Having recently bought a new house, I needed to think about our door number. We bought a new-build house so there was no house number in place and I was surprised to find there are no real guidelines from the housebuilder on displaying door numbers. There are typically a number of rules related to new homes such as not changing the colour of the door and restrictions on any adjustments or additions to the house so it seemed a surprise that door numbering was not subject to any rules.
It is legally required that occupiers of premises display the door number within the boundary of the property. Numbers should be marked on a strong contrasting background and be seen clearly and visibly from the roadside.
There are some tips for best practice in displaying door numbers:
- Visibility - it is critical that a door number is visible for the postal service and emergency services.
- Position - the best position for a door number is between about 1.5 and 2 metres. This is in line with most people's eye line.
- Central - the most appealing position will be central.
Insurance broker Confused.com has recently done an interesting study into the most unlucky door number based on number of claims. They claim that houses with door number 243 are the unluckiest homes in the UK. This is based on the number of claims homeowners have made in the last 5 years.
At Doorsan we can supply door numbers, please give us a ring to discuss available designs to compliment your choice of hardware. Check that the style of door lends itself to the fitting of numbers. We are happy to provide advice on fitting numbers to your new timber door and we would suggest you start by measuring a central position, plotting it with a pencil then drilling a pilot hole, please remember that drilled holes require finishing to prevent moisture ingress. Alternatively numbers can be fitted to the side of your front door or gate.