Entry Doors in Seattle

A front door that locks, seals and stays put

Your entry door takes more wear than any other part of your home's shell. It swings thousands of times a year, carries the deadbolt and faces months of rain blown sideways by winter storms. When a windstorm drops a branch against it, or someone pries at the frame, the real problem is often bigger than the dent you can see: a split jamb, a strike plate torn loose, or a threshold that now lets water under the floor.

We look at the whole unit, not just the slab. Sometimes a new slab in the existing frame is enough. Often, especially with older wood frames that have soaked up water at the bottom corners, a complete prehung door is the better fix because it replaces the rotted parts instead of hiding them. We explain which one you need and why, with photos of what we found.

Our company is licensed, and we are insured and bonded. Every door we install is backed by our 10-year workmanship warranty. If you also have a worn storm door or a patio door at the back that drags, we can look at those on the same visit.

What our entry door work covers

Measuring the rough opening

We check the opening for square, plumb and rot before anything is ordered. Older Seattle houses settle over the decades, so we build that into the order instead of forcing a standard size into a crooked frame.

Fiberglass, steel or wood

Fiberglass holds up best to long wet seasons and does not swell. Steel is strong and budget friendly but dents, and can rust if the skin gets scratched. Wood looks beautiful but needs regular refinishing to stay sealed.

Sill pans and flashing

Most of the rot we tear out starts at the sill. We set the new door over a sloped sill pan and flash the sides, so water that gets past the weatherstrip drains out instead of into the subfloor.

Locks set into solid framing

We install the lockset and deadbolt you choose and anchor the strike with long screws into the wall framing. After a break-in, we can add a reinforced strike plate so the frame holds next time.

Sidelights and transoms

If your entry has glass beside or above the door, we can replace it together with the door as one unit, using insulated or privacy glass.

Trim, sealing and cleanup

We fit new trim inside and out, seal the perimeter, haul the old door away and clean up before we go.

Signs your entry door needs attention

• Damage after a storm or break-in

  A split jamb, a door that no longer latches or a cracked panel is a security gap. Get it secured first, then make the repair-or-replace decision once you have the facts.

• Soft wood at the bottom corners

  Push a screwdriver tip against the base of the jamb and the outside trim. Wood that gives like cork has been soaking up rain for months, and at that point the frame usually has to go.

• Light and drafts around the edges

  Daylight at the corners or cold air on a windy night means the weatherstrip is worn or the door has dropped out of alignment.

• Sticks in winter, rattles in summer

  A wood door that swells shut in the rainy months and loosens by August is moving with the moisture. A fiberglass door stops that cycle.

• Water on the floor inside

  A puddle or stained flooring after heavy rain points to a failed threshold or a missing sill pan. That needs fixing before the subfloor goes soft.

How a door replacement runs

1. 1

   Consultation and measuring

   You tell us on the phone what happened, and we set up a visit. We measure, check the framing and give you a written, line-item quote, free and with no pressure to decide on the spot.

2. 2

   Keeping you secure while you wait

   Custom sizes and finishes take time to arrive. If your current door will not hold, we talk through a sensible stopgap, such as a temporary frame repair or reinforcing the existing lock, so you are not left waiting with a weak entry.

3. 3

   Install day

   We lay drop cloths, remove the old door and frame, repair any rot in the opening, then set and shim the new unit, flash it and test every lock. Most installs are finished in a single day, so in most cases your home is closed up by evening.

4. 4

   Walkthrough

   Before we leave, we show you how the door closes and locks, go over care for the finish and answer anything you are unsure about.

What affects the price of a new entry door

Every entry is a little different, so we price after seeing it rather than guessing. Your quote lists each part of the job separately, so you can see exactly where the money goes. Flexible payment options are available if this came at a bad time.

Door material and style

Fiberglass, steel and wood are priced differently. Glass inserts, decorative panels or a stain-grade finish add to the cost.

Slab only or full unit

Fitting a new slab into a sound frame costs less than replacing the whole prehung unit. Rot or impact damage to the frame usually means the full unit.

Condition of the opening

Rotted sill plates, soft subfloor or an out-of-square opening take extra labor and materials to put right. We show you photos before any of that work is added.

Size, sidelights and transoms

Wider doors, double doors and glass panels around the entry add material and installation time.

Hardware and permits

Multipoint locks, smart locks and premium handles vary a lot. If the opening size changes, a permit may be needed, and we handle it and include it in the quote.