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.
Planning a new front or back door for a home in Soho means making a handful of decisions about materials, layout, finish and timing. We help you work through them at a free survey, then confirm in writing what it will cost for the options you pick. Most projects of this type need Usually half a day to one day per door, and we cover every W1, W1B, WC2H and W1D address as well as the rest of London.
- Guide price
- £1,300–£4,600 inc VAT
- Time on site
- Usually half a day to one day per door
- Postcodes
- W1, W1B, WC2H, W1D and W1F
- Planning rules
- England
- Local area
- Westminster
- Survey
- Free, with a written quote
How much does a new front or back door cost in Soho?
Here is how the guide price for a new front or back door breaks down in Soho. We start from national figures and adjust for London, which comes out about 30% above the national guide. The resulting range, VAT included, is £1,300–£4,600, and a survey, at no cost to you, firms it up.
| Type of job | What it usually involves | Guide in Soho |
|---|---|---|
| uPVC back door | A standard uPVC back or side door with a half-glazed panel and multi-point lock. | £1,050–£1,950 |
| Composite front door | A made-to-measure composite door in your chosen colour, glass design and hardware. | £1,550–£3,200 |
| Aluminium or door with side panels | A premium aluminium door, or a composite door with one or two side panels. | £3,200–£6,500 |
What moves the price up or down:
- Door material: uPVC, composite or aluminium
- Lock, cylinder and hardware specification
- Colour, including different colours inside and out
- Condition of the opening, threshold and surrounding brickwork
What does the job include in Soho?
- Measured survey of the opening, threshold and frame condition
- 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
- Building regulations paperwork where a glazed door needs it
Building in Soho
London's housing is dominated by Victorian and Edwardian terraces, often in yellow London stock brick, with Georgian terraces in central districts and mansion blocks across many inner areas. Outer boroughs have large belts of interwar semis, and there are extensive post-war council estates. Many houses have been split into flats, and conservation areas are widespread.
London Clay shrinks and swells with the seasons, and street trees close to houses can contribute to movement, which affects foundation design.
Building traditions across London also raise conservation and planning questions, so we check those for a new front or back door in Soho at the survey stage.
Permissions for a new front or back door in Soho
England, Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland each handle planning a little differently. Soho comes under England, covered below, and we raise any questions with the council before your quote is finalised.
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.
The four stages
We look at the job
We begin by looking at the job in person. During the free survey we discuss options, materials and budget for a new front or back door, and photograph or measure anything the quote needs to reflect.
Quote in writing
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.
Plan and prepare
Once you accept, we agree start dates, order materials and deal with any planning, building control or neighbour notices the job needs. You'll know who is coming and when before work begins.
On site to finish
Work goes ahead as scheduled and you deal with one contact throughout. When the last trade leaves, we clear and clean the site, talk you through what has been done and pass on any certificates and care instructions.
Working with SK Home Improvements
Common questions
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.
Do you cover Westminster, Pimlico and Camden Town?
Yes. As well as Soho, we cover Westminster, Pimlico and Camden Town and the rest of London. Our coverage is UK-wide, so the process is the same wherever you are: a free site survey, a quote in writing that fixes the price for the agreed scope, and one point of contact while the work is planned and carried out.
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.
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 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.
Nearby towns
Soho and its W1, W1B, WC2H and W1D postcodes are part of our coverage. Homeowners in Westminster, Pimlico and Camden Town can also book a free survey with us and receive a written price for their job.