A replacement front or back door is a new door and frame, usually composite, uPVC or aluminium, made to fit your existing opening and fitted with multi-point locks and weather seals to improve security, warmth and kerb appeal.
In March, as anywhere in Cambridgeshire, the price of a new front or back door is driven mainly by size, materials and access. Across the East of England our guide sits at £1,050–£3,700 with VAT, but restricted parking, a narrow side passage or extra preparation can move the figure either way. That is why every price we give follows a visit to the house.
- Guide price
- £1,050–£3,700 inc VAT
- Time on site
- Usually half a day to one day per door
- Postcodes
- PE15
- Planning rules
- England
- Local area
- Cambridgeshire
- Survey
- Free, with a written quote
How much does a new front or back door cost in March?
What will a new front or back door cost in March? Our guide range is £1,050–£3,700 including VAT. That figure is adjusted for the East of England, about 5% above the national guide, and is intended for planning a budget. A firm written price for your chosen specification follows a free survey at your home.
| Type of job | What it usually involves | Guide in March |
|---|---|---|
| uPVC back door | A standard uPVC back or side door with a half-glazed panel and multi-point lock. | £850–£1,600 |
| Composite front door | A made-to-measure composite door in your chosen colour, glass design and hardware. | £1,250–£2,600 |
| Aluminium or door with side panels | A premium aluminium door, or a composite door with one or two side panels. | £2,600–£5,200 |
Expect these to shape the final quote:
- Side panels, fanlights and the amount of glass
- Lock, cylinder and hardware specification
- Colour, including different colours inside and out
- Condition of the opening, threshold and surrounding brickwork
What’s included?
- Made-to-measure door and frame in your chosen colour and design
- Multi-point locking with anti-snap cylinders and matching handles
- Glazing panels, side panels or fanlights where specified
- Removal and disposal of the old door and frame
- Low threshold options for level or easier access
- Building regulations paperwork where a glazed door needs it
Building in March
Cambridge has many Victorian terraces in pale gault brick, with Edwardian villas and modern estates around the city. Peterborough expanded as a new town from the 1970s, adding large planned estates, while Ely, Huntingdon, St Neots and the Fenland market towns keep Georgian and Victorian centres. Limestone appears in villages near the Northamptonshire border.
This is one of the driest parts of the UK, but open fenland is windy and peat or clay ground can shrink, affecting foundations.
In March, as elsewhere in Cambridgeshire, we take the building's age and construction into account before recommending anything, because both can change what is involved in a new front or back door.
Permissions for a new front or back door in March
Each UK nation sets its own consent rules, and March is in England. What follows is a plain summary; we check the specifics for your property with the council before pricing anything.
Replacing windows and doors on a house is usually permitted development in England when the new ones look broadly similar to the old. Flats, listed buildings and homes covered by an Article 4 direction can need consent, and conservation areas may limit materials or styles.
Replacement windows and external doors must meet Building Regulations for energy efficiency, ventilation and, on upper floors, escape. The work is either self-certified by an installer registered with a competent person scheme or signed off by building control.
Rules change and every property is different, so we check the planning history and constraints for your address before we quote.
How does the job run?
A visit to your home
We arrange a free site survey on a date convenient to you. We measure up, look at the existing structure and access, and discuss your plans for a new front or back door so the price reflects your home.
Quote in writing
We put everything into a written, fixed-price quote: the specification, what's excluded, staged payments and the expected time on site. Take whatever time you need to decide; there's no pressure to commit.
Dates and permissions
We handle the paperwork side: checking whether planning permission or building control approval is needed, submitting applications where they are, and scheduling the trades and materials around your dates.
Finish and handover
During the work we protect the areas around it and tidy up at the end of each day. Once complete, we check the finish, remove our materials and hand over paperwork such as building control sign-off where it applies.
What you can expect from us
Front and back doors in March: questions
Do I need permission to change my front door?
Planning permission is not usually needed to replace a front door, but it depends on the style and size of the change, your home's location, whether it is listed or in a conservation area, and which UK nation you are in. Listed homes generally need consent for any change, and some conservation areas control colours and styles. Flat entrance doors in shared buildings must also meet fire rules. We check before quoting.
What happens at the survey?
We visit your home at a time that suits you, look at the area involved, take measurements and check access, condition and any services that might be affected. We talk through what you want from a new front or back door, explain the options and answer questions. There is no charge and no obligation; afterwards we send a written quote.
Is the price fixed?
Yes, for the specification we agree. Your written quote sets out exactly what is included at a fixed price. It only changes if you ask for something different, or if a problem the survey could not reasonably reveal later needs extra work. In either case we explain the change and confirm it in writing before going ahead.
Can I have a low threshold for wheelchair or pushchair access?
A low threshold is a flat or very shallow sill that makes a doorway easier to cross with a wheelchair, walking frame or pushchair. Most composite, uPVC and aluminium doors can be supplied with one. The outside ground level and drainage need checking, because a low threshold must still keep rainwater out. We look at this during the survey and suggest a channel drain or small ramp if needed.
How secure are modern doors?
Modern external doors are far more secure than older designs because they lock at several points along the frame, not just at the handle. We fit anti-snap cylinders, which resist a common method of forced entry, in reinforced frames. Laminated or toughened glass panels add further protection. For extra peace of mind you can add a door chain, a viewer or a smart lock, which we can include in your quote.
Near March
Addresses in PE15 are all covered for March, along with Wisbech, Ely and Peterborough close by. Give us your postcode when you get in touch and we will confirm the details.