Have you decided to install double-glazed doors in your home to escape the drain of rising energy costs? The double-glazing lets you see the garden and enjoy nature while keeping the sun's heat outside. It also helps a home hold on to winter warmth, so you'll save on power bills in all seasons. But what kind of door frame material should you choose? Would timber or aluminium be best for your home? Here's a rundown of each to help you decide.

Timber Double-Glazed Doors

Wood is organic and gives a home a natural look that other materials can't replicate. You can choose stained timber for your doors to bring out their warm brown tones and grain pattern. Wooden doors can fit into classy and elegant or rustic and industrial settings. You can also paint the frames a classic white for a timeless look.

An advantage of wood over aluminium is that it's more thermally efficient. After all, you're installing double-glazed doors to stop the heat from passing through the glass. Timber will minimise the heat that transfers through the frames as well.

However, wood can require more upkeep than aluminium. You might need to refinish the frames with paint every so often. But if you maintain the timber, it will last for many decades.

Another thing to consider about timber double-glazed doors is the price. Naturally, the price varies between particular models. But timber doors are generally more expensive than aluminium doors. Plus, wood is heavy, and this can push up installation costs.

Aluminium Double-Glazed Doors

An alternate frame material for double-glazed doors is aluminium. This metal is strong and light, so streamlined door frames can hold large double panes of glass. The slim profiles of aluminium doors suit modern, minimalist homes. And sleek metal trim doesn't interrupt the clear view provided by the glass. On the other hand, wood doors are a prominent and attractive part of a house's aesthetic.

Aluminium can cost less than timber in terms of both the purchase price and installation costs. Plus, aluminium doors require little upkeep, which keeps expenses down in the long term. They're often powder-coated, a process that fuses the paint to the metal so that it's unlikely to flake.

If you want efficient aluminium double-glazed doors, you can opt for a model with a thermal break. The sun's heat can transfer through aluminium frames, so some models have a thermal break. They have an insert made of an alternate material, such as vinyl, that blocks the free flow of heat through the metal. 

Thermal break aluminium models will help prevent heat from passing through all areas of the glass doors, both the glass and the frame. But, you'll pay more for their sophisticated and energy-efficient design. Ask a double-glazed door provider for their advice.

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