UPVC, Composite and Aluminium Doors
uPVC, composite, and aluminium doors. Made to measure, fitted by our own team
Burgess Glass has been a family-run glazing business in Kingston upon Thames since 1974. We supply and install front doors, back doors, French doors, patio doors, and double doors for homes across KT12 and the wider Southwest London area.
uPVC, Composite or Aluminium:
uPVC
Doors
The most cost-effective choice. uPVC is light, weatherproof, and easy to look after. Wipe it down a couple of times a year and it stays looking new. Modern uPVC doors come with multi-point locking, reinforced steel cores, and a wide choice of colours and woodgrain foils. A good fit for back doors, side entrances, French doors, and patio doors. Also a strong all-rounder for front doors when budget matters.
Composite
Doors
Solid timber core, polyurethane foam insulation, and a glass-reinforced plastic skin. That combination is what makes composite doors feel substantial when you push them open. They insulate better than uPVC, hold their shape over decades, and can be Secured by Design accredited (the UK Police-backed standard). Most popular as a front door, where security and kerb appeal matter most.
Aluminium Doors
The slimmest sightlines of any of the three. Aluminium frames are strong enough to hold large panes of glass, which is why they dominate the market for bifold doors, sliding patio doors, and contemporary front doors on extensions and new builds. Powder-coated finishes don't fade or peel, and the material won't warp. The premium option of the three, but worth it if you want maximum glass and minimum frame.
Types of Doors We Install
Front Doors
The first thing visitors notice. We fit composite front doors for security and insulation, aluminium for contemporary properties, and uPVC where budget is the priority. All come with multi-point locking and toughened or laminated safety glass as standard.
French Doors
A pair of doors that open out from the centre. They bring light into kitchens and living rooms and connect smoothly to a garden or patio. Available in all three materials.
Bifold Doors
Folding glass doors that concertina back to open up an entire wall. Almost always aluminium, for the same reason as patio doors: slim frames, more glass, less obstruction.
Cottage and Period-Style Doors
Composite doors with vertical plank designs, stable door options, and traditional glazing patterns. Suited to older homes in the Southwest London area where you want character without losing modern security.
Back Doors
Practical, secure, and built to handle being slammed by kids and shopping bags. uPVC and composite are the usual choices here. Same security spec as the front, and you can match the colour for a consistent look across the property.
Patio and Sliding Doors
Large glass panels that slide rather than swing. Aluminium is the strongest performer here because the frames can be slim while still holding big spans of glass. uPVC sliding doors are also available for smaller openings.
Double Doors
Two full-width doors side by side. Used for grander entrances or wider openings where a single door would feel cramped.
Frameless Glass Doors
Frameless glass doors offer a sleek, modern finish while maximising natural light.
Perfect for homes and commercial spaces, they create a seamless and stylish look.
Custom-made to your exact measurements with smooth, durable functionality.
Door Security
Security is the part of the conversation we spend the most time on with clients. Here is what comes as standard on the doors we fit.
Multi-point locking: secures the door at the top, middle, and bottom of the frame in a single turn of the key.
Reinforced frames: galvanised steel inner cores on uPVC, solid timber cores on composite, structural aluminium profiles on aluminium doors.
Steel hook bolts and deadbolts: much harder to force than a basic latch.
Laminated or toughened safety glazing: meets BS 6206 / BS EN 12600 impact safety standards.
PAS24 compliance: the British Standard for enhanced security performance against forced entry. Available across all three materials.
Secured by Design accreditation: the UK Police flagship security initiative, available on composite and aluminium specifications.
If your home insurance asks for specific accreditations, tell us when you get in touch and we'll quote a door set that meets the requirement.
Colours and Finish
Composite and aluminium doors all come in a wide range of colours and finishes. The most common choices are:
White
Black
Anthracite grey
Light grey
Chartwell green
Rosewood and other woodgrain foils
Red, blue, and other heritage colours
Dual-colour (one shade outside, a different one inside)
Aluminium and composite generally hold their colour longest because of the way the finish is applied: powder coating on aluminium, moulded GRP skin on composite.
Internal vs External Doors
External doors do the heavy lifting: security, weatherproofing, insulation. That's where multi-point locks, reinforced frames, and weather seals matter.
Internal Frameless Glass doors or UPVC doors are a different product. They're used to divide rooms, often in conservatories, utility areas, or where you want a clean, low-maintenance finish that lets light through. They don't need the same security spec, and they're a fraction of the price.
Why Choose Burgess Glass
We've been fitting glass and doors in Kingston upon Thames since 1974. That's 50 years of working on the same streets, knowing which house types are common in which postcodes, and learning what tends to fail and what tends to last.
What you get when you work with us:
A site visit and accurate measure before any quote
Made-to-measure doors with no off-the-shelf compromises
Our own installers, not subcontractors
Manufacturer-backed guarantees on the door, plus our own workmanship guarantee
A small enough team that the same person you speak to on day one is the person who follows the job through
We work across KT1, KT2, KT3, KT5, KT6, KT7, KT8, KT9, KT10, KT11, KT12, and the surrounding Southwest London postcodes.
Frequently Asked Questions
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It depends on the material, size, glazing, and any extras like sidelights or a letterbox plate. As a rough guide, supplied and fitted: uPVC starts at the lower end, composite sits in the middle, aluminium is the most expensive. We give a fixed price after a site visit, no surprises later.
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A well-fitted uPVC or composite door should last 25 to 30 years with basic upkeep. Aluminium can last longer because the material itself doesn't degrade. Hinges, seals, and locks may need servicing along the way, which is normal.
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Composite doors are a sandwich of materials: usually a timber core, foam insulation, and a tough outer skin. They're heavier, better insulated, and harder to break than standard uPVC. uPVC doors are plastic-based with a steel-reinforced inner frame, lighter, and significantly cheaper.
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If you want big spans of glass: bifold doors, large sliding patios, or a contemporary front door with full-height glazing, then yes. Aluminium frames are the only ones that can do that without becoming visually heavy. For a standard front or back door, uPVC or composite usually makes more sense.
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Technically yes, with the right primer and specialist paint. In practice, we'd usually recommend against it. Factory-finished colours hold up far better and don't chip. If you want a different colour, it's almost always cheaper in the long run to spec the door in that finish from new.
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Yes. Manufacturer guarantees on the door itself (typically 10 years for uPVC and composite, 20+ for aluminium frames), plus our own workmanship guarantee on the installation.
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Yes. We repair locks, hinges, seals, and replace broken or misted glass. Same-day service is often available for emergency repairs in the local area.
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Most single door replacements are a one-day job. Bifold doors and larger patio installations can take two days. We'll confirm timings when we book the work in.