I'm looking to replace a walkout basement door in my cinder block home that's quite old (the door is from the early 1980s, and the house itself was built in the mid-1950s). I'm providing both the door and the storm door myself. I got a quote for about $500 from one contractor who just looked at a picture I sent. However, a second contractor came to take a closer look and pointed out that some cinder block repair might be needed, mentioning things like carefully removing the inside frame and possibly needing to rebuild the framing for a pre-hung door. This contractor is asking for $5,000. Does that sound reasonable to you?
3 Answers
Honestly, with the current condition of your door and the described needed repairs, it might take more than a day to complete. I think that quote sounds reasonable if they're doing all the necessary repairs right. Hiring a handyman by the hour could save you money, but it comes with risks like unexpected issues cropping up.
Replacing doors can get pricey, especially when the framing needs work. I'd say that $5,000 might be on the higher end, but if they're addressing underlying issues like cracks and structural integrity, it might be justified. Ensure that quote includes the cost of labor and materials correctly.
Per my original post, I'm actually covering the cost of the door and storm door, which is around $1500.
You should definitely get a couple more quotes to compare. A $500 estimate without a hands-on look raises red flags for me. If the reviews for that contractor are solid, it might be worth looking into, but it sounds fishy for such a critical job.
Yeah, I get that. The $500 quote just feels off, especially since the second guy took a detailed look.
I had a similar situation, and it took a while to get everything fixed right. You definitely need someone skilled for this type of job.