Installing a new door help...

[JC69]

What's the best way to go about doing this for the best quality/price ratio?

I guess I have several choices:

1. Buy the door and install it myself

2. Buy the door and get it installed

3. Have a company do the lot.

My skills are OK but I've never installed a door before. Where's the best place to buy these things if I do it myself? I don't want anything elaborate, just something nicely sealed against the elements.

Should have added...it's a front entrance door.

Anyone done any of the above and have any advice? I've had companies quote me $2000 plus for this job and that's a bit extreme for me right now.

[Drthorne]

I just replaced mine last week, Home Depot had a 34" Masonite model with a single small window in it for $189. I also bought a new lock at Rona for $59. My old door was only 32" wide so I had to make the framing bigger. It took me the around 6 hours to do. If I were just to replace the door with the same size I'd figure maybe 3-4 hours of work. If you were in the Kitchener area I could do it for you

[Pete_Coach]

I have just had several estimate on this. I have an older house and needed a new front door. We needed a 36 inch wide door. A 36 inch door is special order and significantly moor than a standard 32 or 34. The door also was to have a 22 X 48 inch double paned low E- Argon gas filled glass panel with some sort of design, I wanted steel and finish painted a different colour on the outside. I wanted an entire door assembly, complete installation including the brick mould around the outside. We had 3 estimates in the $2200 to $2500 range from installers in our area.
I went to Home Depot and priced out the door. It was $1200 retail and they said they do the removal and installation for $450. I then got another estimate from a local company, who immediately began to tell me about the cost and I showed him the retail coat of the door from Home Depot and we came to an agreement to do the job for $1600, complete and installed. Even the same brand of door, Masonite. Oh, lock set is extra.
I wanted a new door and frame because I wanted the newer, most efficient frames and door seals. Why just slide in a new door when much of the energy losses are from the door surround vice the door slab itself.

[Drthorne]

yes, that's what I did. removed the old door frame and made the opening wider. there was no insulation between the door frame and studs so I made sure to fill it with spray foam after. there was also no seal at the bottom where it sits on the floor so I puts lots of silicone there

[Pete_Coach]

I just replaced mine last week, Home Depot had a 34" Masonite model with a single small window in it for $189. I also bought a new lock at Rona for $59. My old door was only 32" wide so I had to make the framing bigger. It took me the around 6 hours to do. If I were just to replace the door with the same size I'd figure maybe 3-4 hours of work. If you were in the Kitchener area I could do it for you

Well, I happened to be at RONA and Home Depot yesterday looking for a good lock set. I double checked the prices on doors and lock sets. You either got a spectacular deal or you really got cheap stuff. The door you got could not have been a steel insulated door for that price. Yes, a wood door is about that price but it is an interior door (without the frame). A steel insulated door with a door frame is much higher priced.
Also, if this was your main entry door, I am really unsure how you made the opening 2 inches wider without some major re-framing of the opening itself, including the header.
http://www.doityourself.com/stry/h2frameadoor
http://www.hammerzone.com/archives/doors/replace/entry/outswing/garage1.htm

[Drthorne]

Like I said, Rona in Kitchener had locksets for $59, it was a "Forge" brand and it seemed to be decent quality. Looks something like this with a brushed nickel finish. If it lasts for 5 years I'll be happy.
http://www.rona.ca/img/product/full/2002546.jpg

Home Depot Sportsworld in Kitchener had 34" steel entry Masonite brand doors with foam core for $189. I checked another Home Depot and they did not have this door, so I would assume not all stores have this deal. It looks something like this except the window is half the size
http://www.homedepot.ca/wcsstore/HomeDepotCanada/images/catalog/aa690f40-eeee-46ef-a247-7e25411c7100_4.jpg

and I reframed with new kingstuds, jackstuds and header.

[Drthorne]

here's the door sale at Home Depot Sportworld in Kitchener, tooks these pics today and looks like they have added 32" size to the sale

http://i23.photobucket.com/albums/b370/drthorne/IMG00011.jpg

http://i23.photobucket.com/albums/b370/drthorne/IMG00010.jpg

http://i23.photobucket.com/albums/b370/drthorne/IMG00009.jpg