ServicesEntry Doors
Entry Door Replacement in Sammamish
We swap out the whole entry door assembly, not just the slab. Your new door arrives prehung in its own jamb with a fresh sill, seals and hardware, and we set it in a flashed opening so it latches with one hand and stays tight through the long rainy season.
When a New Entry Door Is the Right Call
An entry door works as a system. The slab, the jamb, the threshold, the weatherstrip and the lockset all have to line up within a fraction of an inch for the door to seal. When the slab has warped, the frame has racked or the sill has started to rot, adjusting hinges and adding foam tape only buys a few weeks. A new prehung door resets every one of those parts at once.
Timing matters too. Wood swells and fiberglass skins move with temperature, so a door hung in a dry stretch, before the long wet season, gets fitted and sealed under stable conditions. We plan many entry door jobs for late summer and early fall for that reason, so the door is ready before the first steady rain.
If your door is solid and only the seals are worn, we will tell you that. Sometimes new weatherstripping and a threshold adjustment are all it needs.
What Your Entry Door Installation Includes
- 01
Help choosing the material
We explain how fiberglass, steel and wood slabs each react to moisture. Fiberglass resists swelling and dents, steel gives strength at a lower cost but can dent and rust where it is cut, and wood stays stable only with regular refinishing.
- 02
Complete prehung unit
Your door comes already mounted in its own frame, with hinges and weatherstrip installed. That way we never force a new slab into an old jamb that has gone out of square, which is the usual source of sticking and drafts.
- 03
Sloped sill pan
A sloped pan goes under the threshold before it is set. If rain ever works its way beneath the sill, the pan sends it out to the exterior so your subfloor stays dry.
- 04
Foam and air sealing
We fill the space between the jamb and the framing with low-expansion foam, which closes air leaks without pushing the frame out of line. New interior trim goes on, or we reinstall your existing casing.
- 05
Lockset and strike alignment
We bore for the knob and deadbolt, line up the strike plates and tune the latch so the door presses evenly into the weatherstrip. For tall or wide doors that tend to bow, multipoint locks are an option.
- 06
Haul-away and cleanup
We take the old door and frame with us and leave your entry swept and clean.
Questions about Entry Doors?
Call(425) 386-5719Signs Your Entry Door Needs Replacing
Light showing around the slab
Daylight at a top corner or down the latch edge with the door closed means the weatherstrip has lost contact. In most cases the slab has warped or the frame has moved.
Tight in winter, rattling in summer
A wood door that binds all through the rainy months and rattles by August is taking on and giving up moisture. Over time that cycle loosens the joints and cracks the panels.
Spongy threshold or jamb base
Push a screwdriver tip into the lower jamb and the sill. If the wood gives way easily, water has been reaching it, and left alone that decay can move into the subfloor.
Deadbolt that needs a push
Having to lift or lean on the door before the bolt will turn means the bolt and strike no longer line up. The hinge side has often sagged or the jamb has shifted.
Cloudy or cracked door glass
Condensation between the panes of a door lite or sidelite points to a broken seal. Many doors do not allow that glass insert to be swapped on its own.
How an Entry Door Job Runs
- 1
Consultation by phone
You tell us what is wrong with the current door and what you want from the new one. We set a time to see the opening.
- 2
Measuring the rough opening
We remove interior trim at a corner if needed to measure the rough opening rather than the old door. We check the floor for level and the sill for rot, then give you a written quote with each line explained.
- 3
Ordering your door
Once you choose the slab, glass, finish and swing direction, we order the unit built to your opening size. We schedule the install for a dry day when we can.
- 4
Install day
Most installs finished in a single day. We remove the old unit, repair any damaged sill framing we documented at the measure, set the sill pan, then shim the new frame plumb and square, foam it, trim it and fit the hardware.
- 5
Final adjustments
Before we leave, we close and lock the door with you, check that the weatherstrip compresses evenly and adjust the threshold height if needed.
What Moves the Price of an Entry Door
No two openings are quite alike, so we hold off on a number until we have measured yours and checked the sill. The written quote lists the door unit, the labor and any framing repair on their own lines. Flexible payment options are available when one lump-sum payment does not suit your budget.
- Slab material and finish
- Textured fiberglass, smooth steel and solid wood each land at a different price point. Panel design, a factory-applied stain or paint, and the grade of lockset you pick all add to the total.
- Glass, sidelites and transoms
- A decorative or obscure glass lite, a transom overhead or sidelites on one or both sides make the unit larger and raise the cost. Insulated glass costs more up front but cuts the heat that escapes through the door.
- Stock size versus custom build
- Some older openings fall between standard door sizes. Ordering a custom unit or reframing the opening adds to the price, and resizing an opening typically requires a building permit, which we take care of.
- What we find under the old threshold
- In a climate this wet, decayed framing beneath an old sill is a frequent discovery. When we see it, you get photos and a separate repair price before anything is torn out.
Entry Door Questions
Which door material holds up best in our wet winters?
Fiberglass is the most stable option because the skin will not soak up water, swell or rot. Steel also shrugs off moisture, but any scratch or cut edge needs paint or it can start to rust. Wood can give decades of service if the finish is maintained, and it does best under a deep porch overhang.
Is it possible to hang a new slab in my existing frame?
It can work when the jamb is square and sound and the sill shows no decay. Most of the time, though, a prehung unit seals tighter because the slab and frame were built and fitted together at the factory. We inspect your frame at the measure and give you a straight answer on which route fits your door.
Will my home be open to the weather all day?
No, the opening is exposed for a few hours at most. The old unit comes out and the new one goes in on the same visit, and your home is locked and sealed before our crew leaves.
What is the best time of year to replace an entry door?
The stretch from late spring into early fall works best, since framing is dry and sealants cure properly. Winter installs are possible; we watch the forecast for a break in the rain and keep the opening covered while we work.
Should I add a storm door at the same time?
A storm door shields a wood or painted entry door from driving rain and direct sun, and it traps an extra layer of air. If your entry takes a lot of weather, we can price both in one quote. Our Storm Doors page covers the choices.
Get Your Front Door Sealed Before the Rain Sets In
Tell us about the door you have now and the one you want. We will measure the opening, check the sill and give you a clear written quote.