Aluminium or PVC front door in Spain: how to choose yours
The front door is the first thing people see of your home and the part that works hardest: it opens dozens of times a day, takes sun and salt air, and it is your first security barrier. On the coast, many old wooden doors swell and iron ones rust. Here we go through what makes a good front door: material, panel, lock, insulation, opening direction and price.
Updated 26/10/2026
Aluminium or PVC
Both materials cope well with damp and sea salt: they do not swell like wood or rust like iron. The difference is in what you want:
- Powder-coated aluminium: allows bigger doors, with side panels and a transom in the same frame, and dark colours such as anthracite without warping. It is the usual choice for villas and for communal entrance doors.
- PVC: insulates slightly better against heat and noise. It suits apartments and bungalows well, especially if your windows are already PVC and you want the same finish.
- Colour: white, anthracite or wood effect, matching your windows. On a façade in full sun a dark colour gets hotter to the touch; it does not harm the door, but it is worth knowing.
If you are choosing a material for the whole house, we compare them in more detail in PVC or aluminium near the sea.
Solid or glazed panel
A door with a solid panel has an insulating core between two sheets: maximum privacy and better insulation. A glazed door fills the hallway with light; in that case we always use laminated safety glass, clear or frosted, which cracks when hit but does not leave the opening free. If your hallway is dark, a good option is a solid door leaf with glazed side panels or a glazed transom: light comes in and the leaf stays solid.
Security: what really matters
- Multi-point lock: the door locks at several points along the frame, not just next to the latch.
- Anti-lever hinges: even if someone tries to force the hinge side, the leaf does not come out of the frame.
- Security cylinder that does not stick out of the lock plate.
- Laminated glass in any glazed part.
If your home stays closed for months, see also how to secure a holiday home in winter.
Insulation and comfort
An old door that does not close properly lets in air, dust and street noise. A new door closes against rubber seals all the way round and, with an insulated panel, the hallway stops being the cold spot of the house in winter. For everyday use, a low aluminium threshold avoids tripping and makes it easier to come in with suitcases, a buggy or a wheelchair.
Inward or outward opening?
Most front doors open inwards. In some entrances, especially with a small hallway or a covered porch, the door can open outwards with a low threshold: you gain space inside and the rain pushes the leaf against the frame. We decide when we see the opening, depending on how rain reaches it and how much room there is.
How much does a front door cost?
There is no single price, because every door is made to measure. What changes the price most:
- the size of the opening and whether it has side panels or a transom;
- solid or glazed panel, and the type of glass;
- the lock and hardware;
- the colour and finish;
- whether an old built-in iron door has to be removed or the opening adapted.
Send us a photo of the opening on WhatsApp with an approximate size and we will give you a guide price; the fixed price including fitting comes after we measure. For windows and patio doors you can see a price straight away in our online price calculator.
Is there building work?
Usually not: the old door is removed and the new one is fitted in the same opening, finished with cover trims. If a built-in iron frame has to come out or the opening is not square, we tell you when we measure so there are no surprises.
Checklist before you order
- Decide whether you want light (glass, side panels or transom) or maximum privacy (solid panel).
- Choose the colour with your windows and the sun on the façade in mind.
- Ask for a multi-point lock and, if there is glass, make sure it is laminated.
- Think about which way it should open and whether you need a low threshold.
- For a community of owners, check which electric lock the door entry system needs.
How we help
- Free measuring within 30 km of our workshop, and we show you panel, glass and colour options.
- We make front doors, communal entrance doors and gates in aluminium and PVC in San Fulgencio and fit them with our own team.
- If you live abroad, we arrange the visit with whoever has your keys and send you photos and the quote by WhatsApp or email. See also our guide for owners who live abroad.
- We work in Torrevieja, Orihuela Costa, Guardamar, Santa Pola and across the Vega Baja.
Frequently asked questions
Which lasts longer near the sea, aluminium or PVC?
Both cope well with salt air. What matters is wiping dust and salt off the surface now and then and lubricating the lock once a year.
Is a glazed door less secure?
Not if the glass is laminated: when hit it cracks, but the interlayer holds the pieces together and the opening does not give way easily. Security comes mainly from the multi-point lock and the hinges.
Can you make the door the same colour as my windows?
Yes: we work in white, anthracite and wood effect, among others, so door and windows have the same finish.
How long does it take?
The door is made to measure after we measure, and the quote shows the lead time. The replacement itself is usually done in a single visit, without leaving the house open.
Do you make communal entrance doors?
Yes, in aluminium with transom and side panels, ready for a door entry system. We give you a quote you can present at the owners' meeting.
Time to replace your front door?
Send us a photo of your door and the opening on WhatsApp and we will tell you which option makes sense and give you a guide price.