Front door fitting cost
Most lists online for new front door costs will be a supply only price of the door and it's important to also consider the front door installation cost.
When fitting a new front door, you have several options:
- Use a local joiner or handyman - from £25 per hour
- Do it yourself - free
- Use a door manufacturer who installs - can be free with a door set
A local joiner might be the first consideration for most people at a reasonable cost but they will be purchasing an off-the-shelf door and then retrofitting to the space you have.
Properties usually shift over time and door frames drop or twist and this means the space to fit the door isn't a neat opening with square corners.
Timber doors are more forgiving for fitting as they can be trimmed with a plane to get an accurate fit.
uPVC and composite doors are much less forgiving as they can't be trimmed to fit with a plane.
A company who measures and makes your door to fit will ensure your door will open and close perfectly, not rattle in the frame and not have any gaps that let in draughts.
A front door fitting cost for a local joiner would be from £25 an hour but they can take considerably longer to fit the door than a specialist company who manufacture the door and frame offsite.
DIY can seem like a cheap option, but fitting a front door isn't always the straightforward job you might think. Your door must be fitted properly to be fully secure and to ensure you don't have future problems if the door drops and won't open and close properly.
A specialist door fitting company will offer a front door cost that includes a survey, a bespoke door made to measure and installation. Often, the installation will work out free if you factor in the cost of the materials.
How long does it take to fit a new front door?
If you're having your main front door replaced, it's unacceptable to be overnight without a door for obvious reasons. And, this would be the main reason to not try and replace the door yourself.
Delays to fitting a new front door happen when problems with the sizing of the door arise and this is where enthusiastic DIY'ers can come unstuck.
A specialist supplier will survey your property, measure the space and custom build the door and frame offsite before they install. This reduces any margin for error and installation very rarely comes up against a serious issue that would leave you without a front door for more than a day.
To fit a new front door should take a few hours, between half a day up to a full day for a complicated installation. But never overnight.
Does the door frame need to be replaced at the same time?
When replacing a door into an existing frame, you can struggle to get a perfect fit. Frames drop and warp over time and this makes it a challenge to introduce a new door.
No - if the frame is in good condition and replacing a door like-for-like then fitting a door without a new frame could be an option. But, you might need to move hinges or door latches and this could leave large ugly gaps in the frame. These can be filled and painted but they might compromise the integrity of the frame.
Yes - if your door frame has become damaged (for example, after a forced entry) you must replace the frame. The frame is integral to the strength of the door and contributes to its resistance so it's essential to maintain the integrity of the door.
If you're changing a door, it's far better to have the door and frame changed at the same time for perfect fit, aesthetics, security and durability.
Yes - changing your door from timber to uPVC or composite or changing from an old uPVC door to a new one, or even a different manufacturer will always need a new frame. uPVC and composite doors are manufactured as a complete door set of door slab and frame with unique hinges, so it wouldn't be possible to fit the door without its frame.