Doors FAQ for Long Island Homeowners
The questions we get every week from Long Island homeowners. Materials, cost, timelines, permits, warranties, insurance. If yours is not here, call us.
How much does it cost?
For a typical 2,000 sqft exterior, expect $14,500 to $26,000 for fiberglass, $22,000 to $34,000 for insulated fiberglass, $28,000 to $44,000 for engineered cedar, $32,000 to $62,000 for premium steel and fiberglass, and $38,000 to $72,000 for real Western Red Cedar. These ranges are from Remodeling Magazine, HomeAdvisor, and Angi regional data, not made up. The actual number depends on your house. Try our free estimator for a ballpark.
No. The walk-through is free. The written quote is free. There is no obligation, no deposit to hold a date, and no follow-up pressure. If you want to think about it for six months, go ahead.
House size, number of stories, the condition of what is underneath, how many windows and doors (each one needs trim and flashing), material tier, and whether you need asbestos abatement. Two houses on the same street can be $10,000 apart. That is why we do a walk-through before quoting.
Yes. We work with multiple lending partners and offer 0% promotional financing for qualified homeowners. Soft-pull pre-qualification takes about two minutes. See our financing page for details.
Yes. According to Remodeling Magazine's Cost vs. Value report, a steel entry door replacement returns roughly 188% of cost at resale — the single highest-ROI remodel in the survey. Fiberglass entry door replacement returns around 60-70%. In competitive Nassau and Suffolk markets, curb appeal is a real factor, and an outdated or damaged front door is one of the first things buyers notice.
We are mid-range for quality contractors. You can find cheaper, but those crews are usually unlicensed, uninsured, or using subcontractors they have never worked with. You can find more expensive, but the premium is usually overhead, not craftsmanship. We price to cover a full-time crew, factory-certified installation, and a real 10-year workmanship warranty.
How does it work?
Most residential resides take 5 to 10 working days once the crew starts. A straightforward ranch with fiberglass might be 4 to 5 days. A 2.5-story colonial with premium and custom trim could be 8 to 12. Weather can push things. We build 2 weather days into every schedule.
Yes. We handle all permits for both Nassau and Suffolk County. The cost is included in your quote. We know every building department on the island, which ones need engineer stamps, and which inspectors want to see specific things.
We almost always tear off. Going over existing door hides problems, adds weight, and voids some warranties. If your existing door is sound and code allows it, we can discuss an overlay, but we will tell you honestly whether it makes sense.
We photograph it, send it to you immediately, and get your approval before any extra work. Rotted sheathing repair typically runs $600 to $2,400 depending on extent. There are no surprise charges on our invoices.
Yes, for the duration of the job. We place plywood under it to protect the driveway. It gets picked up the day after we finish. We clean the jobsite at the end of every work day, not just at the end of the project.
Yes, with some caveats. Fiberglass gets brittle below 40 degrees, so we avoid cutting and nailing fiberglass in deep cold. premium can be installed year-round since it is a cementitious product. Cedar is also fine in cold weather. We schedule winter jobs on mild-forecast days and adjust the crew plan around weather windows. If we need to pause for a few days, we secure the house and come back when conditions allow.
No. Most homeowners leave a key or a garage code and go to work. We will text you a photo update at the end of each day. If we find anything unexpected behind the old doors, we call you immediately for approval before doing any additional work.
Which doors is right?
There is no single best. Fiberglass is the most popular because it handles salt air well and costs less. Therma-Tru is the premium choice because it does not rot, warp, or burn, and the ColorPlus finish holds up well on the coast. Cedar looks incredible but needs maintenance. We will walk through the pros and cons for your specific house.
For most homeowners who plan to stay in the house 10+ years, yes. It does not melt near grills, does not crack in cold, holds paint for 15+ years with ColorPlus, and carries the best warranty in the industry. It also appraises well. Remodeling Magazine shows 80%+ cost recovery on resale.
Yes. Industry data shows 10 to 15% improvement in thermal performance. You will feel it in winter and see it on your energy bill. The contoured foam backing also makes the panels feel more solid and reduces that hollow sound standard fiberglass can have.
Real cedar needs to be stained or painted every 5 to 7 years. It is beautiful but it is not set-and-forget. Engineered cedar (like Maibec) gives you a very similar look with a factory-applied finish that lasts 25 years. We install both and will give you the honest comparison.
Yes, and it often looks great. A common combination on Long Island is premium lap doors on the main body with wood panel accents on the gable ends. We can also do board and batten on upper stories with lap doors below. Mixed profiles add depth and curb appeal. We will show you samples and photo examples during the walk-through so you can see how different combinations look on houses similar to yours.
What is covered?
10-year workmanship warranty on every job, in writing. That covers our labor and installation. Material warranties come from the manufacturer and range from 25 years (fiberglass) to lifetime (premium substrate). Because we are factory-certified, the manufacturer warranties are fully honored.
Most standard homeowners policies cover sudden storm damage to doors. We work with insurance adjusters regularly and can help you through the claims process. We document the damage, provide the scope of work, and meet the adjuster on site if needed.
Very common on pre-1978 Long Island homes, especially in Levittown, Hicksville, and Farmingdale. If asbestos is present, we coordinate licensed abatement. Typical cost is $3,500 to $6,500 depending on house size. We handle the testing, abatement coordination, and disposal paperwork.
Still have a question?
Call us or fill out the form. We answer everything within 4 business hours. No sales pitch.
or fill out the form, it takes 20 seconds
Schedule a walk-through
Five fields. We take it from there.