About how much is it to replace a garage entry door w/ installation? September 11, 2012 Subscribe I need to replace the entry door to the garage soon, but with an extremely tight budget, limited time, an angry mother, and an asshole older brother. You’re going to save money with DIY home improvement projects. Sure, everybody knows that.But did you know how much? Cut professionals out of the equation and you can save half the cost of a project — or more. On a minor bathroom refresh, that could be up to $10,000.What’s more, you get a great return on your investment. Meaning, the financial value you get out of a DIY project is much more than what you put in.Of course there are projects where pro installation is going to be much faster and safer, and worth the price of a hiring a contractor. Major exterior improvements, such as replacing roofing and siding, are prime candidates.Nevertheless, going DIY is the ultimate money-saving tool. You’ll also get tons of satisfaction and enjoyment from creating a better home environment and learning home improvement skills that’ll last a lifetime.
Here’s a rundown of some top money-saving projects, using cost and recovered costs data from the “2015 Remodeling Impact Report” from the NATIONAL ASSOCIATION OF REALTORS®.But before we get to that, let’s swat aside some concerns. Or go straight to the projects.Sorry, not buying it. How-to tutorials are everywhere. Check out YouTube for video instructions on everything from taking out a toilet to tiling your shower stall. In addition:That’s the trade-off. Your time (and labor) is going to stand in for cash out of your pocket. If you truly don’t have the time, then DIY probably isn’t for you. The next best move is to BIY your project — buy-it-yourself. With a BIY project, you do the research, shopping, and purchasing of materials and save the contractor’s markup. You need to work closely with your professional to make sure you agree on what stuff you’ll be buying, and what is still the contractor’s responsibility.Related: Save 20% When You BIY Instead of DIYNew Steel Front DoorFew replacement projects have as much upside as a new steel entry door.
Not only will you recover about 75% of the cost of having an entry door professionally installed, but you’ll spruce up your curb appeal big time. Ninety-six percent of homeowners responding to the “Remodeling Impact Report” say they are happy or satisfied with their new front door. Of course, you’ll save even more if you tackle this project yourself. Know your door parts (jambs, threshold, stops) before digging in. You’ll be putting in a pre-hung door that includes jambs, so the old stuff has to come out. If you can, preserve the old casing (trim) that goes around the door. Otherwise, plan to buy new casing.This is a good one to have a friend or spouse lend a hand. It’ll take six to eight hours if it’s your first time. Remember the three-legged mantra of door installation: Plumb, level, square.Related: Choosing an Exterior DoorTired of looking at that big blank billboard every time you pull into your driveway? Change out your old garage door for a spiffy new steel model and the whole neighborhood will thank you.
Save some cash by keeping the same motorized opener.A steel garage door comes in four panels that are relatively lightweight but awkward — get a friend to lend a hand and you’ll have this project done in a day. Then stand back and admire along with 95% of homeowners in the “2015 Remodeling Impact Report” who said they were happy or satisfied with their new garage door. If you want to replace four or more windows, or a second-story window, then hire the work out. Being up on a ladder with an object as bulky as a window is no place for a non-professional. Pros bring scaffolding, which takes time to set up but ultimately makes the work faster and safer.Replacing one, two, or maybe three first-story windows is a good DIY job. Anything more and the pros will get the job done with better efficiency in terms of time and hassle.If you’ve measured your rough opening correctly and bought the right window, then one window should take you three to four hours. You’ll get faster with subsequent windows.
Few projects are as satisfying, while recovering such a high percentage of your investment, as new wood flooring. According to the “2015 Remodeling Impact Report,” 96% of homeowners were happy or satisfied with their professionally installed hardwood floors. Combine that with a 91% return on your investment, and you’ll likely be a very happy homeowner.For the DIYer, installing hardwood flooring is a bit labor intensive, but the techniques are fairly easy to master. Once you get the hang of it, installing prefinished hardwood flooring should go smoothly.Related: Should Your Refinish Hardwood Floors Yourself?OK, maybe it’s not the sexiest project. After all, it’s tucked out of sight in your attic. But you can feel it with increased comfort, and see the savings on your energy bill. Those are big pluses. Upgrading an under-insulated attic space can save you up to 50% per year in energy costs. With a pro cost of $2,100, it’ll take at least a couple of years to pay off your investment with savings.
Do it yourself, however, and you’ll only spend about $700 for enough 10-inch-thick fiberglass batt insulation to cover a 20-foot-by-40-foot attic space. You’ll pocket the savings much sooner. It’s also an awkward project, it can be messy, and you’ll need to bundle up behind protective clothing. However, insulating your attic is a low-skill project that most DIYers can pull off. Just be sure not to stick your foot through the drywall under the attic floor joists! Exterior prehung doors allow you to replace your existing exterior door and frame with a single unit that includes a door, glazing, frame, threshold, weatherstripping, exterior trim, and predrilled holes for a lockset. and depending on size, style, type, and material, a new exterior prehung door could cost anywhere from $75 to $5,000. Once you have ordered and received your new exterior prehung door, you can begin removal and installation. Having selected and ordered the new exterior prehung door and purchased tools and the necessary materials, you are ready to remove the existing door.
Use a utility knife to cut a line in the 90° corner between the interior door casing and wall. This separates the paint and helps to ensure a clean removal of the door casing from the wall. Using a pry bar, gently remove the door casing from the wall. Repeat for any exterior trim (brick mould). Unscrew door hinges and remove the existing door slab from the door frame. Using a pry bar, separate the door frame from the rough opening lumber and remove it from the opening. Most prehung doors, interior or exterior, are installed in a very similar manner. Exterior prehung doors, unlike interior doors, will come with a set of installation instructions. Be sure to read and follow those installation instructions. Failure to do so will result in voiding the manufacturer's warranty on your new door. (Refer to How to Replace a Prehung Interior Door for help with installation of your exterior prehung door.) Installing an Exterior Prehung Door Unlike an interior door, exterior doors need to stand up to the outdoor elements and be weather tight.
Prior to installing the new door you need to prepare the rough opening. Ensure that the floor under the door threshold is the correct height. This can be raised, if necessary, by using treated wood materials cut to size. The top and bottom corners and the sill of the rough opening should be shielded from moisture with building paper or self-adhering waterproof membrane. Drip edge flashing, slid between the exterior finish and weather barrier, should be long enough to extend over the top of any exterior trim and cut to fit the width of the opening. After positioning the door in place and securing it, install the exterior door lockset. (For installation directions refer to the manufacturer's instructions and How to Replace a Prehung Interior Door.) On the interior of the door, cut back shims, fill voids between the door frame and rough opening framing with low expansion foam or fiberglass insulation, and install interior door casing. On the exterior of the door you should run a bead of silicone caulk around the door frame, under the threshold, and between all joints or adjacent material transitions.