I'm looking to replace my standard back door that leads to a screened-in porch with a sliding glass door, as the current one just doesn't work for the space. The construction shouldn't pose any issues, although I will need to relocate one light switch. I've received a quote for $7,500 just for the labor, excluding the cost of the door itself, and I'm starting to wonder if that's too high. I live in a high-cost area, and while I appreciate my contractor and prefer to work with him, I'd like to know if others agree with this quote or not. Is it reasonable?
5 Answers
Honestly, $7,500 doesn't sound too outrageous to me, especially if you're widening an opening. Just be aware that if it's a load-bearing wall, that can complicate things a bit. Otherwise, it seems reasonable for what you're looking to do.
I recommend getting a few different quotes before making a decision. That price really depends on the sliding door's cost, and it doesn’t sound that far-fetched when you consider everything involved.
About two years ago, I was quoted around $6,000 to switch from my French doors to a sliding door, but that was for a custom size. Prices do vary a lot depending on where you live and the contractor.
To give you an idea, I recently swapped out two French doors for sliding glass ones, and my quotes varied a lot. One was $5,600 for standard sizes, while another was $8,000. If you're curious about competitive pricing, consider getting a quote from Home Depot or a similar place to compare. Just a heads up about them, though—I had quite a few issues with their installation before!
Even if there's no major structural work, remember that installing a door requires appropriate support, so it's a bit of an undertaking. That said, $7,500 is on the higher end, especially since it doesn't include the door itself. Is this door a standard size?