Internal doors- many questions!

[HappyGoLuckyGo]

Hi, hoping someone can help me a bit. I’d like to replace all of our 6 internal doors (one is a double width doorway).

Where should I buy them? Do I need to look for any particular materials? They need to be white wood and fully opaque, except for the kitchen door which I’d like to have a glass window in it.

How much should I expect to pay for the doors? How much should I expect to pay for installation? (How long does it take to install a door?? Won’t be doing it myself...)

We currently have rather flat carpets but in the medium term would like wooden/laminate flooring. Will this affect the installation? (I remember my dad planing off the bottom of a door when he installed it.)

Thanks for helping a very confused DIY newbie!

We replaced all of ours and used a company called doors and more - cannot recommend enough. We hired local carpenter to install but they do install too. Not sure of their coverage (definitely London & Midlands).

We chose solid wood, but you can buy composite cheaper at b&q they just aren't as solid. Most come either unfinished or in a choice of colours/oils. Remember to budget for handles, fixtures etc on top. We paid around £120 a door for solid oak.

We have had work done that necessitatedtwo new doors. They are 4 panelled and came from Howdens. I think they are pine but we have painted them white to match our existing doors. They were hung by our builders.

I don't know how much you have to spend but I assume your not made of the stuff.
I've bought and fitted scores over the years. Take a look at wickes they have a good range and their prices are very reasonable.
Buy nice heavy doors not flimsy light ones, they're easier to work with.

Find a joiner that you like and trust, he (it's usually a he but not always) is likely to be around a good many hours fitting that many doors.
It's the door furniture (locks, handles etc) that take the time not to mention making them fit the doorway (they're rarely exactly the same size as the door).
Get a few quotes and expect to pay about the same as your doors and door furniture have cost get them fitted by a good joiner.
Tell him exactly and I do mean exactly what your doing with the floors etc before he starts.
Otherwise get him back to trim all the doors after you change your floors.

Let us know how you get on.

Thanks for the replies! Really helpful. Will look into Howdens and Doors and more (had already seen Wickes).

Any advice on how to find a joiner, @silverback? Also you mention getting the doors to fit the doorways: will I need to repaint them after fitting?

If your looking for a good joiner he will be the one that's too busy to be on any of the get a quote websites you see advertised. Or he could be still building a name for himself.
I would ask around your friends and neighbours first or simply google 'find a joiner' that should throw up a list of firms close to you.
You will probably need to paint the doors after they're fitted.

door linings ("frames") are not very expensive, and if renewed at the same time, make it easier to fit the door near-perfect.

Otherwise you will hear the old complaint "it's not the door at fault, it's the frame"

I am very fond of lift-off hinges, which make it easy to take off the door for painting, planing, or carrying large furniture through.

The ones used for fire doors are extremely strong, with lubricated bronze bushes, and available BZP, chrome, satin or polished stainless. PVD appear to be unobtainable but brass plated steel (will rust on external doors) can sometimes be found. They are sold under various brand-names including Eclipse, Union, Royde and Tucker, Carlise Brass, but I suspect they might all come from the same factory.

When you're looking at doors, try lifting them up. You will soon recognise the cheap ones, which are made of air with a thin ornamental skin.

Heavy, solid doors are pretty good at blocking sound, and feel substantial when you open or close them. They will be described as "solid core" or similar. if you're going to paint them you don't need veneer so moulded ones will do.

We replaced 6 doors on a budget (skint) and they are 4 panel white. It cost £440 for doors and for joiner to hang. I think doors were £60 or so each. They don't seem awful quality to me but they are light. We provided door handles which we bought from screwfix. We then painted them (and frame) after with eggshell white. I'm very happy with them. We found joiner on a trust a trader type site.

Also it took him and his apprentice about 6 hours I'd say.