When choosing a new composite door for your home, three of the most popular brands on the market are Rockdoor, Solidor, and Endurance. Each of these brands offers high-quality composite doors, but how do they compare? This article will dive into the key features of each brand to help you decide which door is best for your home.
We will examine security, thermal efficiency, customisation options, and price, providing an in-depth comparison of Rockdoor, Solidor, and Endurance.
History of Each Brand
Understanding the background of each brand helps to paint a picture of their unique qualities and expertise in manufacturing composite doors.
• Rockdoor: Established in 1996 and based in Blackburn, Rockdoor has built its reputation on security. Their focus is on providing the strongest and most secure doors on the market.
• Solidor: Founded in 2004 and based in Stoke-on-Trent, Solidor is renowned for its eco-friendly approach. Their doors are designed with sustainability in mind, featuring a solid timber core.
• Endurance: Operating since 2002 from Lincoln, Endurance offers a diverse range of door designs. Like Solidor, Endurance doors have a solid timber core, but they stand out with the number of customisation options available.
Security Features
Security is often the top priority when choosing a front door, and all three brands have strong reputations in this area. However, Rockdoor takes the lead in security due to its advanced features.
Rockdoor Security
• 3-Star Lock: The Avocet ATK 3-star lock comes standard, offering high protection against lock snapping, bumping, and drilling.
• Locking Mechanism: German-engineered Winkhaus locks with steel hooks and shoot bolts provide added durability. A four-hook option enhances security even further.
• Core and Frame: A foam core, sandwiched between 3mm high-impact skins, makes Rockdoor both secure and weather-resistant. The 72mm Rehau profile reinforced with steel gives it unmatched strength.
Solidor Security
• 3-Star Lock: Solidor uses the Ultion 3-star lock, known for its resilience to forced entry.
• Locking Mechanism: Solidor’s multipoint locking system with deadbolts and hook locks provides excellent security, though it’s not as robust as Rockdoor’s.
• Core and Frame: Featuring a 48mm solid timber core, Solidor’s frame, made from uPVC, lacks the steel reinforcement found in Rockdoor’s frame, but still offers strong protection.
Endurance Security
• 3-Star Lock: The Avocet ABS Master 3-star lock protects against snapping, bumping, and drilling.
• Locking Mechanism: Endurance’s multipoint locking system is strong, though not quite as heavy-duty as Rockdoor’s.
• Core and Frame: A 48mm solid timber core with 17 layers of laminated veneer lumber ensures high security. However, like Solidor, the frame lacks steel reinforcement.
Conclusion: Rockdoor offers the best security features, followed by Endurance, with Solidor providing solid but slightly less robust security.
Thermal Efficiency
Thermal efficiency is vital for keeping your home warm and reducing energy costs. All three brands perform well in this area, though there are subtle differences.
Rockdoor Thermal Efficiency
• Rating: Rockdoor previously achieved an A++ rating, now rated up to an A.
• Unique Features: The absence of glazing cassettes (S-Glaze technology) means fewer air gaps, leading to better thermal insulation.
Solidor Thermal Efficiency
• Rating: Solidor’s solid timber core and triple glazing options provide strong insulation, though they offer fewer details on their energy efficiency.
Endurance Thermal Efficiency
• Rating: Endurance achieves U-values below 1.4, thanks to its thick timber core and the option for triple glazing.
Conclusion: While all brands offer excellent thermal efficiency, Rockdoor edges ahead due to its S-Glaze technology and transparency regarding performance.
Customisation Options
When it comes to personalising your door, Solidor and Endurance provide more options compared to Rockdoor. Endurance leads the way with the most extensive variety of door designs and accessories.
Rockdoor Customisation
• Offers a smaller range of styles and colours but focuses on high-quality finishes and accessories.
Solidor Customisation
• Provides over 27 colours and multiple door styles, glass designs, and hardware options, making it ideal for those seeking variety.
Endurance Customisation
• Endurance offers more than 80 different door designs and a wide range of accessories. This makes Endurance the best choice for homeowners who want extensive customisation.
Conclusion: Endurance wins on customisation, followed closely by Solidor. Rockdoor offers less variety but excels in quality.
Price and Value
Pricing for composite doors varies depending on the supplier and specific requirements, but as a general rule:
• Rockdoor tends to be the most expensive, reflecting its premium security and quality.
• Solidor and Endurance are priced similarly, though Endurance often offers the best value due to its vast customisation options.
Conclusion: Endurance offers the best value for money, especially when considering customisation options. Solidor provides a good balance between cost and features, while Rockdoor is pricier but offers top security and quality.
Final Thoughts
In conclusion, the best composite door depends on your priorities:
• If security is your main concern, Rockdoor is the top choice.
• For customisation and value, Endurance is the best.
• Solidor offers a solid middle ground between design flexibility and eco-friendly features.
Ultimately, whether you choose Rockdoor, Solidor, or Endurance, you’ll be investing in a high-quality, secure, and energy-efficient composite door for your home.
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Frequently Asked Questions
Rockdoor offers the best security features, with a robust steel-reinforced frame, 50mm thick sash, advanced multipoint locking mechanisms, and a 3-star Avocet ATK lock. Endurance follows closely with a solid timber core and 3-star lock, while Solidor also offers good security but is slightly less reinforced.
Rockdoor excels in thermal efficiency with its S-Glaze technology, achieving a maximum A rating. Solidor also performs well with a solid timber core, but lacks detailed energy ratings. Rockdoor discusses its thermal performance more openly, giving it an edge.
Endurance doors leads in customisation with over 80 door designs, 19 colours, and a wide range of accessories. Solidor is close, offering 25+ colours and various styles, while Rockdoor offers fewer customisation options but focuses on high-quality materials.
All three brands perform well in energy efficiency. Rockdoor edges ahead with its specific energy ratings and S-Glaze technology. Endurance offers strong performance, especially with triple glazing, and Solidor also meets modern standards, though with less detailed data.
Rockdoor tends to be slightly more expensive than Endurance, with Solidor prices being similar to Endurance. Prices can vary significantly depending on the supplier, with showrooms often charging more than smaller local businesses.
Yes, Rockdoor is considered more secure than both Solidor and Endurance, thanks to its steel-reinforced outer-frame, high-density polyurethane core, and top-tier locking mechanisms.
Solidor offers over 25 colours, multiple door styles, various glass designs, and a wide range of furniture options and finishes, catering to both traditional and contemporary tastes.
While Endurance doors offer excellent security with a solid timber core and Ultion 3-star lock, Rockdoor surpasses it with additional reinforcement features, including a steel-reinforced frame and advanced locking systems.
Rockdoor’s standard lever/lever handles, are known for their thickness, robustness, and heavy-duty construction, offering additional security and durability compared to handles from other brands.
Solidor and Endurance are very close in customisation, with Solidor offering more colours and Endurance providing more door styles and furniture options. Both brands allow for significant personalisation to match various home styles.
Yes, Rockdoor is often considered the best in terms of quality, particularly in materials and finishes. While it offers fewer customisation options, the quality of its handles, frames, and overall construction is unmatched.
Consider your priorities: choose Rockdoor for top security and quality, Endurance for the best customisation and value, and Solidor for a balance of colour options and security features.
Solidor is generally priced similarly to Endurance, making it more affordable than Rockdoor, which is typically more expensive due to its premium quality and advanced security features.
Rockdoor is more expensive due to its superior construction, including steel-reinforced frames, high-density polyurethane cores, and high-quality handles and finishes, which offer enhanced security and durability.
