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.
Thinking about a new front or back door in Ipswich? We take charge of the whole project, co-ordinating every trade involved, and one person keeps you updated. Guide prices for the East of England sit at £1,050–£3,700 including VAT, and a typical job takes Usually half a day to one day per door. Your own figure depends on what the survey finds and the specification you settle on.
- Guide price
- £1,050–£3,700 inc VAT
- Time on site
- Usually half a day to one day per door
- Postcodes
- IP1, IP2, IP3 and IP4
- Planning rules
- England
- Local area
- Suffolk
- Survey
- Free, with a written quote
What should you budget for a new front or back door in Ipswich?
What should you budget for a new front or back door in Ipswich? Use the figures below as a starting point. Prices in the East of England sit about 5% above the national guide, so the range here is £1,050–£3,700 including VAT. Your fixed price comes in writing once we've surveyed the property, at no charge.
| Type of job | What it usually involves | Guide in Ipswich |
|---|---|---|
| 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 |
The main things that change the figure:
- 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
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
- Removal and disposal of the old door and frame
- Low threshold options for level or easier access
What are homes like around Ipswich?
Suffolk villages are full of timber-framed cottages, many limewashed in traditional colours such as Suffolk pink, with pargeting and thatch in places. Flint and pale gault brick are common too. Ipswich has Victorian terraces and interwar estates, Bury St Edmunds has Georgian streets, and Lowestoft and Felixstowe mix Victorian seaside housing with newer estates.
One of the driest counties, but the coast is eroding in places, and clay soils inland can shrink and crack in dry summers.
None of this holds for every street in Ipswich, which is why we look at your actual house before pricing a new front or back door rather than assuming from its age alone.
Planning and building rules in Ipswich
As Ipswich is in England, read the following with that system of planning and building control in mind. We check what applies to your house with the council before you receive a 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.
What happens after you get in touch?
We look at the job
First, someone visits your home in Ipswich 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.
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.
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
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.
How we work
Questions about a new front or back door in Ipswich
Can you combine a new front or back door with other work?
Yes. Because we manage several trades under one contract, we can plan a new front or back door alongside other work on your Ipswich home, such as new windows with rendering, or a kitchen refit with an extension. Combining jobs can reduce repeat set-up such as scaffolding, skips and access, and every element is listed and priced in the same written quote.
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.
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.
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 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.
Also covering areas around Ipswich
Whether you're in the centre of Ipswich or on its outskirts, IP1, IP2, IP3 and IP4 addresses are covered. We extend the same service, and the same fixed-price approach, to Harwich, Felixstowe and Stowmarket.