When to replace your front door (and when to refinish).

Your front door takes a beating in New England weather. But that doesn’t always mean it needs replacing — sometimes a refinish is the smarter move. Here’s how we help homeowners decide.

Signs it’s time to replace

If your door has warped, the frame is rotting, or you can feel a draft even when it’s closed and locked, replacement is the right call. No amount of refinishing fixes structural problems.

When refinishing makes sense

Solid wood doors in good structural shape can often be sanded, re-stained, and resealed for a fraction of the cost. We see this a lot with oak and mahogany doors from the 80s and 90s — the wood is still sound, it just needs attention.