My front door lets in cold air. Does it need replacing?

Usually not. Most drafts come from flattened weatherstrip, a worn sweep, a threshold set too low, or a door that has sagged on its hinges and no longer presses evenly against the seal. Each is a small repair. A new door makes sense when the slab is warped or the frame is rotted.

Will seal tape or a weatherstrip kit fix a front-door draft?

It can help for a season, especially on an older door with no proper weatherstrip. Adhesive foam tends to compress and peel, though, and too thick a strip can stop the door latching. Replacing the original weatherstrip with the right profile usually lasts longer and looks tidier.

Is there an Ontario rebate for a new front door?

There can be. A complete ENERGY STAR certified door may qualify under the provincial Home Renovation Savings Program, which generally needs a home energy assessment. Repairs, weatherstrip and replacement glass don't qualify. Confirm the current terms on the program's site before booking.

Do I need heritage approval to replace my front door?

If the house is designated or in one of Kingston's three heritage conservation districts, you may. Changes to the porch, windows and trim can need a heritage permit, and the door is the focal point of the entrance. Send Heritage Planning photos and a description before ordering anything.

Can I cancel a door contract I signed at home?

Generally, yes, for a short time. Ontario's consumer protection rules give a cooling-off period for contracts signed in your home, starting when you receive a written copy. The province's page on door-to-door and home service contracts sets out the details, so read it and your contract before signing.

Front doors · Kingston

Front doors: tune up the one you have or choose a new one

A front door that lets in a draft, sticks every humid summer or won't latch cleanly is often one worn part away from working properly. Weatherstrip, hinges, a sweep or a strike plate are worth trying before a new door. When the door itself is done, we connect homeowners in Kingston, Ontario with an independent local installer who fits entry doors; they measure and quote the replacement.

The part before the door
Steel, fibreglass or wood
Heritage and rebate questions answered

Get a free quote 613-480-0991

A half-lite door with a sidelight. The glass, the weatherstrip and the door can each be dealt with separately.

Draft fixes first

Fixes that often solve drafts and sticking

Weatherstrip

The compression strip in the frame flattens and tears with use. A new strip in the right profile often cures a draft on the latch side.

Sweep and threshold

Daylight under the door means a worn sweep or a threshold that needs raising. Both are small fixes.

Hinges and strike plate

A door that rubs at the top corner or won't latch has usually sagged. Longer screws into the framing, or a shimmed hinge, pull it back.

New doors

New entry doors: steel, fibreglass and wood

The frame matters as much as the slab. A pre-hung door arrives in its own frame with weatherstrip and threshold fitted, usually the better route when the old frame is worn. For a glass door to the yard, see patio and garden doors.

Steel

Strong, with an insulated core. It can dent, and a deep scratch left bare can rust.

Fibreglass

Resists dents and rust and takes paint or stain well. A wood-grain face suits many older streets.

Wood

The traditional choice for heritage houses. It needs regular refinishing to stay sound.

Around the door

Sidelights, transoms and door glass

Many Kingston entrances frame the door with sidelights, a transom or both. They can be replaced with a new door as one unit, or kept if they're sound; keeping them saves original glass but means fitting the new door to the old frame.

Glass in and beside an entry door is ordered as safety glass where the Building Code calls for it. If the door is sound and only the glass is cracked or cloudy, replacing just the door glass is the smaller job.

Heritage entrances

On a designated property, altering parts of a building such as the porch, steps, windows or trim can need a heritage permit from the City, while maintenance is exempt, and the Barriefield, Market Square and Old Sydenham conservation districts have their own review. A front door is the focal point of an entrance, so call Heritage Planning before choosing a new one.

Repairing the existing door and refitting its weatherstrip keep the entrance as it is. A storm door or a new door is worth discussing with Heritage Planning first. The limestone and heritage homes guide explains how to check whether your house is designated or listed.

Rebates

Rebates and ENERGY STAR for doors

A complete ENERGY STAR certified entry door can count toward Ontario's Home Renovation Savings Program, which pays per rough opening and generally requires a home energy assessment as part of more than one upgrade. New glass or weatherstrip on the existing door doesn't qualify. Check the current terms before booking, and ask the installer for the door's certification. The City's Better Homes Kingston program isn't accepting applications right now.

What affects the quote

What affects the price

Entry door quotes vary because the doors do. The installer will price:

Steel, fibreglass or wood, and the finish
Glass: solid, half-lite, full-lite or decorative
Sidelights and a transom replaced with the door, or kept
A new frame and threshold, or a slab in the existing frame
Locksets, hardware and interior trim
Rot in the sill or framing found once the old door is out

A photo from outside showing the whole entrance, and one of the sill, help the installer quote accurately.

Get an entry door quote

Free quotes from independent local installers.

Questions

Front door questions

Explore your options

Local installers work on entry doors across Kingston and nearby, including Sydenham Ward, Williamsville, Portsmouth Village and Bath.

Send a photo of the door from outside

Include the frame and any sidelights. We pass it to a local installer who works on entry doors, and they'll say whether a repair will do or quote a new door.