With energy bills still soaring, tricks and tips on keeping these bills as low as possible are at the forefront of our minds. Coupled with studies indicating that approximately 30% of our home’s heat is lost through our doors, it’s easy to see why people are flocking to better insulate their homes, particularly during winter.
Luckily, we’ve got our guide to ensuring you choose the best doors for your home and lock that heat in for good.
How do you Measure Energy Efficiency in Doors?
Internal doors can possess lots of different qualities that increase or decrease their energy efficiency from the materials they’re made of to the structure of their build. Typically, when shopping around, you’re better off sticking to wooden doors for internal fitting and fibreglass or composite doors for external usage.
What is a ‘U-Value’?
Another indicator of energy efficiency is a ‘u-value’. This is a numerical figure which indicates the rate at which heat transfers through a surface, such as wood for example. This is particularly useful when considering new doors as it helps you understand how quickly, or slowly a room will lose heat through this surface.
What is a good U-Value for Doors?
The lower the U-value the better. When choosing new doors, a U-value of around 0.5-1.5 is what you want to aim for. The U-value will differ depending on the structure or design of the door, for example, whether it features glass or is solid. However, a high-performance energy-efficient door should be within this range.
What are the Most Energy Efficient Internal Doors?
As we mentioned before, there are lots of tell-tale signs indicating whether a door will be more or less energy efficient than others. The materials, the style, and even the way the door has been constructed can all improve or decrease the energy efficiency of a door.
Hardwood Doors
Harwood doors are one of the most energy-efficient internal doors on offer, providing a good amount of natural insulation and energy efficiency and helping trap heat in rooms where it’s needed most.
Solid Core Doors
A modern alternative to solid wood doors, solid core doors combine traditional build with modern innovation and provide an enhanced level of energy efficiency. Perfect for those wanting a traditional look and feel, while reaping the benefits of modern design and technology.
We know choosing the right door can be tough, so we’ve rounded up a few of our best-rated thermal doors to help inspire you to make the right choice for your home.
Contemporary grooved oak door
This pre-finished Oak Melbourne from our collection of internal doors is a modern and unique door, combining the traditional timber look with a modern design. As a solid wood door, its heat insulation is great, locking heat into the rooms and creating a cosy feel without compromising a unique, modern feel to the home.
Industrial black-panelled door
If your home has an ultra-modern and industrial feel to it, it doesn’t mean it has to be airy and cool. Our Black Camden door provides brilliant heat insulation keeping rooms cosy and warm while giving the space a cool modern feel. Paired with chrome or black hardware this door maintains its sleek style and creates the perfect addition to chic and stylish homes.
White primed traditional door
This white primed contemporary 4-panel door boasts a solid core, offering excellent heat insulation thanks to its construction. It is engineered to be more resistant to the effects of heat and cold, allowing the door to perform better year-round. The traditional panelled design is given a subtle contemporary make-over with a white coat which helps it complement both traditional and modern homes.
Oak 1930s door
1930s-style panelled doors are as traditional as they come, and in this neutral oak shade, they are perfect for ‘homely’ spaces that maintain a more traditional look. As a solid wood oak door, it provides a good level of heat insulation and can be enhanced further with elements such as draught excluders and seals.
Pictured here is our 1930s Oak 4 Panel internal door
Final Tips for Choosing an Energy-Efficient Door
Choosing the right door for your home can be a minefield of choice, from varying styles to colours and even pairing your choice with the right ironmongery. But, nailing its energy efficiency can be easy, if you remember these key things to look for when choosing your next door.
- Look at your door's energy rating, aiming for a low U-value between the range of 0.5 and 1.
- Consider the materials your door is made of and where you’ll be putting it, whether this is external or internal
- The structure or build of your door, solid wood or solid core builds are the best for internal settings.
If you’re still struggling to make up your mind, get in touch with our helpful team of experts who can give you tailored advice on the best doors for your project.