Are Timber Doors Energy Efficient?

With energy prices across the globe starting to rise significantly, it is important to keep insulation and energy efficiency at the forefront of our priorities when it comes to installing doors in the home. Homeowners are rightly concerned about their impact on the environment and saving consistently on their monthly bills. Here at Dempsey Dyer Ltd, we’re well known for our high-quality timber doors that come in various styles and sizes, whether they be bifold, entrance or patio. In this article, we will focus on answering the question: Are timber doors energy efficient?

Natural Insulating Properties

Timber is a natural insulating material. Humans have been building with wood for around 10,000 years, and with good reason! As a material, timber has small air pockets that help insulate it internally from outside temperature changes. It was only about 100 years ago that timber started to go out of fashion as a material to build the entire house. That doesn’t mean that it is still not an extremely useful and diverse material for specific elements of the home! Wood and timber doors are among the most popular front doors, with composite and uPVC standing alongside.

The insulating properties are one of the reasons that timber one of the most popular materials for building for the last 10,000 years. Wooden doors that seem to be losing much heat are much more likely to be lost through poor seals that have aged poorly since their installation. Therefore, when installing a new door, timber is still one of the best options for insulation and energy efficiency. Around 80% of the money we spend on energy in our homes goes towards heat, so we must focus on the insulating properties of our doors so that we can maintain high levels of energy efficiency and therefore save money.

What are the alternatives?

How does timber compare to the other materials on the market regarding energy efficiency? uPVC is a modern innovation that has quickly made its way into the top 3 most used synthetic materials worldwide because of its relatively cheap manufacturing cost with high strength and durability properties. uPVC is an excellent insulator, as it does not conduct heat at all. Windows and doors made from uPVC are praised for low maintenance, 25-year life span and energy efficiency. However, uPVC doors are no more energy-efficient than timber doors have become known to be. Only managing to match the insulating properties of timber, uPVC has not managed to become more energy-efficient than wood. Timber is a popular design because it is suitable for both classical and modern homes. 

A composite door is a strong alternative to offering energy efficiency. The solid thermal core keeps natural heat indoors, leaving cold air outside. A composite door offers a polyamide thermal break that offers fantastic heat retention in your property. This helps homeowners save money on their energy bills, giving them the freedom to spend on the things that are important to them.

Timber sits in the middle between these two alternative options. However, it offers exceptional energy efficiency. Where timber shines, however, is its sustainability potential. uPVC boasts a relatively high (for a synthetic material) recyclability rate of 50%. However, wood is completely biodegradable as a naturally occurring resource and therefore is 100% recyclable.

Similarly, as composite doors are made of several different materials, they don’t reach the same sustainability levels as wood. That’s not to say that these materials are not sustainable. At Dempsey Dyer, we believe that timber comes out on top, being one of the most environmentally friendly materials on the market. 

Timber Doors at Dempsey Dyer

Timber doors offer many energy efficiency benefits.   Naturally insulating homes for 10,000 years, wood has kept us warm since we first discovered how to put logs together to protect ourselves from the rain. Homeowners looking to invest in a new door can be assured that going timber is not a mistake when it comes to energy efficiency, even with the new materials on the market boasting similar insulation properties. Furthermore, timber is a perfectly sustainable material to use as it is fully biodegradable and recyclable. Whether the homeowner is concerned with saving money on their energy bills or is worried about their effect on the environment, timber doors are an excellent choice.

Dempsey Dyer offers timber doors in various styles and colours. Whichever style you need,  there is something that reflects your personality. To find out more about our timber doors, contact us today. Our friendly team will be on hand to assist you.