Exterior Door Installation: Hire a Professional or DIY?

VEA Technologies on September 5, 2023

When you’re ready to upgrade your exterior door, you might be considering the DIY route. Exterior door installation may seem like an easy enough project, but there are a few important things to consider when deciding whether or not to hire a professional. 

DIY Exterior Door Installation 

In some circumstances, changing a door is a straightforward project. For example, if you live in a brand-new home, replacing an entry door that is the exact same size as your old door is certainly doable, provided you have basic carpentry skills and the necessary materials. This is, however, the best-case situation for a do-it-yourself door replacement. Patio doors, storm doors, and customized doors may need more sophisticated skills and power tools that you may not have. Before you undertake a DIY door install, there are a few things to consider.

How Will You Transport The New Door?

Without a truck or someone you can borrow one from, you may not even be able to get the new exterior door to your house. Patio doors and main entrance doors with sidelights are significantly bigger than standard entry or storm doors, so keep this in mind when choosing your door. If you don’t have a truck, you may have to pay an extra delivery fee on top of the cost of your door.

Do You Have The Proper Tools?

The essential equipment required for installing a pre-hung door is a screwdriver, pry bar, level, caulk, caulk gun, and hammer. However, if you’re installing a different size door, you’ll need a few extra tools that you might not have in your homeowner’s toolbox.

Do You Have The Time?

If you’ve never tackled an exterior door installation yourself before, you’ll probably take far longer than a professional door installer. Consider how much your time is worth and whether or not you want to take the time to install a door or if you’d rather pay a professional. 

Professional Exterior Door Installation

Sometimes it is just better to leave it to the pros. Getting a free estimate is worth it to determine if you want to have a professional install your exterior door. They will help you in understanding what is required to complete an exterior door installation, as well as providing a full cost estimate to help you budget for your project. As an added bonus, they have the knowledge to assist you in selecting the ideal exterior doors for your home.

Get High-Quality Products

When choosing to get the help of a professional, you will gain access to a wider selection of products than if you simply stopped by the nearest big-box store. Local businesses often have close relationships with door manufacturers that use higher-quality materials. By choosing this route, you can get exactly what you want and know that it will stand the test of time.

Get Exclusive Warranties

When you hire a professional to install your door, you get the added benefit of product warranties. Many also provide coverage that holds the business responsible for installing the door incorrectly. It’s crucial to keep in mind that many door manufacturers require that a door is installed by a professional in order to maintain the product warranty.

Insurance and Liability

Professionals who install exterior doors are insured, and some are even bonded, so you won’t be held financially accountable for anything other than the original product and labor costs. If any property damage occurs or anybody on the team is injured during the installation, the professionals are responsible for the costs. When undertaking a DIY door installation, you do not have this level of protection, and you could end up significantly increasing the cost of a DIY door installation over a professional door installation.

Hire the Professionals at Manor

Manor offers exterior door installation replacement services, so you don’t have to stress over another DIY project. We have a huge selection of Marvin and Pella doors that are perfect for you and your home. Contact us today for a free estimate, and let us help you find the door that will welcome your friends and family for years to come. We also offer financing!

Learn more about Manor Roofing and Restoration door installations : 5 reasons to upgrade to energy efficient patio doors.

Manor Doors | 5 Reasons to Upgrade to Energy-Efficient Patio Doors

Leeann Cravens on March 9, 2023

Sliding glass patio doors are a popular choice thanks to their ability to give you an unobstructed view of the outdoors, their aesthetic appeal, and they are easy to use. However, some of these doors may not be energy efficient, leading to high energy bills. If your patio doors are old, it may be time to replace them with newer energy-efficient ones.  

Top 5 Reasons to Upgrade to Energy-Efficient Patio Doors

#1 – Decrease Your Energy Costs

The number one reason to upgrade your patio doors is to save money on energy costs. Your heating and cooling bills are likely to be much higher if your patio doors allow too much air to come and go. Older doors, or even new ones that aren’t built well, may not be as effective at insulating your home. However, you can have big beautiful glass patio doors without sacrificing energy-efficiency, and it will save you money in the long run. 

#2 – Increase Sound Insulation

High-quality, energy-efficient patio doors not only offer more insulation from the heat and cold, but from sound as well. Typically energy-efficient doors have two or more panes of reinforced glass for weatherproofing and durability, but this also means less sound will pass through the glass. Having doors that offer sound insulation can be a huge benefit, especially if you live near a busy road or a neighborhood with a lot of noise. You may not even realize how much sound is coming through your patio doors until you replace them!

#3 – Increase Your Property Value

Replacing old patio doors with new energy-efficient ones will add to the value of your home. Along with the appeal of lowering energy costs, it also adds quite a bit of curb appeal. Also, potential homebuyers love to hear about aspects of the home that were recently upgraded, and patio doors are a big one. 

#4 – Be More Eco-Friendly

More and more people are becoming concerned about what changes they can make to be more eco-friendly. Energy-efficient doors are just one way to be greener. When heating or cooling a home, CO2 emissions are released into the atmosphere, so by reducing the amount of time the heating and cooling system has to run, the amount of CO2 released is decreased as well. 

#5 – Reduced Condensation

Having a build-up of condensation on your patio door will not only obstruct your view, but it can be annoying to deal with when cleaning them. Single-pane patio doors commonly have issues with condensation. It can also happen with low-quality double-pane doors if the seal isn’t strong. Energy-efficient patio doors are double-paned, which will prevent condensation from forming.

What Makes Patio Doors Energy-Efficient?

Type of Glass

Low-E (low-emissivity) glass has a special coating that increases energy efficiency. It works by reflecting interior heat back into the room in the winter to keep it warm while also reflecting heat away from the exterior to keep things cooler in the summer. It also helps block harmful UV rays from entering your home. 

Air Infiltration

Commonly known as leaks and drafts, air infiltration happens when there are gaps between the door frame and the wall or the sashes. Low-quality doors may be prone to gapping, which will allow air to pass through. A key part of energy-efficient doors are the tight seals in all areas where air could escape. 

Conduction

When heat or cold passes through a material, this is called conduction. Energy-efficient patio doors have multiple panes of glass, which will significantly slow the effects of conduction and help maintain the internal temperature of your home. 

Manor Door Installation Services

Manor offers energy-efficient patio doors from Pella and Marvin to help ensure our customers always get the best. Manor doors installation and replacement services for residents and businesses in Columbia, MO, and the surrounding areas are just a click or phone call away. If you’re ready to upgrade your home with energy-efficient patio doors, give us a call today at 573-445-4770 or visit the website for a free estimate. We now offer financing options!

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