The True Cost of Front Doors: Everything You Need To Know

Have you ever wondered why some front doors cost a few hundred dollars while others can set you back thousands?

We believe in an open-door policy when it comes to the price tag behind your new front door. This guide will look at the secrets behind the cost of front doors so you can choose the perfect door for your home and budget.

Factors Influencing the Cost of Front Doors

Materials

The material you choose plays a huge role in the cost of front doors. Each material has its unique charm, durability, and price point.

Wood

The classic choice, wood offers natural beauty, warmth, and timeless elegance.

• Pros
o Aesthetics: Wide range of styles, finishes, and customisation options. Choose from traditional timber designs to sleek, modern looks.
o Insulation: Naturally insulating, helping to regulate your home’s temperature and reduce energy bills.
• Cons
o Maintenance: Requires regular upkeep, including painting or staining, to prevent warping, rotting, and fading.
o Cost: It can be more expensive, especially for high-quality timbers.

Fibreglass

Fibreglass is a versatile and durable option that mimics the look of wood without the upkeep.

• Pros
o Low maintenance: Resists warping, rotting, denting, and insect damage, making it a great choice for busy homes.
o Energy efficient: Great insulation properties due to its foam core, contributing to lower heating and cooling costs.
o Variety of styles: Available in various colours, finishes, and woodgrain textures to suit different tastes.
• Cons
o Limited customisation: Not as customisable as wood, with fewer options for intricate designs or detailing.
o Cost: Mid-range price point. It can be more expensive than steel but generally less than wood.

Aluminium

Aluminium doors are a strong and secure choice, ideal if safety and durability are a must.

• Pros
o Security: High resistance to forced entry, offering peace of mind for homeowners worried about safety.
o Durability: Withstands harsh weather conditions like strong winds, heavy rain, and extreme temperatures.
o Cost: Typically the most affordable option for a front door, making it budget-friendly.
• Cons
o Denting: Prone to dents and scratches, which can affect its appearance over time.
o Rust: Can rust if the finish is damaged, requiring repairs to prevent further deterioration.
o Aesthetics: Limited style options compared to wood and fibreglass, often favouring a more modern look.
o Energy efficiency: Aluminium doors can be less energy-efficient than wood or fibreglass unless they have an insulated core.

Design and Style

The design and style of your front door play a big role in its cost. You’ll typically have the choice between standard and custom designs. Standard designs are pre-made and carried in-store and are usually the cheaper option.

They come in various styles and sizes, making them easy to fit for most front door sizes. On the other hand, a custom design might be the way to go if you’re after a unique entrance.

While these bespoke doors allow for endless creativity and personalisation, they come with a higher price tag due to the labour, craftsmanship, and materials needed.

The complexity of your chosen design also factors into the cost of front doors. Doors with intricate carvings, panels, or decorative glass inserts take more time and skill to create, naturally increasing the price.

Certain finishes you choose can also impact your budget. Premium finishes like hand-applied stains or multi-step paint processes require extra labour and materials, adding to the overall expense.

Here are some of the most popular styles of doors you’ll find today.

• Traditional: Often features raised panels, decorative mouldings, and classic hardware. They can range from affordable options in steel or fibreglass to more expensive handcrafted wooden doors.
• Contemporary: Sleek, minimalist designs with clean lines and modern hardware. These are available in various materials, with steel and fibreglass being more budget-friendly options.
• Heritage/victorian: Inspired by historical architectural styles, these doors often incorporate intricate detailing, decorative glass, and ornate hardware. Materials like wood and high-quality fibreglass are commonly used, adding to a higher price point due to the craftsmanship and attention to detail involved.

Size and Specifications

The size also plays a big part in the cost of front doors. Standard-sized doors (typically 2040mm high x 820mm wide) are common and are always more budget-friendly.

Custom-sized doors, used for non-standard openings, come with a higher price tag for custom manufacturing. Larger or wider doors, like double doors, require more material and additional internal support, increasing the cost.

Our advice is to always measure your doorway accurately before shopping to ensure your new font door will fit. Buying the wrong size door will mean alterations to your existing opening. These unexpected issues can break the budget.

Glazing and Additional Features

Glass options range from basic single glazing to more energy-efficient double or triple glazing. While single glazing is the most affordable, it offers the least insulation.

Double and triple glazing greatly improve your home’s energy efficiency and reduce outside noise. However, they always come at a higher price!

Then we have additional features like sidelights and transoms. These not only look great but also allow natural light to flood your home. Since they need additional materials and installation, they will increase the overall cost of your door.

Hardware is another important factor to consider when budgeting the cost of front doors.

From sleek modern designs to ornate traditional styles, your choice of handles, locks, knockers, and hinges can improve your door’s appearance and functionality.

High-quality materials like solid brass or stainless steel will look fantastic and offer durability and longevity.

Remember, all these additional elements affect the final price. It’s okay to dream big, but also be realistic about what you can afford.

Labour and Installation Costs

While you might be tempted to channel your inner DIY enthusiast, front door installation is often best left to the professionals. Nothing is worse than a brand-new front door that has been hung crooked.

Professional installation costs in Australia vary depending on the complexity of the job, the type of door, and your location.

Typically, a standard front door installation costs between $200 and $600. The cost can go up for custom-sized doors or those with intricate features.

When it comes to installing front doors, there are a few common installation challenges that can affect the installation cost.

1. Removing the old door: If your existing door frame is damaged or needs to be resized, additional labour and materials will be required, increasing the cost.
2. Non-standard openings: As mentioned earlier, non-standard doorways need custom doors, which are more expensive than standard sizes.
3. Structural issues: If your door frame is not level or plumb, the installer may need to make adjustments, adding to the labour costs.
4. Unexpected complications: Sometimes, unexpected issues like rot, mould, or pest damage can come up during installation. These problems must be fixed before the new door can be installed, which can increase the overall cost.

Maintenance and Longevity

The final thing that can’t be forgotten is the upkeep of your new front door. Different materials have different maintenance needs and lifespans.

Wood doors, while beautiful, need more regular upkeep, like painting or staining. Fibreglass doors are low maintenance, but their finishes can fade over time. Steel doors are durable but may rust if the finish is damaged.

When choosing your front door, keep in mind these three points.

1. Maintenance frequency: How often will the door need to be repainted, refinished, or repaired?
2. Maintenance costs: What are the estimated costs for materials and labour required to maintain the door over its lifespan?
3. Door lifespan: How long can you expect the door to last before needing replacement?

Making the Right Choice for Your Front Door

Imagine your dream door. Now imagine your dream door that doesn’t cost an arm and a leg.

Make it a reality with Doors Plus. Our experts can guide you through the entire process, from selecting the perfect front door to a hassle-free installation.

Explore our incredible range of front doors, get a free measure and quote, or visit a showroom near you.

Your dream door is just a visit away!

FAQs About Cost of Front Doors

How Much Should I Expect To Pay for a New Front Door?

The cost of a new front door can vary a lot, typically ranging from a few hundred dollars for a basic aluminium door to a few thousand dollars or more for a custom-designed timber door.

Factors like material, design, size, glazing, and additional features influence the final price.

How Much Does It Cost To Install a Front Door?

Professional installation typically costs between $200 and $600 for a standard installation. However, for custom-sized doors or those with complex features, the cost can vary.

What Is the Cheapest Material for a Front Door?

MDF flat panel doors are generally the most affordable material for front doors, due to the simple design features of the door.

How Can I Save Money on a Front Door?

Opting for a standard-sized door instead of a custom size will help reduce the cost of front doors, as can choosing a simpler design without intricate details or decorative glass.

Explore different materials to find the best value.

Try a fully installed package from doors plus which generally is cheaper than if you were to buy all the components of a door and installation separately.

And if you’re handy, DIY installation can save you the amount of labour. But be careful, one small mistake and it could cost you so much more!