LUXURY NEW BUILD DEVELOPMENT SELECTS SPITFIRE DOORS’ ALUMINIUM ENTRANCE DOORS
As well as managing their own fenestration and construction industry businesses in Greater Manchester, siblings Bradley and Natalie Beazant have also recently completed a life goal to build their own properties as part of a private development in a rural village, near Warrington.
The high design, luxury family homes are contemporary in style and finish and with a keen eye for doors and windows, the project duo wanted to install bespoke windows as well as an entrance door that would enhance their properties.
Being experts in the field of glazing, the Beazants had a good idea of where to research and compare the ranges of PVC, composite, aluminium and timber front doors. They had high expectations for their front door, requiring a statement entrance as well as desiring security function and durability.
Having visited trade exhibition, the FIT Show earlier in the year, and with their intimate knowledge of the marketplace, the Beazant family – owners of established firm, Regency Glass, came across Spitfire Doors and their S-500 Series Inotherm range.
Recognised as Europe’s leading manufacturer and innovator of monobloc aluminium entrance doors, the stand demonstrated the superior quality and aesthetic of the doors immediately to show visitors.
Natalie and Bradley visited the showroom at Spitfire Doors, the UK and Ireland’s exclusive supplier of Inotherm entrance doors, based in Cheshire. Here they could view Spitfire’s comprehensive collection of timber fusion, engineered timber and its premium S-500 Series aluminium entrance doors.
“For me, a statement front door was important to meet the grandeur design of the properties. Being introduced to Spitfire Doors’ range was a step up in quality and style. I particularly loved the wood-effect finish of the aluminium S-500, which gave them a luxury residential aesthetic.”
Natalie continued: “As soon as we walked in and saw the doors in the showroom, we knew for a fact the luxury S-500 range would fit our development perfectly.”
The doors can be made up to 1.2 metres wide and 2.7 metres high and are exceptionally strong because they are manufactured using Schüco aluminium sections, to ensure the greatest structural integrity, thermal performance and security.
With over 600 styles, colours and surface finishes to choose from for the S-500 collection, the siblings were able to create their exact style using Spitfire Doors’ designer software, with 3D imagery showing the designs in situ.
There is a wide range of design and technology features, including fingerprint recognition, key fob and automatic opening and built-in LEDs, plus the S-500 provides unique styling options with Swarovski crystal embellishment and carbon, rust or split oak finishes. The S-500 range offers traditional Georgian styles through to über contemporary, that will inspire the most discerning homeowner.
Natalie and Bradley chose high gloss black with walnut wood, as well as fingerprint recognition opening, which allows up to 1000 fingerprint scans to be recorded with timed access settings for dog walkers, housekeeping, gardeners and childcare assistants to name by example. Complete with brushed steel house numerals and satin glass panels, the doors were ordered and delivered within eight weeks.
The doors were easily fitted by their chosen installer Patrick Joinery, who were installing S-500 for the first time. The installation process was straightforward and with Inotherm’s bespoke measurements and absolute precision engineering, the doors required no adjusting or re-sizing to fit the entrance way.
“Without seeing the doors first hand, it is hard to describe the quality as there is nothing else that compares to the S-500 range on the market. This makes them even more desirable, in my opinion, and we have recommended the doors to several trade peers because we recognise the potential of this emerging product in the UK, they really do offer customers a special statement door and are a unique opportunity for the trade to add a high-end product to their portfolios,” said the customer.
“The doors are a league above anything we have seen, and Spitfire’s service and product knowledge matched the superior quality product, we are delighted.”
Spitfire Doors were a rip-roaring success at Salon Privé
During the three-day exhibition at Blenheim Palace, Spitfire showcased their stunning S-500 series across the last weekend of August at the event of the season; Salon Privé.
Chairman of Spitfire Doors, David Richards, had this to say about exhibiting at the event:
“People were surprised to find doors of such high quality and imaginative design in the UK.
Salon Privé was an ideal forum for our doors because the quality, design, aesthetics and finishes perfectly dovetailed with the Ferrari’s, Rolls Royce’s and Bentley’s.
Spitfire Doors was immediately recognised as a true luxury brand by the gathered aficionados of modern and classic cars.”
There were three days promoted throughout the event: The prestigious Chubb Insurance Concours d’Elégance, Boodles Ladies’ Day and a Tribute to 70 Years of Ferrarri.
For more information about Salon Privé and how you can visit for 2018 please visit: https://www.salonpriveconcours.com/ticket-alert-2018/
Spitfire heads into the great outdoors with The Cheshire Wildlife Trust
Last month, the Spitfire Doors Team made their way into the great outdoors to one of the Cheshire Wildlife Trust reserves.
Here they learnt about the nature of the place and to get involved with helping the trust.
At the Lovell Quinta Arboretum in Cheshire, the Spitfire Team met three members of the Trust who explained a little about the wildlife around Swettenham.
Also, the type of homes the wildlife needed to maintain the species around the area.
As bronze corporate members of the Trust, Spitfire Doors were invited to take part in kestrel box and willow tit box building activity by the Trust.
The Spitfire Doors Team began by splitting further into two teams; the boys and the girls.
The boys busily dismantled old wooden pallets whilst the girls removed any leftover rusty nails.
Once completed, the boys set set to work designing their grand masterpiece.
Meanwhile, the girls decided to let their artistic side come out by painting a pre-built kestrel box in camouflage colours.
Whilst drying (and the noises of power saws, hammering and head scratching could audibly be heard from the workshop) the girl headed out onto the reserve with the Cheshire Wildlife Trust to learn a little about the work that goes into the Swettenham Reserve.
As well as spotting Wild Orchids, the team discovered there are many different species of wildlife that call Swettenham home.
As well as willow tits and kestrels, the reserve hosts an array of different species of birds.
Something which can be heard as you take a stroll through the picturesque tree-lined corridor to the paths.
A lot of care goes into the maintenance of the reserve, which is evident as you walk amongst the woodlands.
Natural drains are in place to prevent flooding of the paths and the fences are top quality durable posts.
Helpful when shifting livestock from field to field.
Once back at the workshop it was evident that the boys had completed their kestrel box masterpiece.
In what is undoubtedly considered to be the most impressive kestrel box ever created, the boys debuted their hard work to a round of applause.
The next task was to decorate, so everyone picked up a brush and contributed to the final design.
The whole day well enjoyed by both the Spitfire Doors Team and the cheshire Wildlife Trust and we look forwards to continuing our support of the Trusts hard work.
Why we support Cheshire Wildlife Trust
David Richards, Chairman of Spitfire Doors, was looking to support a local charity and the endless work the Cheshire Wildlife Trust do across the county appealed to him as an animal lover:
"I was keen for us to support a local nature charity, to help protect vulnerable animal species and fauna.
The Cheshire Wildlife Trust is totally committed to the cause and they allow our team members to get involved on away day, which broadens their understanding of nature and helps with team building and relaxation."
How you can get involved
There are plenty of ways you can get involved in helping the progress of the Cheshire Wildlife Trust.
As well as volunteering at one of their several reserves, you can help the Trust by donating, fundraising or even joining in on wildlife preserving activities, like we did.
To find out more about what you can do to help please visit: http://www.cheshirewildlifetrust.org.uk/how-you-can-help
Best for front doors in Macclesfield
Spitfire Doors is a family run business in Macclesfield. We're passionate about security, quality and service. We believe we offer our customers the very best doors available in Europe.
All of our front door ranges are exclusive to Spitfire Doors. We offer a bespoke design service, survey and installation to customers in and around Macclesfield.
If you live in the Macclesfield area, please feel free to request a quotation online, or email sales@spitfiredoors.co.uk 7 days a week.
Bespoke Front Door S-500 Series
Frequently Asked Questions
As you would expect from the best residential aluminum front doors in Europe, our doors are available with so many options that it’s difficult to list them all on our website. Feel free to ask us anything of course but we hope that we have answered the most obvious questions below.
Q. Are all of your products bespoke?
Yes. We do not offer standard sizes, as all of our products are manufactured to your exact requirements, designed specifically for your property. We now offer Swarovski.
Q. Can I upgrade my locking system to enhance security? A. Yes.
There are 3 levels of lock which all offer very high security.
Level 1 - BT3: 2 hooks, 1 deadbolt, 2 mushrooms, key wind, can have door safety catch
Level 2 - BT5: 4 hooks, 1 deadbolt, key wind, can have door safety catch
Level 3 - AGU: autolock, 2 hooks, 2 hi-security pins, 1 deadbolt, autolocks when ‘pushed to’
Q. How are double doors secured? A. With Schüco Shootbolts.
The slave door is supplied with a 20mm long double shoot-bolt at top and bottom. A minimum of 10mm of each bolt is engaged into the frame head and into the threshold. The
A minimum of 10mm of each bolt is engaged into the frame head and into the threshold. The
The shootbolt system is supplied by Schüco and the bolts are simultaneously operated via a discreet lever, which is located at around chest height in the rebate of the slave door.
Q. Are Spitfire S-500 Series doors SBD or Document Q compliant? A. Yes
The S-500 series has been tested and passed the stringent ‘Level 3’ testing at IFT Rosenheim in Germany, the leading European Test House. They have also been tested and passed the standard required for
They have also been tested and passed the standard required for new build, Document Q of Building Regulations by The British Standards Institute (BSI).
Q. Does the S-500 Series meet the latest revisions of Building Regulations? A. Yes.
All of our doors fully comply with the latest building regulations in England, Wales, Northern Ireland and Scotland.
Because our doors are manufactured on the Continent of Europe where building design and thermal regulations are more advanced we believe are doors are future proofed against advances in our local standards for many years to come.
Q. Do S-500 Series doors have Safety Glass as standard? A. Yes
We only supply doors with Safety Glass. Our glazing is almost always triple glazed with the following specification: Outer pane 6.4mm laminated, middle pane 6mm float, inner pane 6.4mm laminated.
Q. Can I have automatic unlocking? A. Yes
With our electromechanical locking system, incorporating fingerprint recognition or a key fob you can unlock the door, to an open-ajar position.
When you simply push the door closed the lock will automatically operate and the hooks and bolts throw, engaging deep into the keep.
Q. What about automatic opening? A. Yes
Our ‘Advanced’ AGU auto-system can be programmed to unlock and open the door to approximately 120 degrees.
The door will usually be programmed to stay open for 30 seconds and will then gently close and autolock.
If the fingerprint reader or keyfob is activated again whilst the door is automatically closing, the door will pause then fully re-open again for a further 30 seconds.
Q. Who makes the automatic opening gearing and is it reliable? A. Geze and Yes.
Geze are world leaders in door opening technology and their systems are regularly used on some of the most prestigious projects in the world.
Check them out on www.geze.com.
The drive gear for your door will be discreetly located in the head of sash.
Q. Can you fit sensors to protect children and pets on automatic doors? A. Yes
We can fit ankle height ‘magic eye’ sensors to stop an automatic door closing if there is an obstruction.
Q. Can I still open my door in the event of a loss of power? A. Yes
Our advanced automatic opening system has a 30 minute battery back-up.
And remember, you can always override all auto-systems with your key. Every S-500 door has a key as for back-up.
Q. Does auto-unlock work during a power cut? A. No
You have to use your key to operate the lock but every door is supplied with 5 keys.
Q. Are the doors over-rebated to protect against wind and rain? A. Yes
Both internal and external faces of the door leaf are rebated to provide maximum weatherproofing via the door seals.
Q. Is there a choice of outerframes? A. Yes
but we prefer to offer only one AT100 is our standard outerframe which is 90mm deep with a chamfered finish.
Q. Do Spitfire S-500 doors have thermally insulated profile options? A. Yes
Our standard ‘Exclusive’ range of S-500 doors has an insulated sash but not outerframe and this product has a low (very good) thermal value of 0.9 W/m2K.
Our S-500 ‘Exclusive Plus’ range is insulated in both frame and sash and has a stunningly low thermal value of 0.7 W/m2K which is better than Passiv Haus.
Q. How many people can get access via a single Fingerprint reader? A. 1000
Our readers can store 1000 fingerprints and it is easy to record new prints yourself by nominating a ‘master’ fingerprint.
All it takes is an impression from the ‘master’ then 3 impressions of the new finger to record a new person.
These systems are ideal if you wish to give access to your extended family or if secure and reliable access is required for a block of apartments.
Q. Can the reader be used to open another door? A. Yes
A reader in our Genius Comfort 1 range has a double relay and can be programmed to operate 2 doors from the same reader. So you could open your front door with one fingerprint and an adjacent garage door with another.
Q. How reliable are Spitfire Fingerprint Readers? A. Very
Spitfire units have been developed in conjunction with Siemens of Germany and we have sold thousands of units across Europe, which are still in daily use.
All units come with a full 2 year warranty and it is relatively easy and not expensive to replace old units when the time comes.
Ours is a capacitive fingerprint sensor which is very simple to operate because all you have to do is press your finger on the sensor.
This is much better than "pull or swipe" sensors where you have to be careful how quickly and from which direction you pull your finger over the sensor.
The Spitfire reader will identify moist, dirty, greasy and slightly injured fingers and will open the door in 1.2 seconds.
Q. How safe is Fingerprint Recognition? A. Very
We use secure technology developed in conjunction with Siemens of Germany.
Our reader does not save an impression, so there is nothing to hack. Spitfire systems are very safe and can even be configured to trigger a silent alarm.
Q. And if I don’t trust fingerprints? A. Use our codepad of a Spitfire Keyfob
Our codepad is very easy to use and is a modern unit incorporating advanced technology.
All buttons are capacitive and are only activated when they come into contact with your finger tip, like an iphone.
The advantage of our keypad compared to classical keypads is that they do not get worn out or show wear on certain numbers, even after longer periods of use; a common problem with conventional keypads.
Q. Can I control who has access to my home? A. Yes
We have the option of a computerised control system which allows you to decide who can enter and at which times, via their fingerprint. So for example; you can allow your cleaner to access between 9am and 5pm, Monday to Friday only.
Q. Can I open my door via Smart technology on my mobile phone? A. Yes
Simply connect your mobile device to our bluetooth technology and when you approach the door you can activate the auto-unlock using your phone keypad.
Our bluetooth system has an unique PIN code and up to 100 smart devices can be added.
Q. What are the size limitations on single doors? A. See table below
Minimum size: width 850mm and height 2000mm
Standard doors: maximum is 1260mm wide x 2250mm high
Large doors maximum 1100mm wide x 2251-2500mm high
XL doors maximum 1100mm wide x 2501-2700mm high
Q. Can my door open outwards? A. No.
Q. Are your products suitable for commercial use? Yes.
Many of our doors have been installed in commercial premises like apartment blocks and homes of multiple occupancy.
They are designed to withstand many years of constant use even in high pedestrian traffic zones.
Q. Are S-500 Series Doors easy to install?
For an experienced fitting team they are very easy because the profiles are so rigid.
However, it is a 2 person job and sometimes more people than that are required to help move the door into position because of the weight of the door.
We would recommend that only trained Spitfire Door Designer Partners carry out an installation.
Q. Do doors come fully assembled? Yes.
Doors are supplied with all parts fitted and all components glazed.
Sidelights and toplights have to be de-glazed for installation.
Q. How many wood effect finishes are there? A. 20
The range is very wide and we can usually match all wood types.
Q. Will my wood effect fade? Almost imperceptibly but yes over years.
We like to compare our paint and wood effect finishes to automotive finishes.
Just like your car, over many years there will be degradation in the finish due to exposure to ultra violet light, but as with your car you will probably never notice.
Q. Do you have a low threshold? A.Yes
All doors are supplied as standard with a 20mm high thermally broken aluminium low threshold.
Be aware that this threshold provides only 10mm of cover internally between the top of the threshold and the bottom of the door sash – please think about your finished floor level - carpets, tiles, parquet flooring etc. very carefully!
Q. Do you have threshold (base) packers? Yes
We have a 5mm anodised aluminium packer and a 30mm aluminium base packer which can either be supplied in an anodised finish to match the threshold, or can be powder coated the same colour as your door frame.
Q. Which elements are provided by market leader Schüco? A. Many
All aluminium profiles which are unique to S-500 Doors, all hinges, shootbolts and all thresholds.
Q. Are the hinges adjustable? A. Yes
Multi-adjustable in 3 planes and are probably the most adjustable entrance door hinges in the world.
They are very high quality and on XL doors we fit 4 hinges, 3 on all other doors. They can be supplied in satin, white or black.
Q. If I order built-in LED lights, how do they work? A. Very simple
Spitfire S-500 Doors will come pre-wired and you just need an electrical spur to wire into.
LED lights can also be fitted in handles and all LED’s come on at dusk and go off at dawn and only cost pennies to run per day.
Q. Can I have a letterbox on an S-500 Series Door? A. Yes and No
We will never put a letterbox within a door leaf because it would destroy the thermal value and could compromise security.
We offer a range of high quality German letterboxes that can be fitted in a side panel or on a wall or we can offer a Renz letterbox system in a sidepanel.
Q. How heavy are S-500 Series Doors? A. 100kg.
A door with 2 sidelights is circa 200kg. However, all Spitfire Doors are surprisingly light to operate when installed.
Q. How long does an installation take? A.
This will depend on the size and configuration of the door, the site access, property condition and whether the door is replacing an old door or is going into a new aperture.
But, as a general rule installations take a day. If your project is particularly large or complex our Design Partners will advise you
.
Q. What is the lead time for a door? A. 8 weeks.
From receipt of full payment your door will be delivered in 8 weeks, usually on Spitfire transport.
For very large units we do use specialist transport and we require customers to have a forklift to unload.
Q. At what stage do I need a site survey?
Ideally your aperture or opening will need to be formed and the finished floor level clearly marked.
This will allow your surveyor to know exactly what to measure too.
It is possible to carry out a survey without the opening being ready however the manufacturing sizes will need to be agreed and signed off by you before manufacture takes place.
Q. Is there a range of glazing options? Yes
As standard, our doors are triple glazed with laminated safety glass, inside and out. We can offer double glazed side lights but our standard specification is triple glazed, the same as the door itself.
Q. Are the doors difficult to maintain? No.
Our S-500 Series doors are virtually maintenance free. The only maintenance required is keep the threshold free of debris, keep the door clean using warm soapy water and every 6-12 months lubricate the lock.
Q. What extra maintenance is required in a Marine environment?
Doors situated close to the sea are under constant attack from sea-salt. It is vital that every week external surfaces and hardware are washed down with warm soapy water. If you damage stainless steel hardware it will corrode and your warranty will be invalid.
Q. What guarantees do you offer?
We offer a standard guarantee on all doors which warrants that our doors will be free of defects in aluminium material, design and workmanship for 10 years. All hardware and biometric systems are warrantied for a period of 2 years only
Q. Is the coating suitable for a marine environment?
Yes, our Aluminium Entrance Doors are powder coated to Qualicoat standards which is a commercial application guaranteed for 25 years.
In marine environments such as a home on the coast the salt in the air can corrode the powder coating.
To alleviate this we ‘marine grade’ the powder coating which is a slightly different grade of coating and we also treat all corners, joints, and mitres to prevents any corrosion and guarantees the finish even in the harshest coastal environment.
Q. Do you cover the whole of the UK? Yes.
Visit our Spitfire Showrooms - we service the whole of England, Scotland, Wales, Northern Ireland, Ireland and the Channel Islands..
The ultimate guide to buying a front door in the UK - 2020
Are you looking to replace your existing front door?
Or, perhaps you're looking at choosing a front door for a new build?
There are many options available on the market in the UK.
In this guide (updated for 2020) we'll attempt to help you make the right choice for your project.
What we'll cover:
- Door styles
- Common door materials
- Colours & finishes
- Front Door Options
- Environmental and Thermal considerations
- Security
- Technology
- Maintenance
- Guarantees
- European testing
- Price & budget
- Measuring for your door
- Choosing a supplier
Lets begin...
Door Styles
Choosing a front door largely comes down to pairing it with the style of your house or building.
For instance, if your house is a Victorian Semi-detached, in most (but not all) cases a traditional style will suit your house best.
Most doors can be categorised by the following styles:
- Contemporary / modern
- Traditional
Our advice when choosing a style is to decide what will work best with your house. It may seem obvious, but it's a mistake made by many people.
Get this decision wrong and no matter what else you choose for your door, it will not work in harmony with the design of your home.
The style is VERY important.
Choose wisely.
If you would like to speak to an expert, we are here to help.
Common door Materials
Front doors are available in a variety of materials.
Here are some of the more common:
- Timber / wood
- Solid wood
- Aluminium
- Composite
- uPVC
As opposed to style, choosing the material of your front door can be more about your personal taste.
Having said that, each material will come with its own characteristics, with individual drawbacks and benefits.
For instance:
Timber looks great on modern houses, but can look out of place on some traditional style homes.
Solid wood styles can work great on both contemporary and traditional houses.
Aluminium again tends to work best in a modern setting.
Composite will work in both traditional and modern style houses.
uPVC also works well in both Traditional and modern styles.
Our advice is to think about the options and colours and finishes you may want.
Some options may only be available to certain materials.
For instance, if you are concerned about security and are interested in Keyless entry options, Aluminium would be the best choice.
Colours & finishes
Solid doors can be painted almost any colour to suit the design of your home.
Timber doors are also available in a variety of colours, finishes and types of wood. Cedar can be finished in Honey, ash, crimson and brown.
Aluminium can be customised with standard RAL colours or a special RAL colour in gloss or matt versions.
Our Spitfire S-500 Series have a baked-on powder coated paint finish which guarantees colour durability, weather resistance and low maintenance.
uPVC doors will for the most part only be available in white, and offer limited options.
They will however be least expensive option for those working to a tight budget.
Front Door Options
Happily, many options are available to door shoppers these days.
Most manufacturers will offer the following options:
- Handles (Horizontal or vertical bars)
- Glass / lights (side and top lights usually refer to the glass panels at the top or either side of the door. This largely depends on the space you have available at the front of your house.)
- Locks - Keyless entry (more on this later), German engineered precision locking systems are available on most high end Aluminium and Timber doors.
- Crystals - For a more ostentatious look, Swarovski Crystals are a great choice.
- Automatic opening options
Choosing front door options is often the fun part of the door buying process for many customers.
Have fun but keep your budget in mind.
Environment
The environment is an important consideration. Insulating your home has never been more important.
Don't let your front door be the weakest link when insulating your home.
Modern doors can beat or rival the insulation capabilities of cavity walls.
There is also Passive House standards to consider, but more on that here.
The S-400 Series from Spitfire doors has U value of 0.77 W/m²K!
But what is a U value when its at home?
Read on...
Understanding U values
U-values are a measurement of a materials effectiveness as an insulator. The lower the U-value is, the better it's insulating properties. For example, a cavity wall has a U-value of 1.6 W/m²
When choosing your door, insulation should be an important factor if you are looking to save money on heating bills (who isn't?)
U-values are scarcely mentioned by fibreglass and uPVC Composite Door manufacturers due to their construction. Most Timber doors offer very poor insulation and wooden doors struggle to attain any U-value.
Look for a value below 1.0 or less and you will be on your way to a warm home at night.
Security
Most contemporary front doors will offer security of differing levels. A high value home will certainly benefit from additional security.
Some doors are guaranteed to be virtually burglar proof.
A good way to tell if a door is secure is to look for Document Q compliance.
What is Document Q?
Document Q is now part of Building Regulations and sets out standards for doors and windows in all NEW residences.
More from YALE about Document Q compliance
Door Technology
You can upgrade the anti-burglary security on aluminium doors in a number of ways:
- Automatic lock with fingerprint recognition
- Keypad entry
- Bluetooth entry (from your mobile phone)
You can also add LED lighting to aid night time entry.
This can also look very stylish.
Front Door Maintenance
Looking after your front door is absolutely key to retaining its effectiveness in all aspects of its use.
Some simple rules we advise you to follow are below:
- Doors should always be opened and closed in accordance with operating instructions.
- The best method of cleaning aluminium doors is by regular washing using a solution of warm water and mild detergent. All surfaces should be cleaned using a soft cloth or sponge, using nothing harsher than natural bristle brushes.
- Stubborn marks on powder coatings can be removed with methylated spirits.
Guarantees
Most doors suppliers and manufacturers offer guarantees of some kind.
For example, Spitfire Doors offer a full marine guarantee.
Check with your supplier for details before purchase.
What is a marine guarantee?
A marine guarantee relates to products in locations close to the sea.
Salt is not friendly to doors and most companies avoid offering a warranty against it.
Look out for this particularly if you live on or near the coast.
European testing
IFT Rosenheim is the leading European test institute and is located in Germany.
It is recognised as the standard across continental Europe.
What does it involve?
Basically, in a laboratory the door is exposed to varies extremes of weather (wind and rain) and attempted intrusion. In the UK we do the same at BSI, and we test to the level stipulated in the UK Document Q (which is equivalent to the Rosenheim in Europe). All doors now fitted into a new build have to conform to Document Q.
Price
Prices for front doors will vary depending on the material and specification you need.
Typically you can expect to pay around:
£1.5k for a composite door.
£3-5k for a traditional wooden door.
£3-6k plus for a quality aluminium door.
Decide carefully what your needs are and budget accordingly.
How to measure for your new front door
We have put together this handy guide to measuring for your front door.
https://www.spitfiredoors.co.uk/faq-items/how-to-survey-and-measure/
Choosing a front door supplier
Look for an established company with a real world presence or showroom. If you are spending a lot of money on the front door of your dreams you'll want customer service to match. There are many suppliers out there so there is plenty of choice.
Choice is good.
But beware of internet only suppliers, or suppliers who are difficult to get hold of on the phone.
Call or even better, visit the dealer and they'll talk you through the buying process.
We hope this guide has been useful.
We are always on hand to offer expert advice when choosing your door.
Call us now on: 01625 412 570
Or email: sales@spitfiredoors.co.uk
We'll be happy to help.
Spitfire at Build-IT Live Manchester
The Spitfire team showcased all 3 door Series at Build-IT Live last weekend, working in collaboration with 2 Design Partners, Haus Glass and Northwich Glass. Seen here are Hefin and Craig, delighted to be pictured with our S-400 Series door in Crimson.
SPITFIRE: ALL GUNS BLAZING AT THE FIT SHOW
From having doubts about the value of trade shows, after exhibiting at the FIT Show KAT’s Chairman David Richards is now a committed believer.
So much so, he successfully launched his upmarket door firm Spitfire Doors there and is coming back for more.
David Richard’s sojourn to Switzerland in the late ‘90s was life changing in more ways than the KAT founder had originally intended.
Certainly, it gave him and his family an opportunity to experience working and living in central Europe but involvement in the high end luxury watch industry gave David an insight into the mentality of the wealthy that perhaps could not be appreciated as a mere consumer.
After returning to the UK in 2012 and with KAT now achieving its ambitious goals under a team guided by Chris Powell, David’s thoughts turned once again to the luxury market but instead of exclusive timepieces he began to consider what wealthy British homeowners did when they wanted to replace the front doors of their expensive homes.
Surely a composite would not be good enough for them?
David’s conclusion was that indeed they were not, but furthermore the options open to them were limited and certainly when compared to the range of products enjoyed by wealthy homeowners in mainland Europe.
The doors manufactured by Inotherm, market leaders in Germany, Austria and Switzerland may be considered ‘high theatre’ by comparison with anything offered in the broader UK market and David decided that these would provide Britain’s wealthy with something that would whet their appetites.
After spending much of 2015 persuading Inotherm that the UK would be a vibrant market for their products and furthermore of course, that he and his team would be the right people to handle them, David brought the first products into the UK in September 2015, with a view to a full launch at the FIT Show 7 months later.
Engineering specification for Inotherm’s products is mightily impressive: 3mm thick Schüco door sash sections and 3mm thick aluminium skins inside and outside sandwich a dense polyurethane foam core which combine to offer class-leading energy efficiency with a U Value of just 0.67 W/m2K.
A range of more than 600 designs is available in an almost limitless range of RAL Colours and 20 wood-effects, with widths up to 1.25 metres wide and a massive 2.7 metres high, with configurations that will deal easily with the Grand Entrance of any luxury home.
None of which fully tells the tale. Few of these doors will ever be installed in their standard specification and indeed to do so would deny users the element of theatre that should accompany every entry fitted with an Inotherm door from Spitfire.
With a specification list that might shame Rolls Royce, every door may be installed with fingerprint recognition or smart spyhole technology; and whilst UK hardware manufacturers are struggling to persuade homeowners of the benefits of electronic locking, Spitfire doors are available with automatic opening…press the button and the door swings majestically open as one approaches.
The RAL colours and surface detailing brought by wood-effects and textured surface finishes may not be enough for many owners of large and imposing luxury homes. Fear not: a range of spectacular triple glazed glass options are available but the choice of genuine Swarovski crystals and integrated LED lighting will just be too much for many to resist, bringing new meaning to the expression ‘making an entrance’.
Of course, Spitfire Doors command a premium. Five ranges are available, from S-100 to S-500, with installed prices starting from circa £2,000 up to £10,000. These prices do not present a barrier to sales in Europe where in excess of 5,000 of what we would consider high-end aluminium residential entrance doors are installed every week.
David says his goals are modest: “We are selling 10 doors a week on average and this will grow we believe to between 20 to 30 a week by mid-2017. Our top three ranges are the ‘Bentley’s of residential entrance doors and we will therefore use marketing methods that are more akin to luxury goods than doors, to reach our customers.”
This includes exhibiting at such exotic venues as the Salon Privé Concours d’Elegance, the champagne-fuelled hypercar festival for which entrance tickets alone can be £300 and more. David believes that once visitors have spent a few hundred thousand supplementing their motor collections, his doors will catch the attention of people whose main driver is to have ‘something different’ for their homes. And £8-10,000 will be mere change to someone that has just purchased a Lamborghini, a typical Spitfire purchaser.
Of course, Blenheim Palace, venue for Salon Privé, will be preceded by a further appearance for Spitfire Doors at the FIT Show, taking place for the first time at the National Exhibition Centre.
The FIT Show may be slightly more prosaic than Salon Privé (though it was graced by a Lamborghini supercar last time out) but that is where David decided he would launch Spitfire and that is what he achieved, with spectacular results:
“After Glassex I was sceptical of shows but I took KAT to the first FIT Show in 2013 to give it a chance,” explained David. “It was a very pleasant surprise and the level of enthusiasm was very high; it worked!”
Missing the following year, David brought KAT back to the 2016 event and also decided to launch Spitfire there with a separate stand. “It was incredible,” enthused David. “We took 179 good quality leads there and have appointed 10 high-end dealers – we call them ‘Design Partners’ - displaying the higher priced S-500 Series and 36 others partners now promoting our Spitfire trade door ranges. All took doors for their showrooms and paid to do so. I have never known a take-up like it,” exclaimed David, a seasoned veteran of trade shows for the window and door industry. “They all see an exciting future for aluminium products.”
“We validated our enquiries for Design Partners according to strict criteria: two fitting teams minimum, owner managed and willing to make a commitment to us by buying their showroom displays from us. These people are not just ticking a box, they are showing commitment and the meetings we have had since confirm that.”
With 10 showroom installations already completed by November 2016, the Design Partners are now installing Inotherm’s Door Designer programme onto their websites, with a retail package that includes point of sale and, as would be expected, an upmarket retail brochure.
Spitfire is returning to the FIT Show in May when the event sets up at the NEC for the first time: “We still have a few areas in which we wish to appoint Design Partners,” explains David. “I launched Spitfire Doors at the FIT Show and it was way more positive than I could possibly have hoped for. Now I want to fill in the few gaps we have and the move to the NEC should be very good for just that,” he concluded.