Compact, Composite, Marine Plywood and Wood Cladding Compared

The short answer: For a door directly exposed to sun and rain, choose compact laminate (HPL) or composite cladding. Marine plywood also works for entrances sheltered under an eave. Solid wood gives the warmest look but calls for regular maintenance.

What is compact (HPL) cladding?

A layered panel pressed with resin under high pressure. It absorbs no water, holds its color under UV for years and resists scratching. It is the safest choice for coastal locations and south-facing facades. Its texture can mimic wood, but the material itself is not wood.

What is composite cladding?

It is made from a blend of wood fiber and polymer. It offers durability close to compact laminate, with a more natural wood look. The range of colors and patterns is wide.

What is marine plywood?

Plywood pressed with waterproof adhesive. It is not as moisture-resistant as compact laminate; it performs well for many years on sheltered entrances and under eaves, but is not recommended for surfaces exposed to constant rain.

What is solid wood cladding?

Real wood; it gives the warmest, most natural look. In return, it needs annual maintenance (renewing the varnish or oil) when exposed to sun and rain. As long as it is maintained, it lasts a long time.

Comparison

	Water resistance	UV / fading	Maintenance	Best suited to
Compact (HPL)	Very high	Very good	None needed	Coastal, south-facing facades
Composite	High	Good	None needed	Exposed outdoor use
Marine plywood	Moderate	Moderate	Occasional	Under eaves, sheltered entrances
Solid wood	Low to moderate	Depends on upkeep	Once a year	Sheltered, classic facades

Can the cladding color be changed later?

You choose the color and pattern during production. Changing the cladding after production means removing the door and re-cladding it, which is why the color decision is finalized during the site survey.

Cladding can be selected on every model in the catalog. Send the code of the model you like to 0532 689 21 46 and we will work out together, during the survey, which cladding suits your facade.

Six options side by side

Cladding	UV	Moisture	Impact	Maintenance	Best suited to
Powder coating	Good	Good	Moderate	Low	Anywhere; the most economical
Laminox	Moderate	Moderate	Moderate	Low	Indoors, flat entrance doors
Lacquer	Moderate	Good	Low	Moderate	Indoors; shows scratches
Marine plywood	Moderate	Good	Good	Moderate	Sheltered outdoor use
Iroko wood	Moderate	Moderate	Good	High	Under eaves; natural wood grain
Composite compact	Very good	Very good	Very good	Very low	Exposed facades, coastal locations

Powder coating

Produced by electrostatically bonding powder paint to the surface and baking it on. It is economical, any color in the RAL chart can be applied, and it needs virtually no maintenance. Its limit is impact resistance: if a hard knock lifts the paint, the metal underneath is exposed.

Laminox and lacquer

Both are primarily indoor finishes. Laminox gives a wood-grain pattern, while lacquer creates a smooth, glossy surface. Lacquer is visually striking but shows scratches more than any other surface; on flat entrance doors facing a shared corridor, that can be a drawback.

How to decide

Three questions, in order:

1. Does the door get direct rain and sun? If so, composite compact or powder coating. If not (under an eave), every option is open.
2. Is it by the sea? If so, composite compact plus 316 stainless Häfele hardware.
3. Are you willing to do maintenance? Natural wood is beautiful but needs periodic care; if that is not for you, choose composite.

Cladding is the single biggest driver of price; if the budget needs trimming, this is the right place to do it — not the body standard. Details are in the price guide.

Don't confuse composite with steel

The term "composite door" is used to describe two different things: a door whose body is composite, and a door with a steel body and only a composite surface. We build the latter — the steel body does the security work, and the composite surface protects it from the elements. We covered the difference in a separate article.

Why is cladding the most decisive item?

On a door facing an exposed facade, the cladding is the layer that separates the body from the elements. The wrong choice means the surface falls apart within three years while the door itself is still perfectly sound; the right choice means fifteen years of trouble-free use.

Cladding is also the item that moves the price most. If the budget needs adjusting, this is the right place to do it — stepping down one level in cladding makes far more sense than cutting corners on the body standard.

Can the cladding be renewed later?

Yes, and that makes the cladding decision less risky. If the body is sound, the surface can be replaced: the leaf goes to the workshop, the cladding is renewed, and the frame stays in place. This is exactly the right fix for doors fitted with the wrong cladding on an exposed facade.

Powder-coated surfaces can be repainted; on composite and wood cladding, a color change means renewing the cladding itself.

Related models

• Villa steel door models
• Wood-tone models
• Anthracite and grey models

You can browse every model in the product catalog and read about our production process on the About Us page.