Question guide
How long a uPVC door lasts, and what wears out first
Short answer
A well fitted uPVC door typically lasts 20 to 25 years. The door slab usually outlives its moving parts: hinges, seals and the lock mechanism tend to need attention first, and all of those can normally be adjusted or replaced. After 15 to 20 years a white door on a sunny, south facing wall may start to yellow.
Why the slab lasts longer than the parts
A uPVC door is built from a multi chambered plastic profile with galvanised steel reinforcement inside, fitted with a multi point lock. The plastic does not rot or need painting, and the steel keeps the frame stiff. What moves every day is the hardware: hinges carry the weight of the door each time it opens, gaskets compress and recover thousands of times, and the lock gearbox takes the strain of being lifted and turned.
So when a uPVC door starts to feel tired at 10 or 12 years old, it is rarely the door itself. It is usually hinge wear letting the door drop, or seals that have hardened.
What typically goes, roughly in order
- Hinge adjustment: the door drops slightly and catches the frame. Often fixed by adjusting the hinges.
- Seals and gaskets: they harden and shrink, letting in draughts and rattles.
- Lock mechanism: the handle gets stiff to lift or the lock will not engage.
- Cylinder: older cylinders can be upgraded to an anti snap type without replacing the door.
- Glass: a sealed unit can mist between the panes and can be swapped on its own.
- Colour: white frames on south facing elevations may yellow after 15 to 20 years.
Simple care that adds years
Wipe the frame with warm soapy water a few times a year and avoid abrasive or solvent cleaners, which dull the surface. Keep the drainage slots in the bottom of the frame clear. Put a drop of light oil on the lock keeps and hinges once or twice a year. Most important of all, if the door starts catching or the handle stiffens, get it adjusted early. Forcing a dropped door is what turns a small hinge job into a broken gearbox.
Repair or replace?
If the frame is square, the slab is flat and the fault is in the hardware, repair is almost always the better value. Replacement makes sense when the frame itself has moved, the slab has warped, the door is badly discoloured, or you want better security and insulation than a 20 year old design offers. A new uPVC door from us is £799 fully fitted, and a composite door from £1,099 if you want a solid core slab.
Every door we fit comes with our 10 year insurance backed guarantee through Assure, and is fitted by our own team.
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