Talk slowly to me about replacing a front door in a 30s house, please!

[DoItTooJulia]

The current front door is awful. We bought a second hand original 30s door but fitting it was a job beyond our amateur abilities. (We ruined the door)

I think we need a carpenter. But what do I do about buying a door? Do I get a brand new one in the dimensions of the current door? Or do I find a reclaimed one? Do we need all new door frames?

And how much does it all cost?

All I want is a solid door with some glass, and a 30s sunburst would make me happy, but tbh, ANYthing other than what we have now will make me happy!

Thanks!

We paid a carpenter about £120 to hang a reclaimed 1930s door with stained glass (saved from a skip). Looks brilliant. I had priced up a "new" 1930s door - mega bucks. Go reclaimed if you can.

Get yourself to a salvage/reclamation yard.Something like this

£120 I like the sound of! I have been pricing up/guesstimating £500 for the door and frames and the same again for a carpenter!

Thank you for replying, I was worried it was quiet here!

if you are changing the doorframe, involve your carpenter first. The old frame is very likely to be set back into the brickwork (more wood will be visible inside than from outside). Modern frames are not done the same way, but an experienced person will be able to do it.

BTW I strongly recommend stainless steel lift-off hinges (they are also available with a PVD brass plating) as they make it very much easier to remove and replace the door for repainting, planning, draughtproofing or other work.

Paint the bottom and the top and fit a weatherbar.

I assumed we needed to change to door frames: do you think I dont? They are ugly...

We just got a quote for a new 1930s front door and frame for nearly £3,000 I like the sound of £150 as well but, sadly, we've got horrid upvc to get rid of first.

We bought a door on eBay 5 years ago for £200 to replace our UPVC one. - it was a 1930's one with stained glass. I asked a carpenter to strip and paint it and he fitted it with a new frame and side window, he charged me £550 so shop around.
It was the equivalent of 2 days work - one day offsite and another to fit; a new door would cost more but fitting may be easier - my door is a bit warped but I love it.