Front door faffing (with image)

[mostlymindblown]

Desperately need to replace / restore our front door which is offensive to the eye, as well as being draughty and probably quite insecure due to the lovely nicotine yellow coloured single glazed non-safety glass.

Have had a quote of £540 + vat (£650 inc vat) to supply and fit new obscure toughened glass to the door and side light panels. We would then need to sand down and paint all the woodwork. This is probably the least intrusive and most eco-friendly option but obliviously involves a lot of work on our part and is not cheap!

Have looked at new wooden and composite doors but with it is reallt confusing what we need, and with the sidelight = ££££. I guess we would probably need a carpenter to fit / build new frame which will cost even more

Any super smart front door hacks out there that are as cost effective as possible? I am desperate to get it sorted soon as we currently are not using that entrance due to concerns about the glass / security

Thanks!

"Have had a quote of £540 + vat (£650 inc vat) to supply and fit new obscure toughened glass to the door and side light panels."

Hahahahahahaha!

Ask around for a local glazier or window repairman.

They mostly work on repairing plastic windows and doors these days, as they are so troublesome. The independents have often previously worked for the big replacement window companies.

You probably know somebody who has had misty or blown double glazing panes replaced. If they paid about £50 each the person is probably reasonably priced.

For a front door and sidelight, my preference is for laminated glass. A glazier can cut it to fit, it has good resistance to burglars. On a good hardwood door like yours, a glazier or experienced carpenter will cut and fit new wooden glazing beads, usually pinned on the inside of the door to retain the glass. For a strong burglar resistant fixing of the glass, modern adhesive foam glazing tape will hold it so firmly that it will not rattle, and a burglar will not be able to get the glass out of the frame even if he smashes it.

If thedoor is draughty, examine its fit in the frame. Both should still be square and upright. If the hinges are drooping or loose, a carpenter can he-hang it much better. I recommend three lift-off hinges, preferably PVD on stainless, which will not rust and have a very large pin and bearing (msg me for a link) that will not wear for many years. You can then lift off the door for redecoration without needing to unscrew the hinges or rehang it with skill.

If for some reason the door is a loose fit in the frame, you can add sealing strips. The furry pile type compresses well. look at the frame and see if it has a groove for a strip. Apply them after any planing, fitting or painting. They stick best to new paint or stain, worst to dirt or bare rough wood. Remember the top and the bottom of the door which are usually neglected.

p.s.

I see your door has been hung with the locks next to the letterbox. It would be more secure the other way round. There is a technique for releasing a latch and turning a key through the letterbox.

PigletJohn thank you!

I would rather go down the re-use and repair route if poss. The quote I got was from a local supplier of windows / doors etc - maybe they don't really want to do it...

Will try and hunt down a local glazier, would I expect them to supply the glass pre-cut or do it on site? If I end up with 2 trades on a day rate + materials might that not creep up to similar to the quoted price?

Good point re the lock / letterbox!

Will pm re hinges

p.s.

the price you have been quoted is excessive. But tempered glass has to be made to size in the glass factory (it cannot be cut after manufacture).

Laminated glass can be cut by the glazier to the size of your panels. I think 6.4mm would be correct thickness and is very strong. The glazier will confirm according to size of opening.

you can probably find a local glass merchant in your town. Measure the size of the holes very accurately and they will cut it to fit, usually while you wait. Say that you have measured the hole (not the glass) and they will allow a fitting clearance. Or take the old glass in and they will copy (your door probably only have two sizes of glass; the top corners and all the others, so you only need to take two pieces). The carpenter can shave the wood a fraction with his razor-sharp chisel if necessary.

A local carpenter is likely to know a local glass merchant, if he's been in business a while it will be a familiar job. I don't think you need a glazier on site.

The merchant will probably have glazing tape, it usually comes in brown, black and white. Black may suit better as the brown will not match your wood. It need not be thick. It replaces putty or sealant and is cut with sharp scissors. Once fitted it is very very hard to remove. You want the width to be the same as the height of the glass rebate. www.ebay.co.uk/sch/i.html?_from=R40&_trksid=p2380057.m570.l1313.TR6.TRC2.A0.H0.Xglazing+tape.TRS0&_nkw=glazing+tape&_sacat=0

The firm you approached might prefer to fit a whole house with plastic doors and windows, and have a daily rate based on that size of job. Many wrinkly carpenters carry on into semi-retirement doing similar little jobs when they are too old or slow for housebuilding.