What Factors Affect the Cost of Door Replacement?

When you look into door replacement cost here in Birmingham, AL, you’ll quickly see that the biggest factors in the price are the type of door, your material choice, the size and shape of the door, and the installation details. Here’s generally what to expect. 

Door Replacement Cost Factors in Birmingham, AL

Type of Door

An entry door will usually cost less than a patio unit, for example, because the structural demands and size differ. A basic single entry door often falls between $500 and $2,500 installed, while double doors or larger patio styles can climb to $1,500–$6,500 or more. Sliding or hinged patio doors add expense because of the glass area and the need for stronger framing.

Material

Steel doors are often the cheapest and can be as little as $200–$600 for the unit itself. They give you excellent security with modest upkeep requirements. Of course, for residential doors particularly, the look of steel is typically not preferred. Fiberglass sits in the middle range at roughly $300–$2,000 and gives you better insulation plus a wood-like appearance without the maintenance that wood requires. 

Solid wood door prices can push past $500–$2,500 for the door alone, and they also require regular sealing to protect them from humidity and temperature swings. Iron doors or doors with highly decorative options are even more expensive.

Size and Shape

A common 36-by-80-inch single door is standard and the cheapest. If you need anything wider, taller, or shaped to fit an irregular opening, that usually requires special fabrication and extra labor, so that’s going to add to your costs. Pre-hung doors that arrive already mounted in a new frame cost more up front than a slab door that you can simply hang in the existing jamb, but in the end, going the pre-hung route often ends up saving you time and money because there’s less chance that you’ll run into an alignment problem. 

Condition of Your Frame

Speaking of the frame, if the existing jamb is square, solid, and has no rot or water damage, you can often keep it and simply swap out the door slab. When the frame has shifted, is rotted, or if it no longer seals properly, then you’re talking about doing a full removal and replacement. Frame work alone can add $130–$650 or more to the cost, plus the time to rebuild the rough opening and restore the surrounding trim or siding. 

Special Features

If you want a special feature on your door, that will usually cost more. Energy-efficiency features, for example, will raise the initial price. However, they do also lower your operating costs over the life of the door. Foam-core insulation, low-E glass, multi-pane units, and tight weatherstripping improve the U-factor and reduce heat transfer: an ENERGY STAR-rated exterior door can actually cut your heating and cooling costs by as much as 13% compared with an older, non-certified unit, depending on the precise situation. 

Call Us Today!

Visit us online at EcoView Windows & Doors in Birmingham, AL or call us at 205-547-6075 to get a free quote on your new door. Our in-house licensed and insured installers handle the entire job, and we offer a lifetime limited warranty and available 12-month no-interest financing.

Tags: door replacement, entry door
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