3 Exterior Door Replacements in Washington, DC
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Scope of Work
Project Overview
The homeowner wanted to replace three exterior doors on a DC row home: the front entry door, the back door, and the basement door. The goal was better security and energy efficiency without changing the look of the house.
We removed all three doors along with their frames and installed new insulated steel units. The front and back doors are steel security doors with tempered security glass, and the basement door is solid steel with no glass. All three doors met Washington, DC building code requirements for exterior security doors.
Before / AFTER
Site Conditions
The Property and Site Conditions
The biggest problem was at the basement door, where daylight was visible along the sides of the door. The frame did not appear to be built for the door that was in it, and it had likely been cut down and slid into place at some point before the current owner bought the house. The framing also stopped short, so a section of it had to be rebuilt before a new door could go in.
The back and front doors needed new framing as well. The back door opening measured 30 inches wide by just under 81 inches tall, and the front door was a standard 36 inches wide by just over 80 inches tall.
The wrought iron security door outside the basement entry was staying. The back door had no wrought iron protecting it, which is why the glass on that door had to be tempered security glass instead of standard glass.
ASSESsMENT
What We Did
We removed all three doors, including the frames and hardware, and hauled away the debris. At the basement entry, we rebuilt the section of framing that stopped short so the new frame would have full support on all sides.
Front Entry Door Replacement
We removed the old front door along with its frame and hardware and cleared the opening. Then we set the new 36″ x 80″ steel security door, an insulated unit with tempered security glass, weatherproof seals, and new hardware. We leveled it, sealed it, and tested the operation and the seal.
As the home’s main entry, this door carries the most security and energy load. The steel construction and tempered security glass resist forced entry, and the insulation and weatherproof seals cut drafts and heat loss at the spot that sees the most daily use.
Back Door Replacement
We pulled the old rear door, frame, and hardware and cleared the opening. In went a 30″ x 81″ steel security door that matches the front: insulated, with tempered glass and full weatherproofing. We leveled, sealed, and tested it the same way.
Rear doors are a common entry point for break-ins, so matching the front’s steel-and-tempered-glass build keeps security consistent across both main entries. The full weatherproofing closes up another spot where air and water tend to get in.
Basement Door Replacement
We removed the old basement door, frame, and hardware. The framing here stopped short of the opening, so we rebuilt that section to give the new frame full support on all sides. Then we installed a 30″ x 77″ solid steel door with a new frame, weatherstripping, and upgraded hardware. The existing wrought iron security door stayed in place outside it. We leveled, sealed, and tested it.
Completed Project
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