Is It Time to Replace Your Front Door?

They say first impressions are everything. When it comes to your home, that first impression is usually your front door. Since you see your front door every day, you might not notice when it's looking a little tired. Once you do notice that it's not as fresh as it used to be, you may wonder, is it time to replace your front door, or can you just repair or paint it? We've got all the answers you need, right here.

Is It Time To Replace Your Front Door?

Once you notice that your front door doesn't look or work the way it used to, you might start wondering is it time to replace your front door. There are several reasons you might need to get a new front door, including:

Your door is damaged or there are signs of rot
Door hardware like hinges or locks are worn out, and you don't want to replace them
You want to install a wider or narrower door
You want to install a different style of front door
Your door has been damaged by something

As you can see, there are a variety of reasons why you might want to replace your front door. Next, you need to figure out if you need a whole new door, or if you can just repaint or repair your existing door.

Signs You Need a New Door

While you might want a new door, or at least, a face lift for your front door, that doesn't necessarily mean you need one. There are a few things that might mean it is time to replace your front door rather than repainting or repairing it. These include:

Damage around the hinges or the lock. While it is sometimes possible to repair these kinds of problems, it can be more costly to do that than to replace the door entirely.
Signs of rotting or structural failure. Again, these things can sometimes be repaired, but the worse they are, the more that is likely to cost.
If you want to change the design or size of the door completely. If you want more than just a minimal change, you probably can't make it without a new door.
If you’re going to make changes to your doors, make sure you’ve got your changes mapped out. Get some handy professional locksmith tools to make modifications easy and convenient.

Should I Paint or Replace My Front Door

If your front door is still in good shape and you don't want to make major design changes, you might be wondering if you should repair or replace the front door.

It's usually a lot cheaper to update a door that is in good shape than it is to replace it, although it can be more work. You will need to take the door off, sand or prepare the surface, paint or stain it as needed (possibly more than one coat), and then rehang it.

If you're handy, you can do that yourself, but it will take some time and the cost of the materials. Hiring a professional makes it quicker and easier, but it does usually cost a lot more, since you will be paying for labor too.

The choose to paint or replace front doors is not always as simple as it seems, so make sure you explore all the possibilities.

Is It Worth Replacing a Front Door?

That really depends. If your door is damaged beyond repair, then it's absolutely worth it. If it's just esthetics, you might do better to repaint it and replace the hardware for a cheaper face lift.

If you are replacing a door purely because you want a new look, you might be able to sell the used door to offset the costs.

Whatever you choose though, remember that a good, solid, fully operational front door not only looks better, it's a basic security must have.

Conclusion

There are many reasons why you might want to replace a front door, and just as many why you might want to repair or repaint instead. Every situation is different, so consider what your options are, and do some research.

When you know what all the options are, and what they will cost, you will be much better equipped to answer the question of is it time to replace your front door.