The composite door market in the UK has exploded. And for good reason — they look stunning, come in dozens of colours, and have the appearance of a high-quality painted timber door without any of the maintenance. Almost every window and home improvement company in the country now sells and installs them.
But here is something none of them will tell you when they're sitting in your living room with their brochure.
They don't make them.
The Secret Behind Every Composite Door Quote
There are only a handful of manufacturers in the UK who actually produce composite doors. Every installer — from your local one-van trader to the biggest national brands — buys from the same small pool of manufacturers and fits them for you.
One of the biggest and most respected names is Solidor — a premium composite door manufacturer known for their solid timber core construction, which is significantly stronger and better insulated than the cheaper foam-filled alternatives used by many competitors. Solidor supply a huge proportion of UK installers, from small local companies to major national chains.
Here is where it gets interesting.
The Same Door. A Very Different Price.
Because every company buys the same door from the same manufacturer and fits it themselves, the only real variable is the markup they choose to apply. And the difference is staggering:
| Installer Type | Typical Installed Price (inc. VAT) |
|---|---|
| Local independent company | £1,800 – £1,900 |
| National brand | £2,900 – £4,900 |
The difference — up to £3,000 on a single door — is not quality. It is not service. It is not warranty. It is the cost of the national brand's advertising budget, their commission-based sales team, and their shareholders' profit margin.
What to Do Before You Sign Anything
Before you commit to any composite door quote, use our free Check My Quote tool. Tell us the company, the product, and the price. We'll tell you instantly whether you're in the right range — or whether you're about to pay £3,000 more than you need to for an identical door.