Case Study
Residential Door Repair
This case was completed for a customer on Inishmore, County Galway.
The customer contacted Windows Repair Galway expecting that the full door would need to be replaced. The door was difficult to open, the centre of the panel was swollen, and the glazed sections were badly misted because the glass units had failed.
After our repair-first inspection, we recommended a more practical upgrade: replacing the damaged door panel and upgrading key components to improve the appearance, function and sealing of the existing door.
Residential Door Repair Case Study
Case summary
The customer called because they believed the full door needed to be replaced. The door was difficult to open, the centre of the door panel was swollen, the glazed sections were badly misted / fogged because the glass units had failed, and the existing door looked tired and was no longer working properly.
Our repair-first inspection showed that the door panel had swollen because it had taken in water. The panel had several cracks, which allowed moisture to enter, and the glass units were misted because the seals had failed.
The door was catching because the swollen panel had affected the geometry and alignment of the door. Because we see these faults regularly, the cause was clear during inspection.
We explained that a full door replacement was not necessary and recommended replacing the damaged door panel instead. We showed the customer available panel designs, and they chose a modern replacement panel with a smaller glazed section. The hallway still had enough natural light, so the smaller glass area was suitable.
The upgrade included a replacement modern door panel, new handle, new letterbox, new frame seal and lock keep / strike plate work.
The core door and frame could still be upgraded. The correct solution was to remove the swollen, water-damaged panel and failed components, then fit a new modern panel and hardware.
This gave the customer the appearance and function of a much improved door without the cost and disruption of full replacement.
The door looked much fresher and more modern. It opened and operated better, and the customer got a major improvement for far less cost than a full replacement door.
You do not always need a new door. Sometimes the right panel and hardware upgrade can transform the existing door.
What this case shows
Related services
Repair-first advice
If your door looks tired, draughty or outdated, Windows Repair Galway can inspect it and advise whether a repair-first upgrade is possible before full replacement is considered.
