My front door is 21yo. Catches the sun from early AM until mid afternoon, and has been neglected these past few years. Normally I strip it, and repaint with 2 or 3 coats every few years, but the paint is peeling in a few places, joints have cracked, and it’s looking tired.
I could repair it...take it off the hinges, lay it on trestles, sand back, fill, prime etc
I’m getting quotes for a composite replacement....nothing fancy, white or dark grey, simple glass panels, either one or two, and a traditional lever handle.
I know there is less fading with white, maybe white is a cheaper option, and I’ll fit a matching outer frame rather than UPVC to save a few quid.
Any advice please before I press ‘go’.
I’ll be fitting it myself and with a friend who used to have his own window business, so that reduces costs, but means I’ll have to measure carefully!
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A not unusual dilemma but even though I can do DiY fairly competently I have left doors and windows to suppliers.
Main reason is measuring accurately. If I mess up the measurement the door is probably scrap. Cost to me may be (say) £600. I will also need to buy cans of sealant, cloaking, fixing bolts and make good any damage to surrounding brickwork.
If they mess up they go away and and make a new one. They have all the little bits of kit in the van, and the right pry bars, masonry drills to fit it.
It takes a contractor about 2 hours to fit - I will spend a day including going out to buy whatever I have forgotten and then take the old door to the dump. Well worth the £100-150 to get it fitted!
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Little to be saved by speccing and fitting your own. As terry says, get ordered and fitted by your local company.
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Just ordered one for the back door. Around £1,000 fitted is the going rate. Plenty of sites where you can choose your design of choices do get an immediate price. Around 6 to 8 weeks to supply. The company I am using did not require a deposit and payment not require until door is fitted.
Last edited by: CGNorwich on Sat 19 Sep 20 at 20:22
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I need to move somewhere cheaper. My recent foray into possibly changing the front door was priced between £2200 - £2500 fitted but that does include some quite wide side panels but only a fairly ordinary front door and furniture.
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Paid £800 for a new UPVC back door, including 2 windows, a cat door and lowered threshold.
Paid £1400 for a new, solid oak front door, made to measure and installed by a local craftsman.
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It does appear to be a minefield out there with manufacturers/suppliers...I take onboard the advice about getting it fitted.
My mums neighbour, who is a time served foreman for a well respected local building company, had a new sectional garage door fitted last week. The neighbour across recently demolished his garage and rebuilt it with a bedroom above, and had the same company fit him a new sectional garage door yesterday. Both neighbours work ‘in trade’ and are perfectionists so wouldn’t put up with sloppy workmanship, so I’ll ask their opinions re the service they’ve received.
I’ll also get a price for a solid wood door...several years ago a local specialist joinery company did all the timber on my extension using sapele for the window frames, patio doors, new internal staircase and back door. So far so good.
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Composite door question - Terry
