Carpenter fitting a new interior door and window trim in a Westchester, NY home

Interior Door Installation in Westchester, NY

Pre-hung and slab doors hung plumb and square, with even gaps all around and latches that catch every time.

Interior Door Installation in Yorktown Heights and Westchester

An interior door looks simple, but it has to do a lot: swing smoothly, close quietly, latch without a shove and stay where you leave it. Whether it does depends on how well the frame is set in its opening. A door can be perfect, and if the frame is a quarter inch out of plumb it will drift open on its own or rub the jamb every humid August.

That is a common complaint in older houses around Yorktown Heights. After decades of settling, door openings are rarely square, which is why doors that once swung freely now stick or gape. New doors are a chance to fix that: we check the rough opening, correct what can be corrected and set the frame true so the door behaves.

We work with pre-hung doors, where the door arrives already hinged in its frame, and with slab doors, which are fit to an existing frame. Each has its place, and we help you pick the one that suits your opening and your budget.

Signs a door needs replacing or re-hanging

The door sticks, rubs the jamb or will not latch without force.
It swings open or shut on its own because the frame is out of plumb.
A hollow-core door sounds thin and lets noise through, and you want something more solid.
The door is warped, split or damaged and cannot be planed back to shape.
You are updating a room's style and want doors that match the new trim.
You are adding a new door to a closet, laundry or converted space.

How we install an interior door

Check the opening
We measure the rough opening, check it for plumb, level and square, and confirm the swing direction and hinge side.
Choose pre-hung or slab
Pre-hung suits new openings or badly worn frames, while a slab can be fit to a good existing frame. We help you decide.
Set and shim the frame
The frame is shimmed plumb and fastened, with the gap along the head and sides checked so the door has an even reveal.
Hang and fit hardware
Hinges are checked, the door is adjusted, and the latch, strike plate and handle are installed so the door closes crisply.
Trim out the opening
Casing goes on both sides, nail holes are filled and caulk is run so the door is ready for paint.

What goes into the price of a door installation

Pricing depends on the door and on the condition of the opening. Here is what we take into account.

Number of doors

Installing several doors in the same visit is more efficient per door than one at a time.

Pre-hung or slab

Pre-hung units include the frame and take more installation steps, while slab doors need hinge and bore work on an existing frame.

Door type

Hollow-core, solid-core and panel doors differ in cost and weight, and heavier doors need more careful hanging.

Opening adjustments

Resizing an opening, repairing a damaged jamb or straightening a bowed wall adds time.

Casing and hardware

Matching existing casing, adding new trim or upgrading handles and hinges are priced separately.

Why door hanging is about the frame, not just the door

Most door problems are frame problems. When we hang a door we start with the opening, check it with a level, and use shims to bring the frame to plumb before the door ever goes on. The few extra minutes at that stage are what keep the door from drifting open three weeks later.

We also pay attention to the reveal, the small even gap between door and frame. An even reveal is the visual signature of a well-hung door, and it is the first thing people notice when it is wrong.

Where we do this work

We hang interior doors throughout our service area. Settling in older Yorktown Heights homes leaves many doors out of square, while the 1970s and 1980s townhomes in Jefferson Valley often need hollow-core doors replaced with something sturdier.

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Interior Door Installation: questions homeowners ask

Should I choose a pre-hung door or a slab door?

A pre-hung door comes mounted in a new frame and is the best choice when the old frame is damaged or when you are creating a new opening. A slab is just the door, and is a good value when the existing frame is solid and square.

Why does my door swing open or closed on its own?

That usually means the frame is out of plumb. Gravity then pulls the door in the direction it leans. Correcting the frame, not just the hinges, is what fixes it.

Are solid-core doors worth it?

Solid-core doors are heavier, block sound better and feel more substantial than hollow-core, which makes them popular for bedrooms, offices and bathrooms. They cost more and need sturdier hinges.

How long does it take to install a door?

A single pre-hung door can take a few hours, including trim, while several doors or openings that need adjustment take longer. We can estimate once we see the openings.

Can you rehang or fix the doors I already have?

Often yes. Doors that rub or latch poorly can sometimes be planed, re-hinged or re-set in the frame. If a door is warped or damaged beyond repair, we will say so and recommend replacement.