Having an Exterior Door Installed Professionally vs DIY

Are you a fanatic for do-it-yourself home improvement projects?

Is that why there is a snazzy new kitchen sink and gorgeous ceramic tile on your bathroom floor?

Okay, so we’ve established that you can handle DIY projects. So do not ask yourself, “Should I handle this door installation project by myself?”  Instead ask, “Do I WANT to install this door myself?” Just because you can do something doesn’t always mean you should.

Consider these things prior to pulling your jigsaw out and strapping on your work belt.

As with any project in your home, things can go wrong, even with door installations. When installing a door, particularly an exterior door, you have to be sure everything is properly measured and that it fits well. Remember, you hold the responsibility for every single detail. And if your door isn’t installed properly, you could end up missing out on the energy savings you were looking for when you bought that new door.

If anything is missed, you may end up with:

• Doors hitting objects on the inside of the home.
• Doors hitting or scratching on objects outside of the home.
• When sliding or swinging doors open, they stick.
• During winter, your entryway does not hold heat inside; during summer, your entryway does not hold the cool air inside.
• Doors that aren’t secure. You want to have peace of mind that if someone tries to break into your home, your doors will keep these intruders out.
• Door frames with gaps allow for cockroaches, ants, and many other pests (including mice) to sneak into your home.
• Water getting into your walls from a joint gap. There is no need to tell you how bad that can be. Damage from water is possibly the worst outcome resulting from mistakes during door installation.
• Issues with your entryway door will drive you nuts each time you come home and use it, even if no one else notices.
• An injury to your knee or back. Unloading doors and installing them can be challenging, and injuries sometimes happen. If an injury happened to someone who volunteered their time to help you, it make it worse.
• A huge scratch or dent. Installing doors yourself sometimes leads to these unsightly marks.
• Installation that voids the warranty.  If you don’t follow the manufacturer’s specs, your warranty could be worthless.

When you buy a door yourself, you may end up paying more than a professional door company would.  And isn’t your time worth something?

Even if you have skills for installing a new door, having a professional door company handle the installation can help avoid these issues.  Leave all the work to us at Window Outfitters!  We install a variety of top-quality exterior doors in the Minneapolis area – check out our Pinterest board for a look at just a few of them.

Window Outfitters is a premier Window Replacement, doors, siding contractor and installer. As Contractor in the St Paul, Minneapolis, (Twin Cities) Minnesota (MN) metro, we proudly serve, but are not limited to, the following areas: Minneapolis Energy Efficient Vinyl Windows, Replacement Window Contractors Minnesota, Burnsville, Apple Valley, Lakeville, Savage, Bloomington, Edina, Richfield, Eagan, St Paul, Hastings, Minnetonka, Plymouth, Maple Grove, Eden Prairie, Farmington MN, Chaska, Shakopee, Chanhassen, Victoria, Mendota Heights Anderson Windows Minneapolis, Marvin Windows Minneapolis.