Exterior Door Replacement in Raleigh: What Happens on Install Day
You've decided the old door has to go: the bottom is soft, the lock fights you, or the draft by the entry has become impossible to ignore. The next question most Raleigh homeowners ask is practical: how long will my house be open, and what do I need to do? Here's what a typical exterior door replacement looks like, from the night before to the final walkthrough. If you're still deciding whether to repair or replace, start with our door repair and replacement service, and we'll tell you honestly which one your door needs.
How long does it take to replace an exterior door?
Most single exterior doors (front, back, side or garage entry) are replaced in about half a day to a full day. A straight swap of a prehung door into a sound opening is the faster end. Double doors, sidelights, a storm door added on, or rot in the sill or framing push it toward a full day. Your home is open only while the old unit comes out and the new one is set, usually a short stretch, and we close it up before we leave.
What happens on install day, step by step
- Arrival and walkthrough. You'll get an on-my-way text with your craftsman's name and photo. Your craftsman confirms the door, swing direction and hardware with you before anything comes out.
- Protecting your floors. Drop cloths go down inside and a clear path goes from the entry to the truck.
- Removing the old door. The interior trim comes off carefully so it can go back on, then the old door and frame come out.
- Checking the opening. This is where surprises show up: soft subfloor at the threshold, rotted framing or an out-of-square opening. Anything found is shown to you before work continues.
- Setting the new door. The new prehung unit is set level and plumb, shimmed, fastened into the framing, and the threshold is sealed against water.
- Hardware and adjustment. The lockset and deadbolt go in, and the door is adjusted so it latches cleanly and seals against the weatherstripping.
- Trim, sealing and cleanup. Trim goes back on, exterior gaps are sealed, debris and the old door leave with us, and you get a walkthrough of how it opens, locks and seals.
"Bradley A. did an awesome job installing and fixing our back door, very friendly and professional. Well done!"
— Bryan D., Google review
How to get your home ready
- Clear a path from the door to the driveway, and move rugs, furniture and wall décor near the entry.
- Plan for pets and kids: the opening is exposed for part of the visit.
- If you have a security system, ask the alarm company how to bypass the door sensor and reinstall it.
- Painting the new door? Most doors arrive primed. We can paint it, or you can on a dry day after install. Our painting team can match it to your trim.
Can you replace an exterior door in winter?
Yes. Door replacements happen year-round in the Triangle. Because the opening is only exposed while the old door comes out and the new one goes in, a cold day mostly means a few minutes of chilly air. We avoid steady rain, since the opening and new threshold need to stay dry while they're sealed.
Should you add a storm door at the same time?
A storm door adds a layer against wind-driven rain and helps protect a new door's finish on sunny west- and south-facing entries. If you want one, it goes on after the entry door is set and adjusted, on the same visit. The storm door also needs its own clearance for the entry door's handle and deadbolt, which is easier to plan when both are installed together.
"We didn't have an easy storm door replacement project but Eric B. did great work with what we had and made it right for us."
— Tracy Y., Google review
What affects the cost of an exterior door replacement?
We bill by time and materials, so we don't publish a set price. The main factors:
- The door's size and style (glass, sidelights, double doors)
- A prehung unit vs. a slab
- Any rot repair in the sill, subfloor or framing
- Trim and paint
- Add-ons such as a storm door or a new lockset
Projects of $2,000 or more may qualify for 0% financing for 6 months, subject to approval.
Who will come to your home?
Every Ace Handyman Services craftsman is a background-checked, insured W-2 employee (not a subcontractor), and the work is backed by our one-year workmanship warranty.
Frequently asked questions
How long does it take to replace an exterior door?
Most single exterior doors are replaced in about half a day to a full day. A prehung door going into a sound opening is the quickest. Double doors, sidelights, an added storm door, or rot in the sill or framing take longer. Your home is closed up before the craftsman leaves.
Will my house be open while the door is replaced?
Only for part of the visit. The opening is exposed while the old door and frame come out and the new unit is set, usually a short stretch. After that the new door is fastened, sealed and locking. We plan the work so the opening isn't left exposed in bad weather.
What if the frame or subfloor is rotted?
That's the most common surprise on install day. Rot at the threshold or in the framing is cut out and rebuilt before the new door goes in, so the new door has a solid, dry base. Your craftsman shows you what he found and explains the added work before continuing.
Can a door be replaced without replacing the trim?
Usually, yes. The interior trim is removed carefully and reinstalled around the new door, and a prehung exterior door comes with its own exterior trim. If the old casing is cracked, rotted or won't fit the new frame, we replace just those pieces and paint them to match.
Ready for a new exterior door?
Call Ace Handyman Services Greater Triangle and Johnston County at (984) 319-0120 or request an estimate online to plan your door replacement. If yours just sticks or won't latch, read how to tell a door repair from a replacement first.