Common Pain Points When Replacing Your Front Door Yourself

There are several issues that could arise when attempting a new front door installation on your own. This is one project that’s best left to the experts.

While a front door replacement may sound like an easy DIY project to complete, it’s not as easy as it may seem at first glance. There are several complications that may arise, resulting in loss of energy and money to the homeowner. Before you reach for your tool belt, it’s best to do some research first to know what you’re potentially getting yourself into.

Here are just a few examples of what could go wrong while attempting a new front door installation yourself:

Damage to Your Door or Home

While it may sound like a simple concept-remove the old door and hang the new door on the hinges-there’s a lot more involved in the process. It’s imperative that the new door is properly aligned within the door frame, and getting the door perfectly aligned isn’t as easy as it sounds. Taking shortcuts due to inexperience can cause damage to not only your new door, but to the door frame or even to the walls of your home.

An old entry door is likely to have some weather damage behind the trim, and one of the first things you’ll need to do is assess the presence of damage and fully remedy it. This brings us to the two most common mistakes people make when attempting a DIY new front door installation:

1. Failing to properly repair or ignoring the existing rot leading to more damage.
2. Not flashing the trim on the outside which prevents water from coming out from behind the trim, resulting in damage to your new front door, as well as allowing mold, mildew, and rot to build up in the future.

Entry Doors are Heavy and Awkward

Entry doors are meant to be heavy for a reason (to protect your home), but that heaviness also means they are difficult and awkward for most homeowners to manage on their own. This is especially true for the homeowner who invests in a higher quality entry door made of fiberglass and glass windows.

An extra set of hands is almost always necessary during a new front door installation to help balance the door and position it in the correct angle. If the entry door isn’t properly leveled when installed, the locking latch won’t align and there will be gaps at the top or sides of the door (or both) resulting in lower energy efficiency.

Poor Insulation Results in Energy Loss

We all know energy loss=money loss. Even if you are able to successfully complete a new front door installation on your own, you’ll want to ensure that it’s installed correctly. This is difficult to tell with the naked eye. If the door isn’t properly installed, this could result in energy loss and higher utility bills. If you see light around your door frame, or feel drafts, then those are signs you’re losing a significant amount of energy.

DIY Can Lead to Insulation Errors

The three main insulation errors that typically result from a DIY entry door installation include:

1. Not caulking it properly with the right caulk and sealant.

2. Forgetting window tape across the bottom seal.

3. Not getting the correct amount of insulation on the top and sides, as well as not having enough insulation or the proper balance.

The good news is upgrading a front door is an excellent return on investment for the homeowner, but only if done correctly. While replacing a front door yourself may sound like a straightforward process, you can see this isn’t always the case. If you’re considering a new front door, it’s best to leave this one to the professionals. Contact Armorvue Home Exteriors today for a virtual appointment to talk about getting a new entry door installed on your home. With over 75 years of entry door installation experience, we’re confident you’ll be happy with your decision to hire us, and you can rest easy knowing your new front door will be expertly installed without you having to break a sweat.