A new exterior door can transform your Toronto home in a single day. You will feel fewer drafts, get quieter rooms, improve security, and boost curb appeal. This guide explains door materials, glass options, security hardware, accessibility, proper installation details, and realistic Toronto budgets so you can choose the right entry system with confidence.

Door materials at a glance

Fiberglass (our most popular pick in Toronto)

• Pros: Excellent energy performance, stable in humidity, durable skins that take paint or faux‑stain well. Realistic wood‑grain options.
• Consider: Choose higher‑end slabs for the most convincing grain. Use a quality weatherstrip to keep it quiet in the wind.

Steel

• Pros: Strong, cost‑effective, slim profiles for a modern look. Good airtightness with a proper weatherstrip.
• Consider: Can dent, especially on busy family entries. Thermal breaks and high‑quality cores are important in cold weather.

Solid wood

• Pros: Natural warmth and classic curb appeal. Great for heritage streetscapes.
• Consider: Highest maintenance. Requires overhangs, regular finishing, and careful sealing to manage Toronto’s freeze‑thaw cycle.

Glass, privacy, and daylight

• Glazing choices: Clear, frosted, reeded, or decorative glass. Triple‑pane or argon‑filled units improve efficiency and comfort near the door.
• Sidelites and transoms: Add daylight to narrow Toronto entries without sacrificing wall space. Use warm‑edge spacers and low‑E coatings.
• Security film and laminated glass: Reduce break‑in risk and traffic noise.

Hardware and security that feel solid

• Multipoint locks: Top, middle, and bottom latching improve security and weather seal.
• Grade 1 deadbolts and reinforced strikes: Longer screws into framing, not just the jamb.
• Smart locks: Key‑free convenience with auto‑lock and guest codes. Choose models with low‑temperature ratings and one‑touch privacy.
• Hinges and viewers: Ball‑bearing hinges for heavy slabs and a wide‑angle viewer or sidelite camera for visibility.

Accessibility and everyday ease

• Thresholds: Low‑profile, beveled thresholds make entries easier for strollers and mobility aids while keeping the weather out.
• Clear opening: Aim for a 36-inch door for a comfortable ~34-inch clear width.
• Levers vs knobs: Levers are easier to operate and align with aging‑in‑place goals.
• Lighting: Add a motion‑sensing porch light and house numbers visible from the street.

Installation details that stop drafts

• Sill pans and flashing tape: A formed sill pan under the threshold and fully taped flanges prevent wind‑driven rain from entering.
• Spray‑foam the gap: Use low‑expansion foam around the jamb for airtightness, then backer rod and sealant at the exterior trim.
• True plumb and square: Doors that are out of square will rub and leak. We shim behind hinges and lock points and verify even reveals.
• Storm doors: Consider a venting storm door only when you want a screen function. Ensure there is a pressure‑relief vent to avoid heat buildup on dark slabs.

Style ideas for Toronto streets

• Modern semi: Smooth fiberglass slab with three narrow lites, matte black multipoint set, and boxy pull.
• Classic bungalow: Wood‑grain fiberglass with two‑panel shaker profile and clear glass sidelites.
• Victorian rowhouse: Solid wood with raised panels, brass hardware, and a restoration‑friendly color.

Budgets and timelines in Toronto

Every home is different, but these ranges help with early planning:

• Steel or basic fiberglass prehung (no sidelites): $2,000 to $4,200 installed.
• Premium fiberglass with glass and multipoint: $4,500 to $8,500 installed, depending on sidelites/transoms.
• Solid wood heritage door: $6,500 to $14,000+, depending on species, glass, and finishing.
• Hardware and smart lock package: Add $350 to $1,200 depending on grade and features.

Typical timelines: 1 day on site for a straightforward swap; 2 to 4 days when reframing for sidelites/transoms or addressing masonry.

Avoid these common mistakes

1. Choosing a dark slab without an overhang, then dealing with heat‑warping and finish wear.
2. Skipping a sill pan and relying on caulk, which fails in Toronto weather.
3. Under‑specifying glass, which leads to cold spots and condensation.
4. Forgetting house‑to‑storm‑door heat buildup on south and west exposures.
5. Installing a new door without adjusting the porch light, bell, and house numbers to match the new look.

How JG Contracting delivers draft‑free, secure entries

• We confirm rough opening, wall depth, and threshold height, then recommend fiberglass, steel, or wood based on your goals.
• We install with sill pans, taped flanges, proper shimming, and low‑expansion foam for airtightness.
• We finish with clean exterior trim, updated lighting, and a hardware walk‑through so everything feels solid and simple to use.
• We leave you with touch‑up paint and care tips for long‑lasting curb appeal.

Helpful companion reads on our site:

• Windows That Work in Toronto 2025
• Exterior Siding & Facade Upgrade Guide 2025
• Insulation & Air Sealing Retrofit Guide 2025
• Aging‑in‑Place Renovation Guide 2025

Ready to refresh your front entry?

Contact us today to book a consultation. We will help you select the right door, hardware, and glass, then install it with the details that keep drafts out and comfort in.

📞 Call us at: 437-259-9632

✉️ Email us at: jgcontractingyyz@gmail.com

🌐 Website: https://jgcontractingyyz.com