Exterior Door Replacement in Chicago
Trusted roofing, siding, and exterior contractor serving Chicagoland since 2007.
We check the rough opening, framing, and sill for freeze-thaw damage before a new door ever goes in. A new slab set on a soft sill fails the same way the last one did.
Most single-door replacements are finished in a day, often before lunch.
Free storm damage inspection or a no-pressure quote for your project
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Horizon restoration did a great job in getting our roof claim approved by our insurance. They worked hard to make sure the insurance company covered the cost of the roof and gutters. AJ was always on top of things and kept us informed every step of the way. We recommended them to our family member who also signed with AJ and Horizon Restoration due to how well they managed our project. We would highly recommend them for their roofing expertise, knowledge with insurance companies and over all communication during the project. In addition to this the roof looks great and their team did a great job on the roof and the clean up.
Overall great experience! Julius was fantastic to work with. He was very attentive to all the details and always there to answer questions and get the job done right. Whenever he said he would take care of something, he took care of it. The crew did a fantastic job and the workmanship was top notch. I can not believe how quickly they did a full replacement of our sheathing and roof shingles and still did a high quality job. They left the worksite spotlessly clean. We are getting lots of compliments from our neighbors on how good our roof looks. If you want your roof done right, go with this company.
Paul, thank you so much to you and your entire team for our beautiful new roof. We couldn't have made a better choice. Thank you for all your help with the insurance paperwork and for making the whole process so smooth. We highly recommend Chicago Horizon Restoration Roofing Company to anyone looking for quality work and outstanding service! Pamela & Steve
Horizon Restoration did an amazing job on my roof! Paul was fantastic to work with. Super responsive, most important he was honest and really cared about making sure everything was done right. He made what could have been a stressful process feel easy. The crew was fast, clean and very professional. I’m really happy with the result and would definitely recommend them.
Our contact at Horizon Restoration was Art. He worked with our insurance company for over a year and a half to have our roof and siding replaced. The other persons behind the scenes at the office who were instrumental in assisting Art were Paul-Manager, Ruby-who was in charge of all correspondence, Jack-Install Manager who coordinated the crews for both the siding and roof, Claudio-On Site Roofing Manager and Mike-On Site Siding Manager. They worked seamlessly as a team and were always available when we had any questions or concerns. It is so nice to have Horizon Restoration going to bat for us. Especially Art whose experience and knowledge was so key in getting our insurance company to approve the replacement of our roof and siding. Our roof and siding look so nice we highly recommend Art and Horizon Restoration to anyone in need of their services. Thank you Art and Horizon for everything.
The Rest of Your Exterior, Handled
Six more services under one roof — same crew, same warranty, same number to call.
What Happens During an Exterior Door Replacement
Once you have decided to move ahead, the actual replacement moves faster than most people expect. A single exterior door swap is usually a one-day job. Here is how we handle it, start to finish.
01
Measure & Check Fit
We measure the rough opening and check it against the new door unit before anything gets cut or pulled out.
02
Remove & Inspect
The old door and frame come out, and we check the studs and sill underneath for rot or water damage.
03
Repair the Framing
Any soft or damaged framing gets rebuilt right then. You cannot set a new door on a bad sill and expect it to last.
04
Set, Level & Shim
The new unit goes in level and shimmed, with the reveal checked on all four sides so it swings clean.
05
Seal & Flash
We seal and flash around the frame so water cannot get behind the trim.
06
Hardware & Walk-Through
We install and test the lock and deadbolt, caulk, clean up, and haul away the old door before we leave.
That framing check in step three matters more in Chicago than people realize. A lot of the housing stock out in areas like Elmwood Park and Franklin Park has older wood framing around entry doors. Years of freeze-thaw cycles can soften the sill without any visible sign from inside the house.
Ready to Get Started?
Free inspection, straight answers, and a written scope before anything is ordered. Call today.
Signs Your Exterior Door Needs Replacing
Quick Summary: Drafts, sticking, daylight around the frame, and rising energy bills usually mean your exterior door is worn out. In suburbs like Naperville and Bolingbrook, freeze-thaw cycles make warped frames and failing seals show up fast every winter.
How do you know it is time? Homeowners call us after noticing the same handful of problems. Maybe the door sticks in summer and will not latch right come winter. Maybe there is a thin line of daylight around the frame you never saw before. Little things add up fast.
Drafts You Can Feel
Cold air near the door even when it is shut tight.
Soft or Rotted Wood
The frame or the bottom of the door has gone soft.
Sticking Locks
Locks stick, or the door no longer sits flush in the frame.
Rust or Bubbling Paint
Surface damage on a steel door means moisture is already in.
Energy Bills Creeping Up
Heating costs rose and nothing else in the house changed.
Storm Damage
Cracked panels, or a frame that has pulled away from the house.
Not every drafty door needs full replacement. Sometimes it is just worn weatherstripping or a loose hinge, and that is an easy fix. Once the frame itself has warped or the wood has gone soft, patching it just delays the problem. In homes around Wheeling and Buffalo Grove, we see a lot of older doors where the wood frame has taken on moisture over the years. Caulk will not fix that for good.
Not sure which category your door falls into? That is common, and it is a quick thing to check in person.
Matching the Right Door to Your Home's Age and Opening
Not every front door fits every house. Homes built in the 1960s and 70s across places like Arlington Heights and Buffalo Grove often have rough openings that do not match today’s standard door sizes. When a homeowner orders an off-the-shelf replacement, it does not fit right. We see this every week.
Older homes in towns like Naperville and Downers Grove sometimes have solid wood jambs that have shifted over decades. The frame settles, the house shifts a little, and suddenly your door is not square anymore. That is why we always measure the actual opening, not just the door itself. Width, height, depth, and squareness all matter here.
- Pre-1980 homes often need custom sizing instead of standard stock doors
- Additions and remodeled entryways can have openings that do not match original framing
- Sagging or uneven thresholds usually mean the frame needs attention too, not just the door
Newer construction in areas like Plainfield and Romeoville tends to use more standard sizing, which usually makes replacement faster and more straightforward.
