There are many reasons people choose to replace their doors. Some of the reasons are to improve the look of their home, replace broken doors, update the style of their door, or simply have better-insulated doors.
You don’t need to replace the entire frame when replacing the door. Replacing an old door with a new one is easy if the existing door frame is in good condition. You can replace both the interior and exterior doors of your home without touching the frame.
However, this is not possible if your frame is in a bad state too. If you install a new door in a damaged frame, you’ll be doing zero work. This article outlines everything you need to know about replacing the door without replacing the frame and the cost factors.
What to Consider When Replacing the Door without Replacing the Frame
The Condition of the Frame
The easiest way to find out if your existing door frame is still in good condition is by opening and closing the door. If the door sticks or makes noise when opening it, there are some problems with your door frame.
If the frame is damaged on a large scale, you will need to replace it along with the door. Replacing only the door without replacing the frame puts stress on components of your home that are already weak from damage.
However, if the existing frame has some minor defects but still works as intended, you can replace the door without replacing the frame.
The Size of the Door
You can replace your old door with a new, modern one if the size is appropriate for your home. If you are installing an interior door, there should be at least three inches of space on either side of the door.
If you are replacing an exterior door, there should be at least six inches of space on either side of the door.
Reasons for Replacing the Door
You must ask yourself why you’re replacing the door in the first place before you proceed. The reason often dictates whether or not you can replace the door without replacing the frame. Some reasons for replacement include:
- To update the style of your home
- To improve insulation and energy efficiency in your home
- To fix a damaged door frame
- To replace a broken door
If your reason for replacing the door is because you’re simply sick and tired of looking at it, then chances are you don’t need to replace the entire frame when replacing the door. However, if your door needs a replacement for one of these reasons or another similar reason, you will likely need to replace both the door and the frame.
If you have an old wooden door that is rotting or falling apart, then chances are you’ll need to replace the entire frame when replacing the door. However, if your existing door is in good condition except for a few bruises here and there, then it’s much easier to just replace the door without replacing the frame.
How Much Does it Cost to Replace the Door Only?
If you choose to replace the door without replacing the frame, it will cost you less than if you replaced both. You can get a new door and purchase parts separately so that you only need to replace what’s necessary.
The amount you’ll use for the project will depend on many factors. The prices of door replacement parts will depend on the size and the material of the new door.
The average cost to install a solid wood door with a standard window is $925. You’ll spend about $865 to replace a fiberglass door. The average cost of replacing glass doors is about $600. However, you may need to adjust these numbers if your doors are larger or other factors affect the price.
The average cost of replacing an existing standard-sized exterior door with a new one is $1,130. The average cost to replace the exterior door is about $1,200.
The Cost of Replacing Door and Frame
You must ask yourself why you’re replacing your door in the first place before proceeding. The reason often dictates whether or not you can replace the door without replacing its frame. If there are some minor defects, but the main reason for replacement is something else, you can choose to replace the door only.
You must replace the frame if there are major damages because it affects the overall security of your home. You’ll spend about $1400 to have a solid wood exterior door with a standard window. You should expect to pay between $1215 and $1310 to replace an existing glass-paneled exterior door.
Replacing only the frame is much cheaper, but you’ll still spend more than replacing the door itself. You can expect to pay about $575 for this project if you are only replacing the frame and not the door or its hardware. The labor costs for this project are relatively low at about $300.
Why it’s a Good Idea to Replace the Entire Door?
If you recently moved to a new home, you should consider replacing the door. You can make this purchase as a donation to the homeowner’s association in your neighborhood if they offer tax deductions for these types of projects.
You must also replace the door if it is too damaged or old. It will cost you more time and resources to continually maintain the old door.
You must also replace the door if it no longer functions properly or if some of its components are too damaged for repair. You can prevent further damage to your home by replacing the door now rather than later.
Conclusion
It’s possible to replace the door without replacing the frame if the damage to the frame is minor. You should also choose to replace the door only if you’re only doing it for aesthetic purposes.
However, you must consider replacing the entire door if it’s too old or damaged to fix. If your frame has dents, protruding nails, or is stained with mold or mildew, you’ll also need to replace the frame too. You can benefit from replacing both parts if you’re moving into a new home because it gives the door a more uniform look than just replacing its parts one by one.
