SILKA is forecasting a major shift in installer sales strategies in 2026, with premium, technology-led entrance doors set to become the hero product of the home improvement journey. Installers are now increasingly leading with high-specification entrance doors to anchor conversations around security, design and whole-home upgrades, reflecting changing expectations and project priorities in the UK and Ireland.
SILKA says installers are entering 2026 with a renewed focus on higher-value entrance doors, in response to homeowner demand for better security, smart-home compatibility and stronger visual impact. The trend has accelerated throughout 2025, with SILKA’s premium Kärben collection often used by trade partners to open customer conversations and frame the direction of the full project.
High-end features – such as the fingerprint entry, keypad unlocking, smartphone integration and embedded LED approach lighting that come with Kärben – are now shaping project briefs much earlier in the buying journey. Installers report stronger early engagement and greater homeowner confidence when cutting-edge technology is introduced upfront, rather than treated as optional add-ons further down the track.
This change aligns with wider market behaviour. The Residential Doors Market Report UK 2025–2029 confirms that while approximately 10.6 million residential doors were sold in 2024, market value has been sustained by a shift towards higher-specification products, supported by growing interest in smart technology integration, energy efficiency and design customisation. SILKA says this is translating into practical changes on the showroom floor, where premium entrance doors are increasingly becoming the foundation for broader renovation plans.
“As installers map out their plans and strategies for 2026, we’re seeing premium doors move to the centrepiece of the sales process,” says Asa McGillian, Managing Director at SILKA. “Homeowners are making bigger decisions earlier, and products like Kärben set the tone for the entire project – premium materials, smart functionality and a finish that lasts. Installers need hero products that demonstrate value instantly, and that’s exactly where the market is heading.”
SILKA expects this momentum to continue rising in 2026, driven by the demand for entrance doors that last longer, secure better and integrate with smart-home set-ups. Kärben has continually evolved to embody the change, bringing together a carbon fibre-reinforced Thermafill® core, bonded Italian porcelain ceramic panels and smart-enabled features in a premium hybrid aluminium entrance door system built for the next generation of home upgrades.
