ServicesEntry Doors
Entry Door Replacement in Mountlake Terrace
A front door should close with a soft, solid click, keep the weather out and look right on your home. We replace entry doors with care for the finish, the frame and the floors inside, and we tell you what to expect before anything comes off its hinges.
Knowing when to replace rather than repair
Not every drafty or stubborn front door needs to go. A tired sweep or a strike plate that has worked loose is a quick fix, and we will tell you plainly when that is all you need. Replacement earns its place when the slab has warped, the frame has gone soft or the door no longer seals at all. Fresh weatherstripping cannot close a gap in a door that has lost its shape.
We install complete prehung units, with the slab, frame, sill and weatherseal built to fit one another. The result is a door that swings true and locks without a nudge from your shoulder. We are licensed, insured and bonded, and every entry we install carries our 10-year workmanship warranty.
What your entry door installation includes
- Protection before tools come out
- We lay runners from the doorway to the work area and cover nearby flooring and furniture. Outside, we set drop cloths over beds and shrubs near the step so plantings are not trampled or buried in debris.
- Careful removal of the old door
- We cut paint lines and lift interior trim gently so it can go back on when possible. The old door, frame and fasteners leave with us.
- Sill and subfloor check
- Once the old threshold is out, we look at the wood beneath it. Long Northwest wet seasons often soften this area, and we show you photos and explain the options before repairing anything.
- Square, plumb and sealed
- The new unit is shimmed and fastened so the gaps are even on every side. We flash the sill pan, insulate around the frame with low-expansion foam and seal the exterior so rain sheds away from the opening.
- Hardware and finish details
- We fit your lockset and deadbolt, adjust the strike so the latch catches cleanly, and reinstall or replace trim. Painting or staining can be arranged so the door matches your home.
- A clean entry at the end
- We vacuum, wipe down the glass and hardware, and walk you through how the door and its weatherstripping should be cared for.
Signs your front door is ready to be replaced
Daylight around the edges
With the door shut, look at the top corners and along the bottom. Any light you can see is a path for heated air to escape and cold drafts to slip in.
A door that sticks with the seasons
Wood doors that bind in winter and rattle in summer are taking on and losing moisture. That constant movement loosens the joints and cracks the finish over time.
Soft wood at the bottom
Test the frame just above the threshold with the tip of a screwdriver. Wood that gives way easily tells you moisture has been creeping in behind the trim, and rot is already underway.
Rust, dents or delaminating skin
Steel doors rust from the bottom edge up, and some older fiberglass skins begin to peel or blister. Both are hard to repair cleanly.
A lock you have to fight
If the deadbolt only slides home when you lift or lean on the door, the slab has sagged or the frame has moved out of square.
How the work runs, from the first call to the last walkthrough
- 1
A no-pressure consultation
We measure the opening, look at the frame and sill, and talk through materials, glass and hardware. You get a free, written quote with each item listed, and no one asks you to decide on the spot.
- 2
Ordering and scheduling
Custom doors take time to build, so we give you an honest lead time and confirm the install date once the door is in hand. We also tell you how long your entry will be open and where we will work.
- 3
Install day
Most installs finished in a single day is our normal pattern for a standard entry. We protect the floors and plantings first, remove the old unit, fix what we found underneath, then set and seal the new door.
- 4
Walkthrough and cleanup
Before we leave, we open and lock the door with you, check the seal, and leave the entry swept and the yard clear.
What shapes the cost of a new entry door
Every quote is built from the opening in front of us, not a catalog number. The biggest differences come from the door itself and from what we find once the old frame is out. We list each piece in writing, and flexible payment options are available.
- Material and construction
- Fiberglass, steel and solid wood each carry a different price. Fiberglass with a foam core resists swelling and holds paint or stain well, steel is economical and secure, and wood offers the warmest grain but needs regular refinishing.
- Glass, sidelites and transoms
- Decorative or privacy glass, and any sidelites or a transom above the door, add material and labor.
- Size and opening changes
- Standard sizes cost less than custom ones. Widening an opening means framing work and usually a permit, which we pull when it is needed.
- Condition of the frame and sill
- Rotted subfloor or framing at the threshold has to be repaired before a new door can seal properly. We photograph it and price it before going ahead.
- Hardware and finish
- Multipoint locks, smart deadbolts, premium handle sets and factory finishing all change the total.
Questions about entry door replacement
Something not covered here? (425) 600-7934
Will my home be open to the weather for long?
Usually only for part of the day. We do not remove the old door until the new unit is on site and the opening has been checked. If something unexpected turns up, we close the opening securely before leaving.
Which is better here, fiberglass, steel or wood?
For most homes in our wet climate, fiberglass is the easiest to live with because it does not swell or rust. Steel suits a tighter budget and a painted look. Wood is beautiful and we install it often, but plan on refinishing it every few years.
Can you keep my existing interior trim?
Often, yes. We score the paint and pry trim off slowly so it can be reused. If it splits or the new frame is a different depth, we will tell you and match new trim as closely as we can.
Do I need a permit for a new front door?
Replacing a door in the same opening generally does not need one. Changing the size of the opening or adding sidelites usually does, and we handle that permit as part of the job.
Is the installation covered after you leave?
Yes. Our 10-year workmanship warranty covers the installation itself, and the door manufacturer's warranty covers the product. We explain both in writing with your quote.
Ready for a door that closes the way it should
Tell us about your entry and we will come out, measure and talk through the options with no pressure. You will know the plan and the price before any work begins.