What to expect
Front door replacement: what is involved
Short answer
Replacing a front door means swapping both the door and its frame for a new made to measure unit. After a survey and a short wait while the door is made, the fitting itself is normally done in a single day: out with the old door and frame, in with the new, then adjusting, sealing and finishing. You choose uPVC or composite, the style, the colour and the glass.
Signs it is time for a new front door
Most people replace a front door for one of a handful of reasons:
- Draughts round the edges even after the seals have been adjusted
- A door that has dropped or catches on the frame
- A lock that is stiff, sticks or needs lifting hard to engage
- Misted or cracked glass panels, or faded and tired panels
- An older cylinder that does not meet modern anti snap standards
Door and frame, or just the door?
Fitting a new door slab into an old frame rarely works well with uPVC and composite doors, because the locks, hinges and seals are designed as one system. Replacing the complete doorset means everything is square, sealed and working together, and the guarantee covers the whole unit rather than a patchwork of old and new parts.
How long the fitting takes
The work on the day for a single front door and frame is normally completed in one visit. Extra time is sometimes needed when side panels are included, when the opening needs making good, or when an old timber sub frame has rotted and has to be dealt with before the new frame goes in. The fitter will tell you at the survey if anything like this applies.
The choices you make
The biggest decision is material. Composite doors have a solid core and a heavier feel and are £1,099 fully fitted; uPVC doors are lighter and are £799 fully fitted. After that come the panel style, colour inside and out, glass pattern, letterbox, handle finish and any door furniture such as a knocker or number.
If your house has a particular period look, bring photos of neighbouring doors or of the style you like. It is easier to get the proportions right at the survey than to change them later.
What happens to the old door
The old door and frame are removed as part of the job and the opening is left tidy. Inside, the edges are finished so the new frame sits neatly against the plaster. Our own fitters carry out the whole installation, we are FENSA registered, and every door comes with a 10-year insurance-backed guarantee.
Looks, kerb appeal and street character
A front door is the focal point of the front of a house, and the right replacement can lift the whole elevation. On a terrace or a row of similar semis, look at how the original doors were proportioned: panel layout, glass position and the height of the letterbox. Keeping those proportions while upgrading the material usually looks more natural than a style borrowed from a different era.
Hardware finish matters more than people expect. Chrome, black and gold handles each change the character of the same door, and a matching letterbox, knocker and number tie it together.
Security upgrades that come with a new door
A replacement front door is the easiest way to bring an older entrance up to current security expectations. Modern doorsets use a multi point lock that throws hooks and rollers into the frame along the locking edge, an anti snap cylinder, and hinges designed so they cannot be removed from outside. Laminated or toughened glass in any glazed panel means a broken pane does not leave an easy way in.
If you have ever had to lift the handle hard or jiggle the key to lock an old door, the difference on the first day is obvious: a well fitted new door locks with a light lift and a smooth turn.
Common questions
Get a free fixed quote
Call 07925 319937, open Monday to Sunday 9am to 6pm, or send the form.