Windows and doors are the parts of a house you touch every day and only think about when they leak. This section covers choosing and living with double-hung windows, patio doors and whether sliding or French makes more sense for the space and the budget, sliding closet doors, and storm doors that survive more than one winter. There is also the front door I could see daylight around, and the fifteen-minute window screen repair I somehow put off for a year. Weatherproofing runs through all of it, because sealing what you already own is usually far cheaper and faster than replacing it, and it is the first thing worth trying.
A patio door is a large glass entry to a deck, patio, or yard, available in sliding (gliding), hinged French, and folding styles. Installed cost is $1,500-$5,500 for sliding doors, $2,500-$8,000 for French doors, and $4,000-$15,000 for multi-panel folding. Quality patio doors last 25-40 years; the r
A double-hung window has two vertically sliding sashes (top and bottom) that both open, allowing ventilation from top or bottom and easy cleaning from inside on tilt-in models. Installed cost is $400-$1,500 per window for vinyl, $800-$2,500 for wood or fiberglass. Quality double-hung windows last 20
Replacing your home’s front entry door costs $1,200-$5,000 installed for a standard 36-inch fiberglass or steel pre-hung door, and $3,000-$10,000+ for premium wood or large multi-panel entry systems. Quality entry doors last 25-50 years. Top brands: Therma-Tru, Pella, Andersen, JELD-WEN, ProVia. Ins
A storm door is a secondary exterior door mounted in front of your main entry door, providing insulation, weather protection, ventilation, and visibility. Installed cost runs $250-$800 for the door and $150-$400 for labor, totaling $400-$1,200. Quality aluminum storm doors last 10-25 years. Top bran
