A Guide to Replacing Entry Doors: A Complete Guide

Published: November 05, 2020

By the Estate Millwork Design Team | Craftsmen since 1997

Entry doors more specifically front doors need to be tough yet elegant beautiful. When choosing a new front entry door you want it to be able to withstand elements like wind, rain, the sun beating down on it for hours on end and you also want it to protect you from unwanted visitors all while looking nice and providing a good first impression to visitors.

Most all older doors are made of solid wood or a veneered wood and they can start to break down over time if not properly cared for. Whether this is the case for you or you are looking for a door that will allow more light inside, new wood doors in many cases are better than their predecessors.

Replacing the Door

When it comes time to replacing your door this can simply mean just exchanging the old door for the new one, however in some cases you may need to replace the entire frame, jamb, and threshold if these wooden pieces have started to rot.

Sometimes the existing frame and jamb can look perfectly fine but the studs these are affixed to may have bowed slightly or settled out of square. When this happens it can become difficult to open and close the door, wood doors can be planed on the top, bottom or one of the edges so that it can hang correctly. This cannot be accomplished with metal and fiberglass doors.

Prehung Doors

You have the option of purchasing your new door prehung in the jamb which is ideal in situations where the frame and jamb need to be replaced. Prehung doors are already mounted into the door frame with a jamb, when going this route make sure you have selected the correct swing pattern for your situation, no one wants a front door that swings outside instead of in or a door that swings inside and blocks a staircase rather than swinging to an open wall.

Slabs or Blank Doors

A slab or blank door is exactly what it sounds like; it is just the door without the frame or jamb. You can purchase these doors from Estate Millwork already prepped to be hung or you can to the mortising for the hinges and lockset yourself. These doors are best when you intend to keep the existing framework and door jamb but replace the door itself. Going this route may also be better if the frame has become out of kilter because of settling and you need to trim away some of the door for it to hang properly.

Wooden Entry Doors

Even though wood entry doors may cost a little more than some of the other door options, we feel they are the best option when it comes to your front door. Not only do solid wood doors look great but they can last a lifetime if they are properly maintained, whereas steel doors often start to rust or acquire unfixable dents. Wood entry doors are able to be painted any color you can think of or stained to bring out the natural beauty of the wood grain giving you the very unique look.

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Selecting the Perfect Custom Wood Door

A well-chosen wood door does more than fill an opening; it sets the tone for an entire room or entryway. Interior doors influence how spaces flow together, while exterior doors establish the first impression of your home. When selecting a custom door, consider three primary factors: the architectural style of your home, the functional requirements of the opening, and the wood species that best complements your existing millwork.

For traditional and colonial homes, raised-panel doors with six or eight panels create a classic look. Contemporary and transitional homes lean toward flat-panel or Shaker-style doors with clean lines. Louvered doors are ideal for closets, laundry rooms, and utility spaces where airflow matters. French doors with glass panels open up sightlines between rooms while maintaining the ability to close off spaces for privacy or climate control.

Wood species matters both aesthetically and structurally. Red Oak and White Oak are among the hardest domestic species, making them excellent choices for high-traffic exterior doors. Mahogany offers superior dimensional stability and a rich grain pattern prized for front entries. For interior doors that will be painted, Poplar provides a smooth, affordable substrate. Estate Millwork builds every door using mortise-and-tenon joinery with hardwood dowel pins, ensuring joints that will not loosen over a lifetime of daily use.

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