Written by Micky Down, Micky's Property Services ·
Why each door is priced differently
Doors look standard, but openings rarely are. Frames move as houses settle, floors get raised by new flooring, and past owners may have trimmed or packed doors to make them fit. Each of these changes how long it takes to hang a new door so that it swings freely, closes cleanly and leaves an even gap all round.
That is why a sensible quote is per door after looking at them, rather than a flat rate for the house.
Pre-hung doors or a new door in the existing frame
A pre-hung door set comes with its own frame, with the door already hung. It means taking out the old frame and fitting the new one, then making good the wall and architrave around it. It suits openings where the frame is damaged or badly out of shape.
Hanging a new door into the existing frame is more common. The frame stays, and the door is cut to fit it, the hinges are recessed and the latch is fitted. If the frame is sound, this keeps disruption down and leaves the existing architrave in place.
Trimming, uneven floors and frames out of square
New doors almost always need trimming. Standard sizes are made slightly generous, and the door is planed and cut to suit the actual opening. In older homes the frame may lean, so the door has to be shaped to follow it rather than cut square.
Floors matter too. If carpet, underlay or a new floor has gone down, the bottom of the door needs enough clearance to open over it. A floor that slopes across the doorway means the bottom edge is cut at an angle. None of this is unusual, but each adds time.
Hinges, latches and handles
The ironmongery is part of the job. A new door needs hinges, a latch or lock and handles fitted, and old hinge positions in the frame may not line up with the new door. Reusing existing hinges and handles is possible if they are in good order, or you can supply new ones you have chosen. Heavier doors need suitable hinges, sometimes three rather than two.
Glazed and bi-fold doors
Glazed doors are heavier and need careful handling while they are trimmed, since there is less timber to take off around the glass. Bi-fold doors have extra hardware: a top track, pivots and hinges between the leaves, all of which need adjusting so they fold smoothly. These take longer than a plain panel door.
Painting and finishing
Many new doors arrive unfinished or only primed. Painting them after hanging, including the cut edges, protects the timber and stops it absorbing moisture. Planning the decorating with the fitting avoids marking freshly painted walls. Our interior painting page covers doors and other woodwork, and if the old architrave is tired, skirting and architrave can be renewed at the same time.
Doing several doors in one visit
Hanging several doors together tends to work out better than one at a time, because setting up, measuring and fitting run more efficiently and the finish matches throughout. List every door you are thinking about when you get in touch, even if you are not sure about all of them yet.
For more on the fitting itself see our internal doors service. If an existing door is catching rather than needing replacement, the guide on a door sticking or not closing may help. Contact us or call 07735 852901 for a free quote.