I am Ad Bakker, owner of AB Woningonderhoud. This is one of the most frequently asked questions I receive, so here is an honest answer.
These are the average prices we charge, including installation:
- Wooden exterior door: around 2,500 euros
- Plastic exterior door: around 3,500 euros
- Aluminium exterior door: around 4,000 euros
- Insulated exterior door: around 4,000 euros
- Garden door or back door: around 1,400 euros
And for interior doors, should you wish to replace those as well:
- Wooden interior door: around 600 euros
- Glass door: around 750 euros
- Door with stained glass: around 850 euros
- Aluminium interior door: around 800 euros
Please note: these are indicative guideline prices. The final price depends on your specific door, frame, and situation. Do you want to know exactly what it will cost you? View the options on our interior doors page , or request a no-obligation quote.
Repair or have new doors installed?
This is the question I get most often. Not every door with problems needs to be replaced immediately. But sometimes repairing is a waste of money. This is how I make that assessment myself.
When repairing still makes sense
Superficial damage to a flat door panel can often be easily chiseled out and filled. Drafts caused by worn weatherstrips can also usually be resolved with a simple repair.
Solid wood doors are often worth repairing, especially if the rest of the door is still in good condition.
When replacement is the only real solution
- Rot or soft wood deeper than 10 to 15 percent of the frame or door core
- Damage around hinges, the lock, or the lower corners of the frame
- A sagging or warped door frame, causing the door to no longer hang straight.
- Daylight visible around the edges of a solid door
- Fogged glass in a glass door panel, a sign that the insulation has failed.
- Fiberboard doors with hollow interiors or heavily rusted composite older than 20 to 25 years
With this type of damage, replacing doors and frames is often the only permanent solution. Repairing them is essentially just buying time.
Check for yourself: three simple tests
You don’t have to be a professional to make a good estimate. Try this yourself:
- The screwdriver test: gently press a flat screwdriver into the bottom of the door or frame. If it sinks in effortlessly, there is rot in the wood.
- The daylight test: turn on the outside light in the evening and close the door. If you see light around the edges, the door is permanently warped.
- The abrasion test: does the door scrape along the floor or the frame, even after tightening the hinges? Then the entire frame is shifted or swollen.
Do you recognize any of these signs? Then it is time to seriously consider having new doors installed, instead of repairing them again.
Can you install a new front door yourself?
You can often replace an interior door perfectly well yourself. But a front door is a different story.
Why this is not a DIY job
An exterior door with frame must be installed perfectly level and square. A deviation of just a few millimeters is enough to cause drafts, leaks, a warped frame, or a lock that no longer closes smoothly.
Without extensive carpentry experience and the right insulation and sealing materials, the risk of problems is high. A professional ensures sturdiness, good insulation, and a safe, well-adjusted door. For a front door, this is simply too important to leave to a first attempt.
Misconception: repairing is always cheaper than replacing
I hear this often, and it is far from always true.
Where the money flows away with repeated repairs
- You keep paying for small repairs: filling rot, replacing weatherstrips, readjusting hinges.
- All in all, that often costs more than having a new door installed all at once.
- Meanwhile, an old, poorly insulated door simply continues to leak heat, which increases your heating costs.
- If you keep repairing the door while the frame itself deteriorates, you will eventually end up facing a bigger, more expensive job anyway.
The financial conclusion
Is there significant structural damage, or is your door older than 20 years? Then a new, energy-efficient door often pays for itself. Through lower heating costs and because you no longer need annual repairs.
Here’s how to handle it smartly
Are you torn between repairing and having new doors installed? This will help you make that choice:
- First perform the screwdriver, daylight, and sanding test.
- Don’t just look at the door itself, but also at the condition of the frame.
- Get advice from a professional before you choose, not just when things go wrong.
- Always request a clear, honest quote in advance.
Unsure about your front door? Request a free inspection and quote from AB Woningonderhoud , and we’ll be happy to help you figure it out.
Finally: don’t leave your door sitting for too long.
A front door with installation is an investment, but one that often pays for itself. Through less draft, lower heating costs, and no more annual repair costs.
Are you unsure if repairing is still worthwhile, or is it time for something new? Contact AB Woningonderhoud for honest advice and a quote that suits your situation.
Frequently asked questions about having new doors installed
What does a new front door with installation cost on average?
On average, the costs range between 2,500 and 4,000 euros, depending on the material. A wooden exterior door costs around 2,500 euros, synthetic around 3,500 euros, and aluminium or insulated doors around 4,000 euros. A garden door is usually cheaper at approximately 1,400 euros.
How do I know if I need to repair or replace my door?
For superficial damage or worn weatherstrips, repair is often sufficient. If you see rot deeper than 10 to 15 percent of the wood, a crooked frame, or daylight around the edges, then replacement is the only permanent solution. The screwdriver and daylight test will quickly provide clarity.
Can I install a front door myself?
You can often replace an interior door yourself. A front door with a frame is a different story. It must be installed perfectly level and square, otherwise you will suffer from drafts, leaks, or a lock that does not close properly. For an exterior door, I always recommend hiring a professional.
Is a new door more expensive than constantly repairing it?
In the short term, repairing seems cheaper, but that is not always the case. Repeated repairs add up, and in the meantime, an old door continues to leak heat. For a door older than 20 years or with significant damage, a new door often pays for itself through lower heating costs.