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.
For a homeowner in Derry/Londonderry, planning a new front or back door tends to begin with two questions: what will it cost, and how disruptive will it be? Our guide range is £850–£3,000 including VAT, and a typical job runs to Usually half a day to one day per door. Both numbers firm up once we have seen the property, measured up and agreed exactly what is included.
- Guide price
- £850–£3,000 inc VAT
- Time on site
- Usually half a day to one day per door
- Postcodes
- BT48
- Planning rules
- Northern Ireland
- Local area
- Derry
- Survey
- Free, with a written quote
How much does a new front or back door cost in Derry/Londonderry?
The table below shows guide prices for a new front or back door in Derry/Londonderry. They are based on rates in Northern Ireland, which run about 14% below the national guide, giving an overall range of £850–£3,000. All figures include VAT and are firmed up after a free site survey.
| Type of job | What it usually involves | Guide in Derry/Londonderry |
|---|---|---|
| uPVC back door | A standard uPVC back or side door with a half-glazed panel and multi-point lock. | £700–£1,300 |
| Composite front door | A made-to-measure composite door in your chosen colour, glass design and hardware. | £1,050–£2,200 |
| Aluminium or door with side panels | A premium aluminium door, or a composite door with one or two side panels. | £2,200–£4,300 |
Expect these to shape the final quote:
- Door material: uPVC, composite or aluminium
- Side panels, fanlights and the amount of glass
- Colour, including different colours inside and out
- Condition of the opening, threshold and surrounding brickwork
Scope of the work
- Measured survey of the opening, threshold and frame condition
- 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
- Low threshold options for level or easier access
- Building regulations paperwork where a glazed door needs it
Building in Derry/Londonderry
Derry has Georgian and Victorian terraces around its walled city, alongside large post-war estates and newer developments. Coleraine, Limavady and Magherafelt mix older town centres with semis and estates, Portstewart has seaside villas, and rural areas have many detached homes and bungalows, often roughcast.
Terraces suit loft conversions and rear extensions, while rural bungalows commonly take extensions, loft rooms and driveways. Roughcast homes often need re-rendering, and coastal houses need roofline and window renewal.
That mix of housing shapes how we approach a new front or back door in Derry/Londonderry: the age and construction of your home affect the materials, the method and, in the end, the price.
Do you need permission in Derry/Londonderry?
Derry/Londonderry is in Northern Ireland, so the planning and building rules set out below are the ones that apply. We confirm the details with the council before we quote.
In Northern Ireland, like-for-like replacement windows and doors on a house rarely need planning permission. Listed buildings and conservation areas are the main exceptions, so check with the council before changing style or material.
The Building Regulations (Northern Ireland) apply to replacement windows, so the work needs building control approval or sign-off through an approved competent person route.
Rules change and every property is different, so we check the planning history and constraints for your address before we quote.
The four stages
Survey and measure
It starts with a survey at the property, free of charge. We check condition, access and services, ask how you want the finished result to look, and answer any questions you have about a new front or back door.
Your fixed price
After the survey we send a quote for a new front or back door that fixes the price for the scope we've agreed. If you want to change materials or scope, we revise it in writing before anything is booked.
Booking the work
Next comes planning the work itself. We set a start date that suits you, line up the right trades, and make sure any approvals for a new front or back door are in place before the first day on site.
Build and hand over
Our trades complete a new front or back door while your point of contact keeps you updated. When everything is finished, we clear the site, take away waste and go through the result with you before handover.
Why homeowners choose us
Frequently asked questions
How long will a new front or back door take?
On a typical home, allow Usually half a day to one day per door. Larger projects, older buildings and extra work found once things are opened up can extend that, while simpler jobs may be shorter. Your quote includes an estimate of time on site, and your point of contact keeps you updated on the programme as the work progresses.
What is the difference between a composite and a uPVC door?
A composite door has a tough outer skin over a solid insulated core, so it feels heavier and more solid than uPVC and holds its colour well. A uPVC door is built from reinforced plastic panels and costs less. Both can have multi-point locking and good weather seals. Many people choose composite for the front door and uPVC for back or side doors, where looks matter less.
How much does a new front door cost?
A new front door costs £850–£3,000 supplied and fitted, depending on the material, the amount of glass and whether you want side panels. A uPVC back door sits at the lower end, a composite front door in the middle, and aluminium doors or doors with side panels at the top. Locks, letterplates and dual colours also affect the figure. We confirm a fixed price in writing after measuring your opening.
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.
Can I stay at home during the work?
In most cases, yes. Most people can live at home throughout, and we plan the work to keep disruption down by protecting floors, agreeing working hours and keeping access routes clear. Bigger jobs affecting kitchens, bathrooms or heating may mean a short spell with reduced facilities, and we talk this through with you at the survey.
Near Derry/Londonderry
Derry/Londonderry and its BT48 postcodes are part of our coverage. Homeowners in Strabane, Limavady and Coleraine can also book a free survey with us and receive a written price for their job.