Spitfire S-500 vs Glasswin doors – which is better?

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Nick Dardalis

Spitfire S-500 front doors are luxurious and top-tier entrance doors. They’re ideal for replacing a dated wood or metal door or to finish off the front of a newly built home. The Glasswin Diamond series is a comparable premium front door alongside the Spitfire S-500, offering more hinge options, quadruple glazing, excellent overall quality and a lower price.

Spitfire S-500 front doors

Spitfire front doors are made by one of the best European door manufacturers, with an all-aluminium construction and high-quality components. Glass, colour finishes, handles and the overall build quality are all excellent.

spitfire s-500 front door to a block of flats with flower pots

Glasswin Diamond Series

The Glasswin Diamond series is made in Europe using top-brand Schüco frame profiles, premium Schüco hardware, quadruple safety glass, an equally impressive fit and finish, and expert craftsmanship.

picture of a contemporary front door in a detached cheltenham, house

Six features of the Glasswin Diamond Series front door.

  1. Sleek and Contemporary Design: The Glasswin Diamond Series front door has a sleek and contemporary aesthetic, making it suitable for modern residential properties.
  2. Versatile Design Options: The door offers three design options – fully glazed, solid panel, or a combination of glass and decorative panel. This allows for flexibility in design and functionality.
  3. High-Quality Construction: The Glasswin Diamond Series door is built with top-of-the-line security features, energy efficiency, and quality craftsmanship. It promises durability and longevity.
  4. Bespoke Sizes: The door is available in standard and oversized sizes, allowing for customization to fit various new and existing door openings.
  5. Multiple Hinge Options: The Glasswin Diamond door offers three hinge options – a barrel hinge, a surface-mounted hinge, and a completely concealed hinge. Each option provides a different aesthetic and functionality and better customer choice.
  6. Integration with Door Communication and Access Control Systems: The door can be integrated with innovative door communication and access control systems, providing enhanced security and convenience.


Glasswin Diamond Series – Aesthetics, Energy Efficiency, and Security

The Glasswin Diamond Series door is an excellent choice for homeowners prioritising aesthetics, energy efficiency, and security. This door system offers a range of features and options that cater to these concerns.

Aesthetics:
The Glasswin Diamond Series door is architecturally designed and boasts a sleek, contemporary aesthetic. It can be created with either a fully-glazed or high-specification panel design, allowing homeowners to choose a look that best suits their property.
The door offers three design options: a fully glazed, solid panel or a combination of glass and panels when used with a midrail. This versatility enables the door to seamlessly blend with various architectural styles, enhancing the property’s overall look.

Energy Efficiency:
The Glasswin Diamond Series door excels in energy efficiency. It offers optimum thermal insulation, achieving U-Values as low as 1.1Wm2K. This easily satisfies 2022 Building Regulations for both replacement and new build projects. With glass and panels ranging from 68-90mm thick, most glass specifications and thermal options can be accommodated, making this door model suitable for very energy-efficient designs.

Security:
The Glasswin Diamond Series door meets the robust RC3 security standard when equipped with the appropriate hardware and glass. This standard requires longer attack test durations and the use of power tools like electric saws and drills, making the door very secure and giving homeowners peace of mind.

Hardware Options:
The Glasswin Diamond Series door offers a variety of hardware options. It provides users with three hinge options, each providing a different aesthetic to the product. The barrel hinge design offers wide door adjustment, various colours, and a maintenance-free design with a conventional look. The door can work as a manual or automatic door, including connection to home automation systems. This gives homeowners an excellent choice in how the front door is controlled, taking advantage of the latest technology in locks and access control if required.

Six features of the Spitfire S-500 door.

  1. Enduring Beauty: Each S-500 Series door has a baked-on powder-coated paint finish that guarantees colour stability, weather resistance, and low maintenance. The door also has triple seals to protect against the elements.
  2. Impressive Security: The Spitfire S-500 door is exceptionally strong, thanks to its Schüco aluminium sections and 3mm walls. The standard door leaf is 85mm thick and features three layers of security glass, providing enhanced security.
  3. Technological Innovation: The S-500 range offers various hi-tech opening options, including remote control keyfob opening. This feature lets you unlock your front door up to 30 meters away, adding convenience and eliminating the need to fumble for keys.
  4. Customisable Options: The S-500 Series offers a wide range of options in style, finish, glass, and handles. Over 400 designs allow homeowners to customise their front door to suit their property and personal preferences.
  5. Swarovski® Crystal Detailing: As a touch of luxury, the Spitfire S-500 door offers the option to incorporate Swarovski® crystals. These crystals can be subtly integrated into the door’s glass panel or featured in a special vertical handle, adding a unique and glamorous touch.
    Enhanced Security Features: Spitfire S-500 Series front doors are designed to be virtually burglar-proof. They feature substantial aluminium profiles, high-quality door hinges, security-grade multi-point locks, and precision-engineered steel furniture. The glazing features triple-glazed, laminated glass units for extra security and

Common Features of Spitfire S-500 and Glasswin Front Doors

  1. Aesthetics: Both doors offer a sleek and modern design, enhancing the overall look of any property. They both provide a range of design options, allowing homeowners to customize their doors according to their preferences.
  2. Energy Efficiency: The Glasswin Diamond Series and the Spitfire S-500 doors are designed with energy efficiency in mind. The Glasswin door offers optimum thermal insulation, achieving U-Values as low as 1.1Wm2K. On the other hand, the Spitfire S500 door comes with triple seals, helping to keep the very worst of our climate’s vagaries at bay and contributing to its overall energy efficiency.
  3. Security: Both doors prioritise security. The Glasswin Diamond Series door meets the robust RC2 security standard when equipped with the appropriate hardware and glass. Similarly, the Spitfire S500 door is designed to be virtually burglar-proof, featuring substantial aluminium profiles, high-quality door hinges, security-grade multi-point locks, and precision-engineered steel furniture.
  4. Durability: Both doors are designed for longevity and durability. The S-500 and Glasswin doors are made with high-quality materials and finishes to withstand the elements and regular use. Both are reliable, functional and strong doors.
Feature Glasswin Diamond Series Spitfire S500
Aesthetics Sleek and modern design with a range of customisable options Sleek and modern design with a range of customisable options
Energy Efficiency Optimum thermal insulation values to passive house level, achieving U-Values as low as 1.1Wm2K Comes with triple seals for weather resistance contributing to overall energy efficiency
Security Meets the robust RC3 security standard when equipped with the appropriate hardware and glass Designed to be virtually burglar-proof, featuring substantial aluminum profiles, high-quality door hinges, security-grade multi-point locks, and precision-engineered steel furniture
Durability High-quality materials and finishes for longevity and durability High-quality materials and finishes for longevity and durability
Unique Features Offers a variety of hinge options and can be connected to home automation systems Features a baked-on powder coated paint finish for colour stability and weather resistance
Glasswin Diamond Series Spitfire S500
Size Limitations
  • Minimum size: width 850mm and height 1950mm
  • Standard doors: maximum is 1260mm wide x 2300mm high
  • Large doors maximum 1100mm wide x 2251-2500mm high
  • XL doors maximum 1200mm wide x 2600mm high
    • Minimum size: width 850mm and height 2000mm
    • Standard doors: maximum is 1260mm wide x 2250mm high
    • Large doors maximum 1100mm wide x 2251-2500mm high
    • XL doors maximum 1100mm wide x 2501-2700mm high
    Glasswin Diamond Series Spitfire S500
    Energy Efficiency Offers optimum thermal insulation values to passive house level, achieving U-Values as low as 1.1Wm2K. Triple glazed laminated glazing with U Value to 0.6 W/m²K, contributing to overall energy efficiency.

    Spitfire S-500 vs Glasswin Diamond Series – our choice

    Spitfire S-500 and Glasswin Diamond Series front doors are excellent and high-end products amongst aluminium front doors. Both promise buyers a stylish, secure, energy-efficient and reliable front door for any home. However, the Glasswin door would be our choice because it offers an ideal balance of premium brand aluminium profiles and hardware with a more distinctive hidden-sash design.

    It is harder to identify the frame profiles used with the S-500. Schüco is considered one of the best aluminium names globally. Glasswin uses Schüco throughout the Diamond Series door. As a result, the Glasswin door is arguably better by brand perception because it’s clearer that it’s mostly a Schüco front door. More hinge options, quadruple safety glass and even genuine Schüco keys further add to its appeal. It would be our choice when deciding between these two brands.

    In conclusion, the Glasswin Diamond Series door is a great choice, combining aesthetics, energy efficiency, and security. Its wide range of customizable options allows homeowners to create a door that looks great and performs excellently in terms of service life, energy efficiency and security.