How much are doors? That’s a common question we hear at the Door Store and Windows, and one would think a fairly simple question to answer. However, there are several factors that contribute to the total investment for a new door, which can vary depending on the door style, material, whether it’s an exterior or interior door, and the labor costs associated with the installation. So let’s look at the things you need to consider when buying a new door so you can make better informed decisions that keep to your budget and vision.

What Type of Door Do You Need?

There are all kinds of doors, all with different features, configurations, materials, and installation costs.

Entry Doors

Entry doors are used for the front, back and sides of the home or even the garage. They can be single or double doors.

Patio Doors

Patio doors swing to open and close and offer outstanding views to the outdoors with an expansive opening.

French Doors

A French door is a door with multiple glass panes that run the length of the panel.

Sliding Doors

Sliding doors slide along a track rather than swinging on hinges, and are most popular for patios, balconies, and backyard access.

Interior Doors

Interior doors are available for virtually every opening throughout a home – from interior passage doors to closet doors. Choose custom door options or unique wood species to amp up the look and style.

Storm Doors

Storm doors offer the opportunity to showcase your entry, ventilate, let light in, and reduce drafts. They can be full view or half view. Storm doors can add insulation and protection to your entryway.

Pivot Doors

Pivot doors have top and bottom turning mechanisms that allow the door to swing open and closed. Because of their intricate hardware, pivot doors are more difficult to install than standard hinged doors.

Bi-Fold Doors

Bi-fold doors are also referred to as accordion or bi-folding doors. They have two or more hinged panels that fold into each other when opened. These are a popular patio door style.

Multi-Slide Doors

Multi-slide doors feature multiple floor-to-ceiling glass door panels. When open, these panels will move to either stack at the side or slide into a wall pocket.

Lift and Slide Doors

A lift and slide door is a type of multi-slide door that opens by turning its handle to lift the door for easy movement. Once open multi panels glide along a track and stack into a wall cavity.

What Size Is the Door?

What’s the size of the door you need? Seems like a pretty straight-forward question, but there are many things that contribute to the door size: height; width; depth. Depending on when and where your house was built the size of your entry doors could vary dramatically. Many older homes have larger doors. Think about doors you see in Old Louisville vs. doors you see in St. Matthews. Over the years, as building became more standardized, doors became smaller. Why does this matter? Because that means there really isn’t a standard-sized door. Most entry doors are custom made. And the larger the door the more expensive it will be.

What Is the Shape of the Door?

Is the door a traditional shape? Does it have a rounded top or another angle? Is there anything unusual about your door? Any shape other than a rectangle can affect the price of the door.

Where Is the Door Located?

The location of the door can increase the cost of installation. If the door is located on a second or third floor, your installation team will have to have the proper equipment to get the door into place. This may also require a larger number of people to work on the installation.

The location of your door may also impact the material you need. If your door is on a covered porch and isn’t subjected to weather, you have more options for material selection. But if your door is westward facing and exposed to the elements, especially afternoon sun, you will need to look into materials that can handle the heat and UV rays. Typically, fiberglass or fiberglass clad doors are preferred in these situations.

Is There a Specific Material You Prefer for Your Door?

Doors come in a variety of materials. Door Store and Windows offers only the products and materials that provide enhanced security, energy efficiency, and longevity. These materials include wood, steel, fiberglass, wood with aluminum clad, and wood with fiberglass clad.

What Are the Benefits of Wood Doors?

Wood doors are beautiful and a wonderful insulating material. If you are concerned about the maintenance of solid wood doors then you have the option of wood clad with fiberglass on the exterior or wood clad with aluminum. Solid wood and wood clad doors are on the premium end of the cost spectrum both in initial costs and long-term maintenance.

What Are the Benefits of Steel Doors?

Steel doors are the strongest material available. They are the leading choice for security but also offer longevity, durability, and minimal maintenance. Steel doors are often more budget friendly than other durable doors.

What Are the Benefits of Fiberglass doors?

Fiberglass doors are extremely strong and considered virtually maintenance free. Fiberglass is known for its insulating properties. It is resistant to warping and rotting even under dramatic temperature fluctuations. So, fiberglass is ideal for doors that are exposed to the sun throughout the day.

What Are the Benefits of Aluminum Doors?

Aluminum is known for its strength and structural integrity. It is a low-maintenance product that can withstand hail and other harsh weather. It is long lasting, durable, and recyclable.

Does the Door Have Glass?

When it comes to glass inserts and glass panels, there’s a wide range of options to match your style, privacy needs, and budget. Many doors feature clear glass inserts across the top—perfect for letting in natural light while maintaining privacy. For those who want added character and discretion, frosted, patterned, or colored glass options provide both beauty and function with a touch of design flair. If you’re looking to make a bold statement, stained or leaded glass panels can bring an elegant, custom touch to your entryway. Keep in mind that while these specialty designs may elevate the overall look, they also come at a higher price point due to their craftsmanship and detail.

Does the Door Have Sidelights?

Sidelights are the narrow, vertical windows on the side of your door. They can be on one side or both sides. They add cost in materials and installation.

Does the Door Have a Transom?

A transom is a window that is placed above the door and is often fixed, but can be operable. Transoms come in a wide variety of styles, shapes, and sizes. Their addition to a door increases the cost of the entry door project as well as the cost of installation. Installing a transom takes more time and a different skill set than installing an average door. The transom needs to be square, plumb and level with the door frame for the installation to be complete. This requires a larger, more skilled installation team.

What is the Current Condition of the Millwork Around Your Door?

This is a question you may not know. We like to send a consultant to your home to take a look at the door and its surroundings. Sometimes we have to replace not just the existing door and frame but also the millwork around the door because the current millwork is rotten. A lot of older homes have millwork that is wood. It can be replaced with a composite material that looks like wood but will not rot.

Do You Want Special Hardware?

The amount hardware for a door is extensive. It isn’t just the handle, lock and hinges. Most exterior doors have deadbolts. You may want a peephole, also known as a door viewer. Or maybe an escutcheon fits your style. These are the ornamental plates that surround the handles and key cylinders protecting the door from nicks. The material is also important: do you want brass, bronze, chrome, or nickel? Premium hardware will add to the aesthetic appeal of your home but it also adds to the overall expense. Your handle choice will likely be the most significant choice affecting the cost of your hardware.

If security is important to you, we recommend a multi-point locking system, which locks at three or more points. We highly recommend multi-point hardware when your door is tall. Marvin requires a multi-point system for doors taller than 7 feet. By the way, multi-point locks not only enhance security but also increase energy efficiency. When all points are engaged, the door seals tightly and helps prevent racking and bowing.

Installation Costs

Now that we have covered the materials, let’s discuss installation costs. Here is where Door Store and Windows sets itself apart. We believe quality products need quality installation.

Your first consideration should always be to choose a certified installer. This means the team has had extensive product and installation training, including years of experience installing doors. Because our team specializes in replacing doors, we can problem solve should issues arise. We also have the trucks and all the tools and supplies needed for door projects. And we are well versed in the processes that ensure your door works properly and is level and secure.

Our door installation process includes the following steps:

1. Team Arrival, Introduction and Workspace Prep

Our door installation team consists of one to three people, depending on the project. When the team arrives they will introduce themselves and get to work prepping the work space. Plastic sheeting is placed on the floor and surrounding surfaces to contain debris and protect surfaces in the interior of your home. Additional coverage is used for older homes to contain lead dust.

2. Verifying Measurements

Before removing your old door, our team takes the time to re-measure the insert area and the new door. This check guarantees that the product delivered is the right door, fits the opening, and we are able to complete the project once we remove the old door.

3. Removing Old Door

After measurements are verified, our team carefully removes the old door and the existing door frame. Don’t worry about the old door. We will take it with us and dispose of it.

4. Cleaning the Insert Area

Once the old door is removed, our team cleans up any loose paint, dust, and other debris from the insert area.  At this point in the demolition, you will be able to see inside your wall! This surprises some of our customers, but not to worry. Our team will seamlessly install your new product – no leftover signs of demolition or open walls in sight.

5. New Door Installation

Our team carefully unloads the new door, removes packaging and installs the product.

We are meticulous about security at the Door Store and Windows. We use premium materials to add to the security of our doors. When attaching the door frame (aka jamb) to the wall, we use 3” screws made with hardened steel, ensuring they won’t snap. We also use 3” hinge screws to attach the door slab to the jamb. This strengthens the connection between the door slab and the frame holding it. We use insulating foam to seal the door frame to the door wall. The foam provides another element of security as it also acts as an adhesive. A jamb reinforcement plate is installed with every ProVia door for extra strength and to help prevent kick-ins.  This 20-gauge steel plate is installed on the lock-side leg of the jamb between the frame and the wall. It has a space for the deadbolt throw.

Once the door is set and secured to ensure the unit is plumb, level and square, we use spray foam insulation around the perimeter of the door. This creates an energy efficient seal. Then, we reapply the trim.

6. Clean-Up

After installation we clean up any debris, vacuum the area and remove the plastic sheeting.

So as you can see, door prices can range dramatically depending on what you need and want. Now that you know the factors that determine the cost of custom doors you can make informed decisions when purchasing. And of course, if you have any questions, our design experts at Door Store and Windows are here to help. Give us a call at 502-521-1598 or Contact Us today.