Whether your door is draughty, rattling in the wind, or looking past its prime, you want the installation done correctly.
New, poorly fitted door frames can be worse than your old ones. It’ll let in cold air, stick when it rains, and turn your living situation into a nightmare.
Here’s what’s actually involved in installing a front door, what your options are, and how to make sure you end up with a result that looks good and performs even better.
Can you install a front door yourself? – Professional advice by panel door experts
Technically, yes.
There’s nothing stopping you from buying a door and fitting it yourself if you’re reasonably handy. But there are a few important reasons why most homeowners choose professional installation, especially for an external door.
Weatherproof factors
Your external door faces the full brunt of the weather.
Without proper sealing, correct threshold fitting, and the right drainage, you will let the outside elements into your home, which can cause a huge degree of damage to your property.
Security factors
Your front door is the main entry point to your home, and a poorly fitted door is an easier target.
Multi-point locking systems need to be aligned precisely to work properly. If the new external door frame is even slightly out, the locks won’t engage fully and you’ve got a door that looks secure but isn’t.
Regulations in Scotland
New exterior doors and replacement doors need to follow strict building standards in Scotland with regards to their thermal efficiency and security.
For all of these reasons, we always recommend using a qualified supplier and installer to fit a new exterior door. This will save you from worries that your security has been compromised as well as thermal efficiency issues.
Choosing the right new front door
Before you get to the installation, you need to decide what you’re actually having fitted.
The two main options for front doors in the UK are composite doors and uPVC doors. Both have their advantages, and the right choice depends on what matters most to you.
Composite doors
Composite doors are made from a combination of materials.
Multi-layered and compressed construction gives them extra strength, security, and insulation.
They’re the most popular choice for front doors right now, and for good reason.
They don’t warp, crack, or fade the way timber doors can. They don’t need painting or staining. They come in a wide range of colours and styles, from traditional panel designs to more contemporary options. And they’re excellent at keeping heat in, making big differences to your energy bills.
Security is another strong point.
Most composite doors come with multi-point locking as standard, along with anti-snap, anti-pick, anti-bump cylinder locks, and strong latch plates.
When fitted professionally, they’re extremely difficult to force open and have smooth operation with the correct keys.
uPVC exterior doors
uPVC panel doors are lighter and more affordable than composites.
They are low maintenance, weather-resistant, and available in a variety of colours and finishes. For a back door or a side entrance, they’re a perfectly good option. For a front door, they’ll do the job, but they won’t give you the same solid feel, insulation, or security level as a composite.
If budget is the main concern, a well-fitted uPVC door is still a big improvement to existing doors, especially for old wooden or single-glazed doors.
What happens during a front door installation
If you’ve never had a door replaced before, you might be wondering what the process actually involves. Here’s how installing a new door goes, step by step.
The survey of the door and frame
Before anything gets manufactured, an experienced surveyor visits your home to take precise measurements of the door opening.
They’ll check the width, height, and depth at multiple points. They’ll also check the condition of the brickwork or stonework around the opening and flag anything that needs attention before the new door goes in.
A good surveyor should be able to show you different styles, colours, and glazing options for a new door.
At The Advanced Group, we believe honesty is key to great customer service. We’ll always guide you through the choices and provide a free, no-obligation quote to help you decide.
The options our surveyors bring are a helpful starting point, but they’re only the tip of the iceberg of what’s available.
To explore the full range, you’re always welcome to visit our showrooms so you can see the doors up close and compare them in person.
Manufacturing a new exterior door
Once the survey is done and you’ve confirmed your choices, the door gets manufactured to your exact measurements.
Composite doors and uPVC doors are both made to order, so there’s a lead time between the survey and the installation. This varies depending on the manufacturer and the time of year, but it’s usually somewhere between one and four weeks.
The Advanced Group will always keep you updated throughout the process and arrange an installation day around your schedule to help make the process hassle-free.
Removing the old door
On installation day, the fitter starts by removing the old door and frame.
This is usually the messiest part of the job, as all the caulk is carefully scraped away.
The old frame is cut out, the fixings are removed, and the opening is cleaned up, ready for the new frame. If the brickwork around the opening needs any repair, that will be dealt with at this stage.
The fitter will put down dust sheets to protect your flooring and will take the old door and frame away with them when they leave for responsible disposal.
Fitting the new frame
The new frame goes in first.
It’s positioned in the opening, checked for level and plumb (making sure it’s perfectly straight in both directions), and then fixed securely to the brickwork using mechanical fixings.
The gaps between the frame and the brickwork are filled with expanding foam or new caulk to create a weathertight seal, and then finished with silicone sealant on the outside.
Getting this part right is everything.
If the frame isn’t level, the door won’t hang properly, the locks won’t align, and you’ll have problems with draughts and water getting in. Not to mention a squeaky door!
This is the part where experience matters. Don’t risk it yourself, and get a professional to make sure your new investment is worth its money.
Hanging the external door
With the frame in place, the door itself is hung on its hinges and adjusted until it opens, closes, and locks smoothly.
The fitter will take their time to check the locking mechanism at every point using their screwdriver.
If your door has glazing, the glass units are usually fitted at this point. The letterbox, door handle, knocker, and any other hardware usually go on last.
Finishing touches
Once the door is hung and everything is working, the fitter finishes the internal and external trims. These are the strips that cover the join between the frame and the wall, giving it a clean, finished look.
The fitter will give the door a final check, demonstrate how the locking system works, hand over any keys, guarantee paperwork, and provide care instructions.
The Advanced Group team always takes care to do a final clean up after installation, to leave you with a space that you can be proud of.
Signs your front door needs replacing
Not sure whether your current door needs replacing or just needs a bit of attention? Here are the signs that it’s time for a new one.
Draughts around the edges
If you can feel cold air coming in around the door even when it’s closed, the seals have probably failed. You can sometimes fix this with new weather stripping, but if the frame itself is the problem, a replacement is the better long-term fix.
Difficulty locking or unlocking
If you have to lift the handle, lean on the door, or jiggle the key to get it to lock, the door or frame has moved enough that the locking points are no longer aligned. This is a security problem. Don’t risk it, and contact an expert today.
Visible damage or decay
Cracked panels, peeling paint, soft spots in timber, or discolouration on uPVC all suggest the door is past its shelf life.
Wooden doors in particular can rot at the bottom, especially after typically rain pours from Scottish weather. Wood can swell and warp with time, which is one of the reasons we often recommend uPVC or composite doors for a more stable, low-maintenance option.
Tired or worn
Sometimes a door still works fine, but it’s dragging down the appearance of your whole house.
By investing in a door that matches your aesthetic and style, you can easily improve your kerb appeal.
Book your free home survey with The Advanced Group
If you’re thinking about installing a new front door, the first step is a free home survey with The Advanced Group.
We’ll measure your opening, talk you through the options, and give you an honest quote with absolutely no-obligations.
To learn more about our services, give our friendly team a call today or come in and visit our showroom. We are always more than happy to speak with old and new clients to help them make a decision that suits their living.
