Aluminum exterior door - thermal break worthwhile? Does it reduce condensation in practice?

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timmmay

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#284079 29-Mar-2021 20:35

We're ordering an aluminum front door, but are wondering whether it's worth paying $1500 extra for a thermal break. It's a door a lot like the one below, but no window. The center part is insulated (ie 80% or more of the total door area), the thermal break would be for the edges - at least that's my understanding.

All our other doors and windows are PVC and have a thermal break. Only reason we wouldn't is the cost. I can't find any data on the benefits in terms of condensation or reduction in heat transfer.

Does anyone with thermally broken or non-thermally-broken doors particularly in Wellington have any experience to share?

Edited to add: The door is at the end of a wide hallway, adjacent to our lounge and not far from the bedrooms. Currently there we have two doors, one wooden with retrofit double glazed glass panels and an outer sliding door, with the outer sliding door being removed as part of this work. We have a ventilation system and ducted heat pump servicing that area.

elpenguino

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#2682767 29-Mar-2021 20:43

I have a non-broken ally window, in Welly.

Ally is an efficient heat conductor which is why they use it for engines.

When it's winter, we get beads of condensation on the window frame but not on the double glazed units, of course.

Does seem like a lot extra though.

Does it open into a hallway or living area?

Most of the posters in this thread are just like chimpanzees on MDMA, full of feelings of bonhomie, joy, and optimism. Fred99 8/4/21

timmmay

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#2682772 29-Mar-2021 21:01

Thanks elpenguino :) Sounds like you would encourage thermally broken. $1500 is quite a bit for that one feature is all.

The door is at the end of a wide hallway, adjacent to our lounge and not far from the bedrooms. Currently there we have two doors, one wooden with retrofit double glazed glass panels and an outer sliding door, with the outer sliding door being removed as part of this work. I suspect going to a non-thermally broken single door could make the area cooler, but we have a ventilation system and ducted heat pump servicing that area too.

decibel

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#2682792 29-Mar-2021 22:01

We have a thermally-broken front door but don't recall paying an extra $1500.

Have you had alternate quotes?

elpenguino

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#2682794 29-Mar-2021 22:08

OK, I would suggest looking at the big picture.

E.g. yes, we have condo on the window frame on cold mornings but compared to the old window which was single glazed, wooden, and therefore draughty, the new window is still miles ahead in performance.

If your new door seals much better than the old then that airtightness will be a big benefit. You may get some condensation but that tends to form later when the overnight temperature drops more, and you tend to be tucked up in bed by them anyway.

Ideally you'd go for the top of the line but money isn't infinite and Wellington is not central Otago.

Can the manufacturer provide any R-values for the two versions?

Most of the posters in this thread are just like chimpanzees on MDMA, full of feelings of bonhomie, joy, and optimism. Fred99 8/4/21

billgates

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#2682806 29-Mar-2021 22:55

decibel:

We have a thermally-broken front door but don't recall paying an extra $1500.

Have you had alternate quotes?

Same. Our front entry door is 90% double glazed glass covered with aluminium frame around which is all thermally broken. I do not think it was an extra $1500. Might have been an extra $200 to $300. Our entire front thermally broken entry door was $2k with powder coating and that’s 2.4m high and 1.2m wide

Do whatever you want to do man.

bfginger

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#2682822 29-Mar-2021 23:33

The screenshot is of an APL (Altherma, Vantage or First) door?

Try quotes from Omega, Fairview and Nulook/Altus too.

The door would also benefit from multipoint locking.

mattwnz

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#2682835 30-Mar-2021 02:45

Are you sure it isn't the aluminum door frame that is thermally broken. Sounds like a lot of money just for the door itself, which sounds like it already has insulation in it. We have thermally broken frames, and you do still get some minor condensation on the frames in winter.

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timmmay

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#2682864 30-Mar-2021 07:58

$1500 is the price to thermally break and do dual colors, maybe just a thermal break is cheaper and maybe it applies to the frames as well. I'll call the company up today to ask. The full price for the door with glass panels beside and above it, including removing the old entrance area and framing and installation is $6500 single color, $8000 two colors and thermally broken. We got two quotes and they're both about the same.

bfginger: The screenshot is of an APL (Altherma, Vantage or First) door? Try quotes from Omega, Fairview and Nulook/Altus too. The door would also benefit from multipoint locking.

It's an Altherm latitude door. I think my wife would not be keen on starting again with quotes. These door companies are so busy they typically take 2-4 weeks to come out to have a look, then 3-5 weeks to generate a quote. Some like HPW don't even come out, they just ask you to send photos and measurements and generate an estimate - problem with that is they then reserve the right to change the price later if they get it wrong, so we didn't go with them.