Signs it's time to replace, not repair
Drafts around the edges even with new weatherstripping, visible daylight at the threshold, a door that's swollen or sticking seasonally, or soft/spongy wood at the bottom corners of the jamb all point to replacement rather than a repair. Fogged glass in an insulated-glass unit means the seal has failed and the glass panel, at minimum, needs replacing.
If the frame and brick mould are solid and just the door is worn or outdated, a slab-only or full prehung swap into the existing opening keeps cost down. If there's rot at the sill or jack studs, budget for carpentry repair before the new door goes in, patching over rotted framing just moves the problem a few years down the road.
What a solid entry door install includes
A quality install isn't just setting the unit in the hole. It includes checking the rough opening for square and level, installing or replacing the sill pan with proper flashing, shimming and fastening the jamb correctly, foaming and caulking the perimeter, and adjusting the door on its hinges so it latches without slamming or dragging.
- Old door, frame, and brick mould removal
- Rough opening inspection, square, level, and moisture check
- Sill pan flashing and threshold installation or replacement
- Prehung unit installation, shim, fasten, and square
- Low-expansion foam insulation and exterior caulking
- Brick mould and interior casing installation
- Hardware and lockset installation and adjustment
- Paint or stain touch-up on trim (full finish is usually a separate line item on wood doors)
Sidelights, transoms, and glass options
Adding sidelights or a transom window changes a standard door swap into a wider carpentry project, the opening has to be reframed to the new width, and the header may need to be checked for load. Decorative glass, obscure or textured privacy glass, and grille patterns are mostly a material upcharge rather than a labor change, but full-lite doors do cost more to install carefully because there's less solid door to shim against.
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Frequently asked questions
How long does entry door replacement take?+
A straightforward prehung swap into a sound opening typically takes 3-5 hours. Jobs needing sill or frame repair, or adding sidelights, can take a full day or spill into a second day for trim and paint.
Fiberglass, steel, or wood, which should I pick for a front door?+
Fiberglass holds up best against Central PA's freeze-thaw swings and doesn't dent or rust. Steel costs less but can dent and is more prone to rust at scratches over time. Wood looks the best and can be refinished, but needs regular maintenance to avoid warping and rot exposed to weather.
Do I need to replace the storm door at the same time?+
Not necessarily, but if your storm door is more than 10-15 years old or doesn't fit the new entry door's exact dimensions, replacing both at once saves a second service call and ensures proper weatherstripping alignment between the two.
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