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Door FAQ

The most common door questions are what it costs, how long it lasts, whether a permit is needed, and whether to repair or replace. Short answers: $957–$1,458 per door nationally for a basic exterior install (Homewyse, May 2026); 20–50 years depending on material and exposure; permits are local, so ask your building department; and repair first unless the frame or slab has actually failed.

This page collects the questions that come up in almost every door project. Where a number is involved, we've cited where it comes from — and where published sources disagree, we say so rather than picking the flattering figure.

The single most useful thing you can do before talking to any door company: press your thumb into the bottom of the door jamb and sill. If the wood gives, you have rot, and that changes the whole conversation from 'which door' to 'the frame has to be dealt with.' It also tells you immediately whether a slab-only quote is realistic.

How to choose

Ask 'is this prehung or slab' first
It explains most of the price gap between competing quotes.
Verify the license and insurance yourself
State board lookup for the license, and a certificate of insurance for liability and workers' comp.
Get the rot contingency priced in writing
Before signing. It's the most common mid-job cost surprise in this trade.
Don't accept same-day pricing pressure
A real quote holds for at least a couple of days.
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FAQ

Doors faq — common questions

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Homewyse's national estimate is $957–$1,458 per door as of May 2026 for a basic install. Full entry-door projects commonly run $1,200–$6,000+ installed once glass, sidelights, hardware and any opening work are included.
Published estimates run roughly 30–50 years for fiberglass, 30+ for steel and 20–40 for wood. Exposure and maintenance matter more than the material label.
That's set by your city or county, not nationally. Like-for-like swaps in an existing opening are often treated more leniently than jobs that change the opening size. Call your building department and ask about your exact scope.
Repair for latching, sticking and draft problems — those are hinge, strike-plate, threshold and weatherstrip issues. Replace when the frame or sill is rotted, the slab is warped or delaminated, or the opening is out of square.
The federal 25C credit — $250 per door, $500 total for ENERGY STAR doors — applied to property placed in service before December 31, 2025. Check the IRS page and your state or utility programs for anything currently available.
Sources

Where these figures come from

You know more than the last homeowner they quoted.

That is worth something only while you are still choosing. Tell us what is going on and we will match you with a few doors pros whose licence and insurance we have already checked — free, no obligation.

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