Door Replacement: DIY or Hire a Pro?

As one of the first impressions of your home, you exterior doors should reflect your home’s architectural style and your family’s unique tastes—particularly your front entry door. In addition, exterior doors provide security and protect your home from the elements.

If you’re considering replacing an exterior door in your home, you might be wondering whether you can DIY the project or if you should call a professional door installation company. At WindowWorks, we’ve been completing Chicago door replacements since 1996, and our expert installers take extra care to work with our customers throughout the entire door replacement process to ensure complete satisfaction. We’ve completed thousands of projects throughout the Chicagoland area—some of which started as DIYs before the homeowner realized the job was more than they could handle.

Before you head out to your local home improvement store to pick out a new exterior door, our experienced door installers have some advice about exterior door replacement.

Is DIY Door Replacement Right for Me?

In some cases, replacing a door can be a simple task. For example, if you live in a newer home, replacing an entry door that is exactly the same size as your existing door can likely be accomplished if you have basic carpentry skills and the right tools. However, this is the best-case scenario for a DIY door replacement. Patio doors, storm doors, and custom doors will require more advanced skills and power tools you might not have on hand. Before you attempt to DIY your door replacement, ask yourself the following questions:

• Do I have a way to transport my new door?
  
  If you own a truck or have access to one, you can probably transport a door on your own. Patio doors and entry doors with sidelights are much larger than a typical entry or storm door, so keep that in mind when you’re selecting your door. If you don’t have a truck, you’ll likely incur an additional delivery charge on top of the cost of your door.
  
  
• Do I have the right tools?
  
  A screwdriver, pry bar, level, caulk and caulk gun, and hammer are the basic tools needed for replacing a pre-hung door. If you’re installing a different size door, you’ll need several additional tools that may not be part of your homeowner’s toolbox.
  
  
• Am I experienced enough to DIY my door replacement?
  
  You can install a pre-hung door inside an existing jam or frame rather easily—as long as the frame hasn’t been damaged by rot or damage from frequent use. If rot or damage is present, you may need assistance to replace the frame. Also, keep in mind that exterior doors need to be installed tightly to provide proper security and energy efficiency. Improperly installing a door can lead to water damage to your walls, floors, and basements.
  
  
• Do I have the time to replace my door?
  
  This may be the most important question to ask yourself before you consider a DIY your door replacement. If you’ve never replaced an exterior door, it will likely take you much longer than it would a professional door installer. You need to consider how much your time is worth. Would you rather spend an afternoon or weekend replacing your door, or is spending quality time with family or friends a better use of your time?

Benefits of Hiring a Professional Door Installation Company

Once you’ve considered the above questions, it’s time to decide whether to DIY your door replacement or hire a professional. When you work with an experienced door replacement company, you’ll experience numerous benefits, including:

• Free Consultations and Estimates
  
  Most professional home remodeling companies offer a free consultation to understand your needs and requirements and provide a detailed cost estimate to make budgeting for your project much easier. Most importantly, they have the expertise the help you find the best exterior doors for your home!
  
  
• High-Quality Products and Exceptional Customer Service
  
  For customer-centric service and industry-leading products, there’s no better choice than your local door replacement company. At WindowWorks, customer satisfaction is our highest priority, and we offer a complete line of high-quality replacement doors, including fiberglass entry doors, steel entry doors, patio doors, and storm doors.
  
  
• Professional Affiliations
  
  A professional door replacement company should always be insured and bonded, and will likely be affiliated with professional organizations, such as the Better Business Bureau. An A+ rating with the BBB—like we have at WindowWorks—represents a company’s dedication to quality service.
  
  
• Exclusive Warranties
  
  Professional door installation companies almost always provide warranties on their products. Many also offer coverage on workmanship for at least a year—sometimes longer! It’s important to keep in mind that many manufacturers require that a door be installed by a professional door replacement company to keep the product warranty intact.

Would you rather work with an expert door installation company than attempt a DIY door replacement? Then reach out to the professionals at WindowWorks today! Give us a call to speak one of our friendly representatives, or fill out our simple online form now to request your free in-home consultation and estimate.