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.
We offer a new front or back door across Essex, and Colchester is one of the places we cover, along with nearby Sudbury, Clacton-on-Sea and Witham. Before anything is agreed we visit, check the existing structure and talk through your options. You then receive a written quote setting out the full scope; for most homes in the East of England it sits within £1,050–£3,700 including VAT.
- Guide price
- £1,050–£3,700 inc VAT
- Time on site
- Usually half a day to one day per door
- Postcodes
- CO1, CO2, CO3 and CO4
- Planning rules
- England
- Local area
- Essex
- Survey
- Free, with a written quote
Front and back doors prices in Colchester
Use the table to gauge the cost of a new front or back door in Colchester before we visit. Figures include VAT and are scaled for the East of England, coming out about 5% above the national guide, which gives £1,050–£3,700 overall. After a free survey, you receive a fixed written price.
| Type of job | What it usually involves | Guide in Colchester |
|---|---|---|
| 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 |
Your price depends mostly on:
- Door material: uPVC, composite or aluminium
- Side panels, fanlights and the amount of glass
- Lock, cylinder and hardware specification
- Colour, including different colours inside and out
Scope of the work
- Made-to-measure door and frame in your chosen colour and design
- 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
- Weather seals, sealant and internal trims finished neatly
- Building regulations paperwork where a glazed door needs it
Building in Colchester
Essex ranges from timber-framed and weatherboarded cottages in the north, some with decorative pargeting, to Victorian terraces in Colchester, Chelmsford and Southend. Basildon and Harlow were built as post-war new towns, much of the south-east has interwar suburbs and bungalows, and large new estates continue to appear around Chelmsford and Braintree.
Terraces and semis commonly suit loft conversions and rear extensions, and many bungalows can take a loft room. New-town homes often need cladding, window and roofline renewal, while timber-framed cottages call for lime plaster and repairs that respect the original frame.
These patterns matter for a new front or back door: older walls, roofs and floors in Colchester can need different materials or extra preparation compared with newer homes.
Do you need permission in Colchester?
The notes below cover England, which is where Colchester sits. Rules change and every property is different, so we speak to the council before pricing your job.
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?
Survey and measure
Book a visit and we'll come to you. The survey covers measurements, the state of what's there now and any obvious constraints, so the price that follows is based on your actual home, not an average.
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
Preparation matters as much as the build. We agree access, parking and working hours with you, order materials in good time, and confirm any permissions so the job isn't held up once it starts.
The work itself
On site, the agreed plan is followed and any change is put in writing first. At completion we do a final clean, go through the snagging list with you and leave you with the relevant documents.
Working with SK Home Improvements
Common questions
Who do I deal with during the job?
One point of contact manages your project from survey to handover. They schedule the trades working under our contract, keep you updated on progress, and are the person to call with any question. You don't need to coordinate builders, electricians or decorators separately, because that is part of what we do.
Do I need planning permission in Colchester?
It depends on the work, the size of the project, your property type and whether the building is listed or in a conservation area. Colchester is in England, so England's rules apply. Many smaller jobs need no planning application, but some still need building control approval. We check what applies to your address before quoting.
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.
How much does a new front door cost?
A new front door costs £1,050–£3,700 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.
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.
Also covering areas around Colchester
Whether you're in the centre of Colchester or on its outskirts, CO1, CO2, CO3 and CO4 addresses are covered. We extend the same service, and the same fixed-price approach, to Sudbury, Clacton-on-Sea and Witham.