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 take on a new front or back door throughout Whitstable and the surrounding CT5 postcodes, as well as in Herne Bay, Canterbury and Faversham. The guide range for this work in the South East is £1,100–£3,900 including VAT; where your project falls depends on its size, the materials you pick and how easy the site is to reach. A free survey turns that range into a fixed figure.
- Guide price
- £1,100–£3,900 inc VAT
- Time on site
- Usually half a day to one day per door
- Postcodes
- CT5
- Planning rules
- England
- Local area
- Kent
- Survey
- Free, with a written quote
What should you budget for a new front or back door in Whitstable?
Budgeting for a new front or back door in Whitstable? The numbers below include VAT and are adjusted for the South East, where costs are about 12% above the national guide. The headline range is £1,100–£3,900. Nothing is final until we have measured up at a free survey and agreed the specification with you.
| Type of job | What it usually involves | Guide in Whitstable |
|---|---|---|
| uPVC back door | A standard uPVC back or side door with a half-glazed panel and multi-point lock. | £900–£1,700 |
| Composite front door | A made-to-measure composite door in your chosen colour, glass design and hardware. | £1,350–£2,800 |
| Aluminium or door with side panels | A premium aluminium door, or a composite door with one or two side panels. | £2,800–£5,600 |
Your price depends mostly on:
- 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
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
- Weather seals, sealant and internal trims finished neatly
Homes in Kent
Kent's older buildings include oast houses, weatherboarded cottages, Wealden timber-framed houses and Kentish ragstone walls. Medway towns have long rows of Victorian terraces, Margate and Ramsgate have Regency and Victorian seafronts, and Ashford, Maidstone and Dartford have seen large new estates alongside interwar and post-war housing.
Victorian terraces suit loft rooms and rear extensions; weatherboarded and timber-framed buildings may need cladding repairs and lime work. Newer estate homes often take garage conversions, porches and landscaping.
Whatever era your Whitstable home dates from, we plan a new front or back door around how it is actually built rather than a one-size-fits-all specification.
Planning and building rules in Whitstable
Whitstable is in England, so the planning and building rules set out below are the ones that apply. We confirm the details with the council before we quote.
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.
From survey to handover
Survey and measure
First, someone visits your home in Whitstable to see the space, take measurements and note anything that could affect the work, such as access or the condition of what is there. There is no charge for this visit.
Quote in writing
Next you receive a written quote with a fixed price for the agreed specification. It lists what is included, what is not, and how payments are staged, so you can compare it properly.
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.
The work itself
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.
What you can expect from 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.
How do I look after a composite or uPVC door?
Looking after a composite or uPVC door is mostly a matter of regular cleaning with warm soapy water and a soft cloth. Avoid solvents and abrasive pads, which can dull the finish. Once or twice a year, lightly oil the lock mechanism and the moving parts along the edge of the door, and check the seals. If the door starts to catch, the hinges can usually be adjusted easily.
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 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 long will my home be open while the door is fitted?
Fitting a new door usually takes half a day to a full day, and your home is only open for the short time between taking out the old frame and fixing the new one. We keep the opening covered if there is any delay, and we never leave a doorway insecure overnight. Once the frame is fixed, we hang the door, adjust the locks, seal around the frame and finish the trims.
Also covering areas around Whitstable
Homes across CT5 in Whitstable are within our coverage, as are those in Herne Bay, Canterbury and Faversham. If you are just outside these areas, ask anyway, because we work right across the UK.