentic look of timber. Water-resistant PVC composite top and bottom rails are then bonded to the door, followed by the addition of a lock block. When done properly, this means that no timber is exposed anywhere on any of the door's sides again adding to its durability.
Next comes one of the most important steps. Polyurethane foam is then injected into the void between the door's skins, and this is what gives a composite door its superior heat-retaining and sound insulation qualities. The door's facings are each made up of a single piece of material, and it is this which makes a composite arched door so much more durable than wood, which was the only material which could previously be used to manufacture a door of this shape.
It is because the wood used in its manufacture is not exposed to the elements that recycled material is suitable for use in a composite arched door. So a composite arched door is not only the toughest available, thanks to the wide variety of finishes available, it is also the best looking and one of the greenest except that it's also available in a variety of other colours!
Whether you are after arched french doors or bi folding doors for your home you can find a wide range of styles online.
