Doors
Entry, patio and interior doors that close with one finger
A door is carpentry. Measure the opening, order the right unit, set it plumb, level and square, flash it, foam it, and it will close easily for twenty years. Josh does entry doors, patio doors, storm doors, cellar bulkheads and interior doors by the house-full.
In short
Doors are a job people put off. The old one still technically works, until the threshold rots, the weatherstrip is gone, the deadbolt needs a shoulder, and the draft under it is moving the curtains. Then a door company quotes a front door at the price of a used car.
Fox Gables does doors as part of the regular carpentry work. A HomeAdvisor customer called Josh prompt, courteous and highly competent after a sliding glass door replacement. Another customer had sixteen interior doors and six closet sliders replaced in one job and recommended Josh to the neighbors. Doors are the kind of job that goes well when the person doing it cares about the last sixteenth of an inch.
Entry doors
Most new front doors are fiberglass: they do not dent like steel, do not swell like wood, take a woodgrain finish that fools people from the sidewalk, and come pre-hung in a composite frame that will not rot. Steel doors are the budget option and fine on a side or garage door. Solid wood is the choice for historic homes in Lititz and Lancaster where the look matters more than maintenance.
Options include decorative glass inserts, sidelights on one or both sides, transoms, and a full range of hardware. Josh orders the unit to the measured rough opening, sets it with shims at every hinge and strike, foams the gap with low-expansion foam, flashes the exterior and wraps the brick mold in aluminum so it never needs paint.
Patio and sliding doors
Sliding patio doors fail at the rollers and the track, and old aluminum sliders are single-pane and bitterly cold in January. New vinyl or fiberglass sliders have insulated low-E glass, stainless rollers and a proper interlock at the meeting stile. French doors and hinged patio doors are the alternative where there is room for a swing.
A patio door is also a water problem waiting to happen because the threshold sits at floor level. Josh installs a sill pan and flashes the opening so water that gets past the door runs out, not under the floor. The slider on the projects page was set into a brick wall, which is the most demanding version of that job.
Storm doors, bulkheads and the rest
The smaller door jobs add up to a lot of the work.
- Storm doors: full-view, retractable-screen and ventilating styles, hung on a new or existing frame
- Bulkhead (cellar) doors: steel units set on a new or repaired concrete curb over existing basement stairs, sealed to the foundation
- Garage entry doors and fire-rated doors between the garage and house
- Door repair: hinges, strikes, thresholds, weatherstrip, re-hanging a door that drags
Interior doors, by the house
Replacing every interior door at once is a job most homeowners do not think of until they see it done. Hollow-core flush doors from the 1970s become two-panel or six-panel doors, new hinges, new knobs and levers, and the whole house feels newer. Josh does these as pre-hung units where the frames are worn, or slab replacements in existing frames where the frames are good.
Closet doors are part of the same job: bypass sliders, bifolds, or swinging doors to replace broken track hardware.
| Door | Typical installed price | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Fiberglass entry door, pre-hung | $2,200 to $4,500 | Decorative glass adds $300 to $900 |
| Entry door with one or two sidelights | $4,000 to $9,000 | |
| Steel entry or side door | $1,400 to $2,600 | |
| Vinyl sliding patio door, 6 ft | $2,400 to $4,800 | Into brick or stone adds labor |
| French or hinged patio door | $3,500 to $7,500 | |
| Storm door | $500 to $1,200 | |
| Steel bulkhead door | $1,800 to $3,800 | Includes curb work |
| Interior door, pre-hung, each | $350 to $700 | Volume pricing for a whole house |
| Interior slab in existing frame, each | $200 to $400 |
On the job
Sliding patio door in a brick opening 
Steel bulkhead over basement stairs 
Oval-glass fiberglass entry door 
New interior doors and casing in a whole-house remodel
How a job goes
From the first call to the walkthrough
- 1
Call or send the form
Josh calls back the same day, usually within a couple of hours. Tell him what is going on and he will ask a few questions.
- 2
Josh comes out and looks
On the roof, in the attic, under the deck. He measures, takes photos, and brings samples in the truck. No sales presentation.
- 3
You get a written estimate
Materials named by brand, the scope spelled out, a price that does not expire at midnight. Over $500 it is a written contract, as Pennsylvania requires.
- 4
The work gets done
Materials delivered, the job done by Josh with help as the job needs, the site cleaned every day, permits and inspections handled.
- 5
Walkthrough, then you pay
Josh walks the finished job with you. Anything on the list gets done. Final payment when you are satisfied.
Related projects
This work, on real houses
Ephrata area · Lancaster County
Entry doors, a patio door and a bulkhead door
Decorative glass entry doors with sidelights, a sliding patio door in a brick wall, and a steel bulkhead cellar door.
Reading · Berks County
Whole-house interior remodel in Reading
New drywall throughout, a new kitchen, new flooring, lighting, trim and a rebuilt staircase railing in a Reading home.
Questions people ask
Fiberglass, steel or wood for a front door?
Fiberglass for most houses: no dents, no swelling, looks like wood. Steel for side and garage doors on a budget. Wood for historic homes where the look is the point.
Can you install a door with sidelights where there is only a single door now?
Often, yes. It means widening the rough opening and adding a header, which is carpentry Josh does regularly. He will check the wall first.
Do you replace sliding doors in brick walls?
Yes. The one on the projects page is in brick. It takes careful sill work so water runs out.
How long does an entry door take?
Half a day for a straightforward pre-hung replacement. A day with sidelights or a widened opening.
Do you replace interior doors only?
Yes. Whole-house interior door replacement is a regular job. One customer had 22 doors done.
Will the new door match my existing trim?
Pre-hung doors come with new casing on the exterior side; interior casing can be reused or replaced to match. Josh will show you the options.
Free estimate
Get a number, not a pitch.
Tell Josh what the house needs. He will call back, come out, measure, and give you a written estimate with the materials named.
(717) 598-7728Calls and texts answered seven days a week. Estimates by appointment, Monday to Saturday.
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