Answers to Homeowners' FAQs About Bellevue Door Installation

While open-plan houses are becoming more and more of a standard choice for builders and homeowners alike, doors are still an indispensable part of every home in Bellevue. Interior entries give us privacy when we need it most, along with some sound separation so you don't have to hear everything that’s happening in the next room. Exterior entryways are even more important—they are the first point of contact for visitors, and the first line of defense against unwelcome intruders. Even if you have no doors in your home at all, you still need to know about Bellevue door installation standards when it comes to your front door.

If your entrances, inside or out, have suffered damage or are looking worse-for-wear, you may need professional door installation services. Getting a new entryway installed will boost your curb appeal and property value in Bellevue. It can also give you peace of mind that your home is safe and secure, and can even save you a significant amount of money on energy costs. Or, maybe your current entry points are fine, but there aren't enough of them. A brand-new door installation can make your home a lot more comfortable, livable and accessible.

But what type of entry is best for your house and your individual needs? Do you even need a new installation, or just repairs? Does energy efficiency really matter that much? We have the answers that will help you plan your Bellevue door installation, including helpful advice from our experts. When you need exterior, interior, or front door installation, rely on the professional Bellevue handyman team at Mr. Handyman of SE Bellevue to get the job done right.

How Do I Choose the Best Model for Bellevue Door Installation?

If you’ve begun to shop around, you’ve probably noticed that there is an incredibly wide variety of options available, from different materials and features to an array of colors and styles. It may be difficult to figure out where to start, but there are a few considerations that will help guide you toward the perfect choice for your southeast Bellevue home.

Naturally, the location of the new installation will be a big factor in your decision. If it’s a standard-sized interior door installation, it makes sense to choose an option that matches or at least complements your existing interior entries. But, if you’re installing an entry into a common space such as a dining room or study, you may want to consider a more elaborate option such as a set of French doors. Or, if you want to install a new model in an area of your house that doesn't have a lot of space for it to swing open and shut, a pocket entry that slides out of the wall is an excellent space-saver.

In a similar sense, a standard front door installation generally calls for a traditional entryway in a style and color that matches or complements your home’s exterior. If the entryway is on the side or back of your house where privacy isn't as much of an issue, you may want to opt for something like a sliding patio design that will let in more natural light and give you a view of your backyard.

Here are a few questions you can ask yourself to help narrow it down:

What style and finish is the best match for the colors, style and décor inside or outside my house?
Do I want a windowed or glass entry to let in light and increase visibility?
How much maintenance am I willing and able to do? (Some materials, such as wood, require more maintenance than other options like fiberglass.)

Is Door Installation Covered by a Warranty and Guarantee?

Another thing you should check before making a purchase is whether your choice is covered by a solid manufacturer's warranty. This may not be as important for interior entries in Bellevue homes, but it should definitely be a consideration for exterior models so you’re not on the hook for replacement costs in the unlikely event that you get a faulty product.

Because it’s possible for damage to occur during door installation, it’s also a good idea to choose a professional installer who offers a guarantee on their workmanship. We only hire the best in Bellevue, so we’re very confident that our experienced service technicians can get the job done right the first time. That’s why we stand behind our expert handymen with a workmanship guarantee called the Done Right Promise.

What Material is Most Durable for Exterior Bellevue Door Installation?

For an exterior Bellevue door installation that will hold up well against normal wear-and-tear and offer solid product performance, fiberglass is a very durable, cost-effective, long-lasting material that is resistant to corrosion and other types of decay. But if you’re looking for the ultimate secure and sturdy option, steel is the way to go. It’s extremely durable, energy efficient and can be painted any color you like for the perfect look. It can, of course, show signs of corrosion over time, but you can avoid that with some basic maintenance.

Which Types of Doors Are the Most Energy Efficient?

Energy efficiency is a crucial factor when planning to install an exterior door. As a general rule of thumb, fiberglass and steel are going to be the most energy efficient choices for Bellevue homes, because they provide the insulation needed to prevent heat loss. Wood usually offers less efficiency than the other materials, though that can change if there is a window involved. Glass is a really poor insulator, so glass doors or entries with a window will naturally be less efficient than any material that does not include a window.

Why is Energy Efficiency Important for Door Installation?

It really pays to consider energy efficiency when you hire a Bellevue door installation service for three key reasons:

Heating and cooling are probably the biggest expense on your monthly utility bill, because your HVAC system needs to use a lot of energy to keep your home at your desired temperature. If warm or cool air is leaking out of your entryway or other vulnerable points such as windows, your HVAC system will need to operate longer and use more energy to compensate. This increases your energy costs—basically, you’re paying to heat all of Bellevue.
When your entryway was not installed correctly or has deteriorated over time, it lets in excess moisture and air drafts that make your home a lot less comfortable. Even worse, it can create issues such as wood rot that threaten the structural stability of the building, or mold growth that can be a health hazard to your family.
Needlessly wasting energy creates a strain on resources that is not environmentally friendly, which is why the U.S. Department of Energy and the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency jointly run the Energy Star program to promote energy efficiency and certify products that meet certain standards of efficiency.

Why Are Exterior Entries More Costly Than Interior Door Installation?

If you’re used to the price for interior entries and have been looking at the cost of exterior professional Bellevue door installation services, you may be experiencing a bit of sticker shock. However, there are many good reasons why exterior entries are more expensive than their interior counterparts. Interior entries are often hollow and made out of wood or vinyl. They are mainly there for privacy purposes and are sheltered inside your house, so they don't need to be weatherproof or particularly durable. Exterior doors, on the other hand, need to be able to withstand all the battering they take from harsh weather, insects, other pests and even attempted home invasions. They are a lot more technologically advanced and heavy-duty, so it makes sense that installing exterior models costs more than interior door installation.

Do I Need Bellevue Door Installation Services, or Just Repairs?

Our Bellevue door replacement professionals hear this question fairly often, and in our experience, it really comes down to the nature and extent of damage. If your entryway has some minor cosmetic issues such as scuffs or a couple little spots of rust, or if the damage is not severe, like loose or squeaky hinges, your handyman can take care of a few repairs here and there to get your entryway back in an attractive, functional condition.

But, if the damage is severe or widespread, replacement will actually be more cost-effective and less time-consuming than repairs. That’s because a door often needs to be removed from its hinges for repair and then rehung, which can be a difficult process on an older entry with a warped jamb or other potential issues. Depending on the type of damage, repairs may not be a reasonable option to get the door back in solid working order.

Can You Install a New Door in an Old Frame?

That is possible, as long as the jambs and sill are in good shape, not "out of square" or warped by factors such as rotting wood or the house settling. Even if the frame is in great condition, it’s possible that it would actually be more cost-effective and a lot less frustrating to get a full-frame installation with a pre-hung unit, because matching a new entry to an old jamb involves a lot of tricky measurements and takes a surprising amount of time, effort and skill. It’s definitely an expert installation task that should be left to a professional Bellevue handyman.

What’s the Difference Between Garden and Patio Doors?

While both these types of entries are typically installed on the side or back of Bellevue houses and open onto the garden, deck or backyard, the patio version is a double glass door with one or both panels on tracks so they can slide open and shut. A garden door is a single or double entry, usually with glass panels, that swings open and closed on hinges. Sliding glass entries are heavy, so they are more secure against being opened by small children or pets. However, garden-style alternatives are easier to secure against intruders trying to come in from the outside.

Should I Have a Storm Door Installed in Bellevue?

It depends on you and your family’s particular needs, but there are advantages to having a storm installed in Bellevue:

Provides additional protection against intrusion and harsh weather
Can extend the lifespan of your entryway considerably by protecting it from the elements, so you don't need to worry about replacement as often
Interchangeable storm doors have glass and mesh panels that can be swapped out according to the season—the glass helps improve energy efficiency in the winter, and the mesh allows for fresh breezes in the summer
Lets in fresh air and natural light while keeping small children and pets safely inside the house

There are also screen doors, which are similar to the storm version but only have basic mesh panels and don't necessarily have a latching mechanism.

How Long Does Door Installation Take?

If it’s a straight-forward installation for a pre-hung entry and there are no issues with the frame, the job could be as fast as a couple hours. However, there are issues that could cause it to take longer. We can't say how long your job will take until we’ve seen the project in person. Once our experienced technicians have had the opportunity to investigate and assess your current entryway, we’ll be able to give you an estimate for how long we think the job will take.

We Are Your Bellevue Door Installation Experts!

Whether you’re in southeast Bellevue or a nearby community such as Hobart or Fall City, we’ll help with your door installation. You can count on expert workmanship and outstanding customer service from the professionals at Mr. Handyman of SE Bellevue.

Pick up the phone and give us a call today at 425-276-6344 to book a convenient appointment, or to chat with our friendly customer service staff and find out more about all the ways we can make your property more comfortable and livable.