Average cost of a door

Job

Average cost

Updated

Quote

A front door is often seen as a statement of the homeowner's personality as well as a security feature. The range of styles, colours and individual designs has widened immensely over the past few years meaning that it's easy to have the perfect door to reflect your practical needs as well as your personal preference. Budget hardwood front doors may start at below £100 and for full system, premium products, rise to above £1000.

Many people prefer wood for their exterior doors as it has a warmer, natural and traditional feel. Unfortunately wood is vulnerable to the weather. The repeated cycles of sun and rain swell, warp and crack the wood; the ultra violet rays of the sun slowly break down the lignin in the wood and the rain swells the fibres. Unless your door is completely isolated from the weather a traditional wooden door will eventually be of little use to you – as it swells it will stick against the door jamb, as it degrades its security and durability will be compromised.

The choice of material available now for exterior doors incorporates wood, steel, PVCu and fiberglass composites. Most doors have a core of foam insulation and a wooden door might well have the addition of a steel interior to improve its durability and security whilst maintaining its traditional outward appearance. It is now possible to purchase entire entry systems instead of just a replacement door. A system would include the door pre-hung in its frame, the threshold would interlock with the bottom of the door and the whole edge of the door would be sealed with weather stripping. Which system or material you choose will greatly affect your costs. Remember, however, that an exterior door should be a long-term investment and a saving at the beginning may mean higher maintenance costs in the longer term.

There are new regulations about the heat retention needed when using glazing in exterior doors in new build situations. It is unlikely that single glazing would suffice, double or triple would be needed. Be sure to check these specifications carefully before beginning any work.

In choosing an interior door there are several things that need to be considered over and above the decorative factors:

• Fire safety – in houses with more than two storeys or with an attic conversion, building regulations state that you will need fire doors on escape routes. It is imperative that if an interior door needs to act as a fire safety door that is complies with British Standards. If in doubt contact the British Fire Safety Advice Centre. These specifications cover the door, the frame and the application of intumescent strip along the edges of the door to improve the resistance of the door against fire. Also the future maintenance of fire doors is something that needs to be costed into the project.
• Soundproofing - interior doors can be made of timber, steel, glass or PVCu and can be solid or hollow. All of these choices will have implications on the final cost, but the solidity of the door will also impact on the soundproofing they offer. Hollow doors allow the sound to travel through more than solid doors.
• Space – folding or sliding doors can be a bonus for areas that are short on space or where a fully swung open door would create a blockage or hazard.
• Safety - if you are considering having a glass interior door, be sure to purchase glass that has been specially toughened or use double or tri glazed panels.

There is a temptation to used reclaimed timber doors to create a period feel for your home. However be aware that the dimensions of these doors can often be different to the standard door sizes available today.

When choosing a new door, it is wise to measure thoroughly before purchasing anything. Do not assume any pre-existing doors are the best size for the door frame and do not assume that all similar doors are exactly the same size. If you intend to fit PVCu doors it is best to err on the smaller side and take off approximately 6mm from your measurements to allow for fitting tolerances. A packer can be used if there are any spaces which can then be concealed behind facings. In contrast, a wooden door has greater adaptability. Either packers can be used if the dimensions are too small or if the door is too large for the frame, the edges can be successfully cut to allow a more precise fit. Most suppliers will have a range of doors in 'standard' sizes. If these are not appropriate than joiners can offer a bespoke service.

Budget moulded interior doors start at £25 or less whilst premium hardwood doors may be £300 or more apiece.

Spending your preparation time wisely in researching carefully and measuring comprehensively will save expensive mistakes from occurring later in the project.