Summer Project: Entry Door Replacement

The average cost to replace an entry door is between $700-$1800. Replacing an existing entry door with a steel door will show returns of about 91% at resale. The new exterior door often fits and insulates better than your older door type. If you have an older entry door in your home, replacing it results in lower heating and cooling costs check out what your Summer Project: Entry Door Replacement can do for you!

Selecting New Exterior Doors

When selecting doors for energy efficiency, it’s essential to first consider their energy performance ratings concerning the local climate and your home’s design. This will help narrow your selection. The National Fenestration Rating Council label enables you to compare energy performance ratings of doors. Learn more about the NFRC label.

Types of Doors

Pre-hung ($96-$146):

Comes mounted to the door frame with hinges and lockset holes are present for standard installation. Popular for front doors.

French ($600-$1200):

Elegant doors with glass panels throughout. Best suited for front doors.

Accordion ($700-$1000):

A door that opens by folding it back in sections.

Bi-folding ($240-$521):

A door that folds in half. Popular for a lot of closet doors.

Sliding ($387-$592):

A door that slides to open. Best suited for patio doors.

Materials for Doors

There are 7 different types of materials to choose from when installing entry doors. Below are the different types, pros and cons, and costs of varying material doors.

Aluminum ($248-$520):

Low maintenance, won’t chip or rust, can dent, & Noisy.

Vinyl ($350-$550):

Low cost, Moderately insulating, Low maintenance, Poor weather resistance, Warping possible over time, & Difficult to paint.

Fiberglass ($360-$850):

Many design options Require little maintenance,
dent-resistant can be painted or stained, not super durable, & if you disinfect the door, it might damage the finish.

Steel ($390-$770):

Versatile, longevity, easy maintenance, low cost, lower weather resistance, dents are hard to fix, & scratches may rust if not painted correctly.

Composite ($450-$850):

High energy efficiency, versatile, improved security, difficult to paint or customize, & limited style options.

Wood ($500-$1,000):

Resistant to warping, good insulation qualities
long life, attractive, scratches easily repaired, relatively expensive, require care and maintenance, & may sag over time.

Iron (1,300-1,800):

Unique style, energy-efficient, improved security, costly, & requires regular maintenance.

Door Installation

When you buy a door, it will most likely be pre-hung. Pre-hung doors usually come with wood or steel frames. You will need to remove an existing doorframe from the opening before you install a pre-hung door.

Apply foam caulking to seal the new doorframe to the threshold. This will help prevent air from getting around the door seals and into the house.

Storm Doors

A storm door to a newer door is not generally worth the expense, because you won’t save much more energy.

Need Help or have questions about the Summer Project: Entry Door Replacement? Contact Us online at or give Us a call at 1 (503) 3357-8810. From concept to completion, we provide full remodeling services. Let’s Build It!

Kurt Kopp is a dedicated professional with a commitment to excellence. He is a master builder of over 35 years of experience that strives to deliver the highest quality product to his valued customer.