Exterior Door Installation, Replacement and Repair in Peterborough, Ontario – Peterborough Windows and Doors
At Peterborough Windows and Doors, we understand the value of a high quality front door. Not only does it transform the look of your home, but also saves on heating and cooling costs. Our team is up to date with the latest technology in exterior front door systems. The newer doors can see more then double the R value then an old legacy door on a home. Professional entry door installation helps ensure a proper fit, smooth operation, reliable sealing, and long-term performance. Our team will discuss suitable door options, and complete the installation with careful attention to alignment, insulation, and finishing details.
If your door sticks, allows drafts, shows moisture damage, or no longer suits your home, replacement may offer a practical upgrade. We’ll explain your options, outline the installation process, and provide a free quote for your Peterborough project.
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When to Repair or Replace Your Exterior Door
- Drafts - Typically doesn't get noticed until the winter time, when a cool breeze can be felt coming from around the door. Most common place are at the threshold, and also the latch seal.
- Higher than normal heating and cooler bills- Although this can be multiple factors such as older homes and older windows. The from door is usually the culprit, its often the largest, oldest and doesn't always have a heating vent in front to combat the draft.
- The door sticks, drags, or won’t latch - Wood doors swell and warp with Ontario’s humidity and temperature swings, and hinges sag over the years. A door that has to be shoved or lifted to close is near the end of its life.
- Rot, rust, or cracking - Wood will rot, metal will rust and old fiber glasss will tend to crack and chip. If you notice any of these symptoms, its most likely time for a replacement.
- Security - Older doors often have worn locks, weak strike plates, or a hollow or damaged slab that is easy to force. A solid new door with a proper deadbolt and reinforced frame is one of the cheapest security upgrades you can make.
- Water getting in - Staining on the floor or frame, or a threshold that no longer sits flush, means water is working its way inside. Left alone, that leads to frame rot and floor damage around the entry.
- Street noise - A hollow or poorly sealed door does little to block sound. A modern insulated door with good weatherstripping noticeably cuts down traffic and neighbourhood noise.
- Curb appeal -The front door is the first thing people see. A dated, faded, or beat-up door drags down the whole look of the house, and a new one changes the look of the entrance more than almost any other single upgrade.
- Home value before a sale - Exterior door replacement is one of the better-returning renovations dollar for dollar. If you are listing soon, a fresh entry door helps the home show better and photograph better.
- Condensation, fading, or failed glass - If your door has a glass insert that fogs up between the panes, that seal has failed and the insulation is gone. Same story if the finish is sun-faded and peeling and refinishing won’t bring it back.
Recognizing Frame Rot, Water Damage, and Security Concerns
DRAFT
- Hold a lit candle or incense stick around the edges on a windy day. If the flame or smoke pulls sideways, air is leaking through the seal.
- Look for daylight around the perimeter of the door when it’s closed. Any light you can see is a gap letting air in.
- Run your hand along the frame and threshold on a cold day. If you feel cool air or the weatherstripping is flattened, cracked, or missing, the seal has failed.
FRAME ROT
- Press a screwdriver or your thumbnail into the bottom corners and along the frame. If it sinks in or the wood feels soft and crumbly, it’s rotting.
- Look for paint that is peeling, bubbling, or flaking, since trapped moisture under the finish is usually rot starting underneath.
- Check for dark or discoloured patches, especially low on the door and where the frame meets the sill, where water sits the longest.
WATER DAMAGE
- Check the bottom of the door and the threshold for staining, dark water marks, or a swollen, spongy feel in the wood.
- Look at the floor just inside the door for warping, lifting, or discoloured flooring, which means water has been getting past the threshold.
- Watch for condensation or fogging between the panes of any glass insert. That means the seal has failed and moisture is trapped inside.
SECURITY CONCERNS
- Try the deadbolt and latch. If they’re loose, stiff, or don’t throw fully into the frame, the lock is no longer doing its job.
- Check the strike plate and hinges for short screws, loose mounting, or a frame that flexes when you push on the door.
- Tap the door and inspect the slab. A hollow sound, visible cracks, or a thin or damaged skin means it can be forced open more easily than a solid door.
Door Replacement FAQs
For budgeting, allow approximately $1,500 to $4,000 before tax for a standard exterior door replacement with installation. Custom sizes, sidelights, premium hardware, and frame repairs can push the total above $5,000.
We recommend getting a written quote that identifies the door, labour, removal, disposal, trim, and applicable taxes. These figures serve as planning estimates; your project requires an assessment for accurate pricing.
Contact us to confirm our current installation options for steel and fibreglass entry doors, glass-panel doors, sidelights, and patio door systems. Product availability and your existing opening determine the choices for your project.
We recommend selecting the door style alongside its security hardware, glass configuration, and insulation rating. Accurate measurements help establish whether a standard-size unit fits or your opening requires custom sizing.
We recommend assessing hinges, weatherstripping, the threshold, and the latch first. Localized drafts, loose hardware, and alignment problems often respond to repairs.
A warped slab, extensive rot, a damaged frame, or persistent water intrusion supports replacement. We also recommend identifying the source of moisture before installing a new unit.
A straightforward replacement in an existing opening typically takes 4-8 hours depending on many factors such a side lites, frame damage, masonry alterations, custom trim, and changes to the opening extend that schedule.
We recommend confirming preparation requirements and the installation timeline before work begins. Keep the entrance accessible and move furniture, decorations, and valuables away from the work area.
We recommend comparing insulated fibreglass and steel doors for Peterborough’s cold winters. Fibreglass resists dents and moisture-related deterioration, while steel offers strength and requires prompt touch-ups where scratches expose the metal.
Compare the complete door assembly’s energy performance, including its frame and glazing. A lower U-factor indicates less heat transfer; effective weatherstripping, a properly fitted threshold, and careful installation also reduce drafts.
Contact us for the written product and installation warranty terms that apply to your quote. Coverage depends on the selected manufacturer, door model, components, and installation agreement.
We recommend checking coverage periods for the slab, glass seal, finish, hardware, and installation labour. Review exclusions, maintenance requirements, transferability, and the claim process before approving the work.