Before you order a uPVC back door in Leicester, check seven things: where the door sits and how it is used, the glazing and privacy, the locks and frame reinforcement, the threshold, colour matching, energy rules and the certificate and guarantee. URG Windows & Doors, a FENSA-registered installer on Belgrave Gate, publishes clear details for its uPVC doors, so it makes a handy benchmark for other quotes.
The front door gets all the attention. The back door does the hard work. It is the one that gets kicked open with a laundry basket, left on the latch while the kids run in and out, and faced with wet boots every winter. In a lot of Leicester terraces it opens straight into the kitchen, so a draughty or sticking back door is something you notice every single day.
uPVC is the usual choice for back and side doors because it is practical and good value. But the doors on offer vary more than the brochures suggest. We used one local firm as a worked example: URG Windows & Doors, a Leicester uPVC back doors supplier, sets out its options in plain terms. Use the seven checks below with any firm you ask to quote.
The seven checks at a glance
| Check | What to ask | Why it matters |
|---|---|---|
| 1. Position and use | Back, side, utility or porch door? | Sets the style, locking and glazing you need |
| 2. Glazing | Fully glazed, half glazed or solid? | Light versus privacy, and safety glass rules |
| 3. Security | Locking points and frame reinforcement | Back doors are often out of sight of the street |
| 4. Threshold | Standard or low threshold? | Trips, prams, wheelchairs and rain |
| 5. Colour | Will it match the windows inside and out? | Kitchens show mismatched frames clearly |
| 6. Energy and fire rules | U-value, and any fire rules near the boundary | Building regulations apply to replacement doors |
| 7. Paperwork | Scheme certificate and guarantee backing | You will need both when you sell |
1. Be clear about where the door goes and how you use it
A back door into a kitchen, a side door into a passage, a utility room door and a porch door all have slightly different jobs. A kitchen door may be opened dozens of times a day and needs to close firmly without slamming. A side door down a shared alley may be used less but needs strong locking.
URG describes its uPVC doors as a cost-effective option for back doors, side entrances, utility rooms and porches. Tell any supplier exactly which of these you are replacing, which way you want it to open and what is outside it, such as a step, a ramp or a bin store.
2. Decide how much glass you really want
Glass brings light into a dark kitchen, but it also lets people see in and can make a door feel less secure. Most suppliers offer a range. URG lists fully glazed, half glazed and solid panel versions of its uPVC doors.
Whatever you choose, the glass must be safe. The Planning Portal says safety glazing is needed in any glazed door panel up to 1500mm from floor level, and in side panels within 300mm of the door edge up to the same height. For a door facing a neighbour's window or a busy alley, ask about obscured or patterned glass that still lets light through.
3. Look inside the frame, not just at the handle
Back doors are often hidden from the street, which is why the locking matters. Ask how many locking points engage when you lift the handle, and what reinforcement sits inside the uPVC profile. A well-made door should not flex when pushed at the corners.
URG's uPVC doors use galvanised steel reinforcement, multi-chambered profiles and multi-point locking. Ask every supplier for the same details in writing, along with the make and rating of the lock cylinder, so you can compare like for like.
And think about daily habits. A door that locks only with a key from both sides can be a problem in a fire. Ask about a thumb-turn on the inside and whether it suits your household.
4. Get the threshold right
The threshold is the strip under the door. A high one keeps rain out but can catch toes, buggy wheels and wheelchairs. A low one is easier to cross but needs good drainage outside.
URG offers low-threshold options for easier access. The Planning Portal notes that for main entrance doors on homes built since 1999, the threshold should remain level after replacement, so the new door must not make access worse. If your back door is the one you use most, or someone at home uses a walking frame, raise this at the survey.
5. Match the colour to the windows, inside and out
In a kitchen, a new white door next to older grey or woodgrain windows stands out. Many suppliers now offer a range of colours and woodgrain finishes, sometimes with a different colour inside and out.
URG says its uPVC doors can be matched to the same colour and woodgrain range as its windows, inside and out. Ask to see a sample against your existing frames in daylight before you order.
6. Check the energy and fire rules
Replacement doors are covered by the building regulations. The Planning Portal says windows and doors must limit heat loss through both glass and frame, with maximum U-values set out in Approved Document L. Ask each supplier for the U-value of the whole door, not just the glass.
Fire rules can matter too, especially for side doors close to a boundary, which is common in Leicester terraces and semis. The Planning Portal says external doors may need fire resistance, and some may need to be self-closing, depending on how close they are to the boundary. A good surveyor will check this, but it does no harm to ask.
7. Collect the right paperwork
A registered installer in a competent person scheme can self-certify the work, and you get a certificate at the end. FENSA describes its certificate as essential when selling a property. URG is a FENSA Approved Installer with registration number 45069, and you can check any firm on the scheme's own website.
Then look at the guarantee. FENSA explains that an insurance-backed guarantee covers the installer's written guarantee if the firm stops trading. URG says every installation is covered by Home Improvement Protection, which adds deposit protection from order to completion and a free, impartial dispute route.
What we checked
We read the Planning Portal's guidance on building regulations for doors and windows, FENSA's homeowner information, and the published uPVC door details of one Leicester installer. We have not compared prices. A back door price depends on the size, glazing, locks, colour and the state of the opening, and only a survey gives a reliable figure.
Getting a quote you can compare
Ask for one written price that covers the door, the frame, glazing, locks, threshold, fitting, making good and taking the old door away. URG offers a free, no-obligation survey, says its quote is a single written price covering products, fitting, finishing and removal of old frames, and says there is no pressure to sign on the day. It also offers 0% finance subject to status and affordability, acting as a credit broker rather than a lender. Its office opens Monday to Friday 8.30am to 5.30pm and Saturday 9am to 5pm, and the number is 0116 456 0246.
Frequently asked questions
Is uPVC secure enough for a back door?
A good uPVC door with steel reinforcement and multi-point locking can be very secure. Ask about the frame, the number of locking points and the cylinder rating.
Do I need building regulations approval to replace a back door?
Replacement external doors must meet the building regulations. A competent person scheme installer can self-certify the work and give you a certificate.
Can I have a different colour inside and outside?
Often, yes. Ask to see the finishes your supplier offers and check them against your windows.
Should my back door have glass?
It depends on light and privacy. Half glazed doors are a common middle ground. Any glass low in the door must be safety glass.
Sources
- Planning Portal: Doors and windows, building regulations
- FENSA: Information for homeowners
- GOV.UK: Competent person schemes
General information only; check details directly with each business, and with the linked official sources for your own home.