When shopping around for an exterior door, one of the many important questions you will be asked is “Do you require high or low exterior door threshold?”

So, what does this even mean?

The threshold of an exterior door is the part of the doorway that lies between the floor and the bottom of the door. The threshold provides an air-tight seal, providing your home with weatherproof protection.

As you can see from the image above there are many options available from Apeer. There is the option of a low aluminium threshold with a ramp for wheelchair access or the standard UPVC which you must step over to gain access. Although UPVC is also available in the low frame threshold. The advantage of the UPVC is that it tends to be less expensive than the aluminium threshold. There are occasions where a low threshold may not be suitable for your entrance, although you will be made aware of this by our sales advisor.

So, what type of threshold would suit my needs?

There are many types and styles of thresholds available, although there are some important factors that you may need to consider when choosing your threshold. Listed below are some of the factors you may need to consider when choosing your threshold.

•    Do you or anyone else need wheelchair access to your home?
•     Do you have young children, or do you need access for prams or buggies?
•    Do you have anyone in your home with limited physical abilities or disability?
•     Is it a new build the exterior door is for? (all new builds require wheelchair access to comply with building      regulations)

Whether you are just renovating your existing home, or it’s a new home, it’s always worth considering your options. A low threshold can make life so much easier if you are in and out with a pram or you or a member of your family struggle with steps in general. The threshold can sometimes have to withstand a great deal of wear and tear due to its location. The threshold you choose will also be down to your own personal preferences, however it’s recommended to make sure you go for a good quality threshold. A UPVC threshold whether it’s a low or standard height tends to be slightly better in terms of energy efficiency; however, the difference is minimal. When choosing your threshold there is also the overall appearance of the door that might sway you when choosing, as the aluminum will not be color coded as the UPVC option you can have matched the color of the rest of the door.

If you have any questions regarding exterior door thresholds, please feel free to get in touch.



Reference:

Apeer (2020) Exterior Door Thresholds – What are they and why do you need them?

https://www.apeer.co.uk/blog/exterior-door-thresholds/ Accessed via Google 29.05.24.