Composite Front Door Brands UK: Solidor vs Rockdoor vs Apeer vs Endurance
The average UK composite front door costs £1,100 fitted — but the range runs from £900 at the budget end to £2,200 for a premium spec with decorative glass and furniture upgrade. The brand you pick accounts for most of that gap.
The UK composite door market: four brands that matter
The UK composite door market has over thirty manufacturers, but the installed base, reputation, and installer networks cluster around four names: Solidor, Rockdoor, Apeer, and Endurance. Each takes a different engineering philosophy, and the differences are not cosmetic — they affect security ratings, thermal performance, and long-term durability.
Solidor
Solidor is the UK’s largest selling composite door brand by volume. Based in Stoke-on-Trent, the company has built its reputation on a single construction principle: a 48mm solid timber core.
Construction and security
- Core: 48mm solid laminated timber — the thickest in the UK market
- Locking: Ultion lock as standard (a 3-star TS 007 cylinder that resists snapping, picking, and bumping)
- PAS 24: Yes — Solidor doors are tested to PAS 24:2022
- Secured by Design: Yes — SBD accredited
The 48mm core matters because a thicker door provides more material for the lock bolts to bite into. A standard uPVC or budget composite door is typically 28-35mm thick. That difference of 13-20mm gives Solidor a structural advantage in force-resistance tests.
Styles and finishes
Solidor offers 23 door styles across three collections — Classic, Contemporary, and Cottage. The colour range includes 13 standard solid colours and 9 woodgrain foils. The Apeer-designed glass options provide a premium look, though decorative glass adds £150-£400 to the base price.
Pricing
| Configuration | Approx. price (fitted) |
|---|---|
| Standard Solidor, no glass, standard colour | £1,000-£1,300 |
| Solidor with decorative glass | £1,200-£1,600 |
| Solidor full specification (colour + glass + upgrade furniture) | £1,500-£2,000 |
Warranty
Solidor offers a 10-year manufacturer guarantee on the door slab and frame.
Rockdoor
Rockdoor has been manufacturing composite doors for nearly 30 years and claims to have served over one million UK homeowners. Their approach differs from Solidor: they market their products as “security systems” rather than doors.
Construction and security
- Core: Not published (proprietary), but reinforced internally with carbon fibre or steel — Rockdoor calls it “inner strength”
- Locking: Multi-point locking with hook bolts and a high-security cylinder
- PAS 24: Yes
- Secured by Design: Yes
Rockdoor’s differentiator is the internal reinforcement. Rather than a solid timber slab, the door uses a reinforced sub-frame with high-density foam filling and carbon fibre or steel strengthening at stress points. This makes the door lighter than a Solidor while still achieving PAS 24.
Styles and finishes
Rockdoor offers a 3D Door Designer tool that lets homeowners configure the door, glass, colour, and hardware online. The range includes 20+ styles across Traditional, Contemporary, and Cottage collections. The colour palette extends to 22 options including bespoke RAL matches on some models.
Pricing
| Configuration | Approx. price (fitted) |
|---|---|
| Standard Rockdoor, no glass, standard colour | £1,000-£1,400 |
| Rockdoor with decorative glass | £1,300-£1,700 |
| Rockdoor full specification | £1,600-£2,200 |
Warranty
Rockdoor provides a 10-year guarantee. The installer network (200+ “Trusted Installers”) provides the fitting warranty separately.
Apeer
Apeer is a Northern Irish manufacturer specialising in high-performance composite doors. Their focus is energy efficiency rather than pure security — they claim A++ energy rating on their standard door.
Construction and security
- Core: Composite with high-density foam and timber reinforcement
- Thermal performance: A++ rated — the highest of the four brands reviewed here
- Locking: Multi-point with high-security cylinder
- PAS 24: Available on selected models only — check per-door
Apeer’s A++ energy rating comes from a thermally broken frame and insulated core that reduces heat loss through the door slab. For homeowners with an EPC of D or below who want to maximise their EPC uplift from a door replacement, Apeer is the most thermally efficient option. See our EPC uplift guide for how glazing and doors affect your EPC band.
Collections
Apeer has four ranges: Traditional, Contemporary, Silka, and Modo. The Apeer44 range has a 44mm slab, and the Apeer120 uses a 60mm slab for maximum thermal performance.
Pricing
| Configuration | Approx. price (fitted) |
|---|---|
| Apeer44 standard | £900-£1,200 |
| Apeer120 (thermal upgrade) | £1,100-£1,500 |
| Apeer with decorative glass | £1,200-£1,700 |
Warranty
10-year manufacturer guarantee on door slab and frame.
Endurance
Endurance is the newer entrant, but has carved out a loyal following based on two specific features: a “CoolSkin” technology and a £2,000 security guarantee.
Construction and security
- Core: 48mm solid laminated veneer timber (same thickness as Solidor)
- Exterior skin: Foiled uPVC with “CoolSkin” technology — reflects UV energy to prevent fading and cracking
- Locking: ABS Master Locking Cylinders (equivalent to 3-star TS 007)
- PAS 24: Yes
- Secured by Design: Yes
- Security guarantee: £2,000 if the door is forced entry breached
The CoolSkin technology is Endurance’s key differentiator. On south-facing doors, dark-coloured composite doors can absorb enough solar heat to cause the exterior skin to blister or fade over time. CoolSkin reflects UV radiation, which Endurance claims extends the life of the door finish by 30-50%.
Collections
Four style collections: Classic, Country, Urban, and Avantal. The Avantal range is the premium tier with a contemporary flat-panel aesthetic.
Pricing
| Configuration | Approx. price (fitted) |
|---|---|
| Endurance Classic, standard | £1,000-£1,400 |
| Endurance Country or Urban | £1,100-£1,500 |
| Endurance Avantal | £1,300-£1,700 |
| Full specification with glass | £1,500-£2,000 |
Warranty
10-year guarantee on the door slab and frame. The £2,000 security guarantee is a separate promise — if someone breaks through the door (as confirmed by police report), Endurance pays £2,000 towards your losses.
Head-to-head comparison
| Feature | Solidor | Rockdoor | Apeer | Endurance |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Core thickness | 48mm | Not published (reinforced) | 44mm / 60mm | 48mm |
| Energy rating | A+ | A | A++ | A |
| PAS 24 | Yes | Yes | Selected models | Yes |
| SBD | Yes | Yes | Selected models | Yes |
| Lock standard | Ultion (3-star) | High-security multi-point | High-security | ABS (3-star) |
| UV protection | Standard | Standard | Standard | CoolSkin |
| Security guarantee | No | No | No | £2,000 |
| Price range (fitted) | £1,000-£2,000 | £1,000-£2,200 | £900-£1,700 | £1,000-£2,000 |
Which brand fits which situation?
Maximum security: Solidor or Endurance
Both use a 48mm solid timber core. Solidor pairs it with the Ultion lock — arguably the UK’s best-respected residential cylinder. Endurance’s ABS cylinder is equally strong, and the security guarantee provides financial back-up. Choose Solidor if the Ultion lock brand matters to you; choose Endurance if the CoolSkin UV protection is relevant (south-facing door, dark colour).
Maximum thermal efficiency: Apeer
The A++ rating and the Apeer120 60mm slab are unmatched for heat retention. If your property has an EPC of D or below and you need every possible point of SAP improvement, Apeer delivers the largest uplift per door.
Maximum customisation: Rockdoor
The 3D Door Designer and 22 colour options (including RAL matching) give Rockdoor the edge for homeowners who want a specific look. The reinforced sub-frame also means the door is lighter, which helps on larger doors where weight could strain the hinges.
The installer matters more than the brand
Every composite door manufacturer supplies their doors through an installer network. A poorly fitted PAS 24 door can be forced more easily than a well-fitted non-certified door. Cross-bolt alignment, frame fixing into masonry (not just the brick outer leaf), and correct setting of the lock keepers determine real-world security.
Always use the manufacturer’s approved installer. Solidor, Rockdoor, and Endurance all publish their installer lists online. Apeer operates through a smaller network, mostly in Northern Ireland and northern England.
Installation quality checklist
- Frame fixed with at least two fixings per side into the structural wall
- All lock keepers aligned with the lock bolts — test by closing the door and checking each point
- Silicone sealant applied around the full perimeter inside and out
- Draught strips compressed but not crushed
- Cylinder protrudes no more than 3mm beyond the handle — excess protrusion makes snapping easier
For further reading on door security standards, see our back door security rating guide, and for door pricing across all types, see our composite front door cost guide.
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