How Long Does a uPVC Door Last?

uPVC, or Unplasticised Polyvinyl Chloride, is a lightweight plastic commonly used in windows and doors around the home. When purchasing uPVC, we want it to last as long as possible. If you are in a property with uPVC doors already intact, or you are looking to maximise your investment with new uPVC doors, you may wonder how long they last.

How Long Should a uPVC Door last?

The answer will depend on a variety of factors, including:

The quality of the door.

The placement of the door.

How well it was installed in the first place.

Generally speaking, double-glazed uPVC doors can last up to approximately 35 years, but this is if they are looked after properly. uPVC doors are built to a high standard with high-quality materials and are designed to not degrade with day-to-day use, but if you want to make them last longer, you should be looking after them and recognise signs of wear and tear.

What Are the Signs of Wear and Tear in uPVC?

uPVC doors can show certain signs of wear and tear, such as discolouration, condensation, and cracks. If the uPVC doors were installed before 1998, it’s likely to show more of these signs of ageing.

Eventually, uPVC degrades to the point where it needs replacing, which is between 20 and 30 years for the vast majority of homeowners.

How Can I Tell How Old My uPVC Doors Are?

If you’ve moved into a new property but don’t know how long the uPVC doors have been in place, there are a few little checks you can conduct to get a better idea, including:

If the house is a new build built prior to 2007. While any home built after 1980 would have been fitted with double glazing, any installations before 2007 would be rated C for their energy efficiency.

Misting in the glass. Misting occurs when the seal is not working properly, resulting in heat loss from your home.
Yellowing appearance. When a uPVC door has a yellow appearance, this is an indication the raw materials were not up to code and can occur as little as five years after installation.

Condensation. This is when cold air has been able to infiltrate the inside pane, which can be repaired, but you have to consider if you would be better off investing in a new uPVC door.

How Can You Extend the Life of uPVC?

You can protect uPVC doors from degrading by understanding the number one cause of uPVC damage: UV light from the sun. While modern uPVC is resistant to UV rays, the oils can break down over time, resulting in discolourisation. You can extend its shelf life by having old uPVC doors painted to cover up discolourisation, which can extend its life by approximately a decade.

What Affects the Longevity of uPVC doors?

The most common answer to this question is raw materials. uPVC doors can last up to 35 years, if not longer when looked after properly, but if the door is made of insufficient raw materials, this will compromise the quality.

When you are looking for a uPVC door, it’s critical to choose a high-quality uPVC supplier because this will make a massive impact on the overall longevity and strength of the door. This is why, at Cambridge Window Company, we provide high-quality materials to ensure every uPVC door stands the test of time. Get in contact with us today for a free and friendly quotation.