Compare named responsibilities and written scope before comparing the total. Ask the same ten questions of each contractor, keep the answers with the quote and resolve missing details before paying a deposit.
Define the problem before you request proposals
Describe what is wrong with the entrance as well as what you want it to look like. A sticking door, damaged finish, worn threshold or unwanted draught can lead to different recommendations. Include photographs from both sides and explain whether you want to keep the opening size. This gives contractors a common starting point instead of inviting several unrelated design proposals.
Be open to an assessment that recommends less work. Repair or refinishing can sometimes be more appropriate than replacement, depending on condition. Door Depot also repairs doors, and Oscar says when a repair or refinish makes more sense than a new door. You can still request a replacement option, but understanding the existing problem helps you judge whether the proposed scope addresses it.
Use these ten questions at every consultation
Ask each contractor the same questions and save the answers alongside the proposal. The wording below is intended as a consumer checklist, not a statement about legal licensing requirements. If an answer is vague, request the relevant written detail rather than relying on a reassuring conversation.
Treat unanswered questions as items to resolve before approval. A useful response identifies a person, document or defined scope; it does not simply repeat that everything is included.
- 1. Who will measure the opening, and who is responsible for confirming the final dimensions?
- 2. Will I receive a written quote identifying the exact door assembly, finish, glass and hardware?
- 3. What installation scope is included, including removal, trim, disposal and surrounding finishes?
- 4. Does the quote clearly show HST and the total I am being asked to approve?
- 5. What deposit is requested, when are later payments due, and will those terms be written down?
- 6. Can I read the written warranty before approval, including what it covers and how to request service?
- 7. Who will actually install the door, and who will supervise or answer questions about that work?
- 8. What insurance applies to the work, and can you provide current documentation for me to review?
- 9. How will concealed damage, scope changes or additional charges be documented and approved?
- 10. Who is my contact after installation, and what information will I receive about operation and care?
Read the product specification as carefully as the price
The quote should let you recognise the entrance you discussed. Look for the arrangement, frame and slab sizes, swing, handing, material, glass and finish. A description such as custom front door leaves too much open if it does not identify what is being supplied. Hardware deserves equal attention: the handle appearance and locking arrangement should not remain assumptions until installation.
Compare like with like when reviewing alternatives. One proposal may include new framing and trim while another describes a slab-only change. Different glass or finishing choices may also explain a difference without making either offer misleading. Ask the contractor to identify substitutions explicitly. A revised design should produce an updated written specification so that the version you approve is the version everyone is working from.
Make the installation boundaries visible
Installation is where a product becomes part of your house. Ask how the existing assembly will be removed, what happens if deterioration is uncovered and which surrounding surfaces are included in the work. The purpose is not to demand a prediction of hidden conditions; it is to understand the process for discussing them if they appear. Clarify who authorises changes before additional work proceeds.
Separate entrance work from adjacent finishing that may fall outside the proposal. Interior painting, flooring repairs and exterior masonry should not be assumed included merely because they are nearby. Discuss access, removal of old materials and the final walkthrough as well. When comparing installers, favour clear boundaries over broad promises that become difficult to interpret once the old frame has been taken out.
Understand the payment and warranty documents
A deposit request should come with a clear explanation of what you are approving and when further payments are expected. Keep the quote, payment record and any written changes together. If you do not understand a payment condition, ask before proceeding. This is practical record keeping, not a substitute for independent advice about a contract you are uncertain about.
Request the warranty document rather than relying on a headline. Door Depot offers a limited lifetime warranty covering the door slab, frame and our original workmanship, subject to the written warranty terms. Read those terms and ask how service is requested. At Door Depot, the deposit is 25–50% of the final quote, set by Oscar, and 13% Ontario HST is added to written quotes. Confirm your own written total before approval.
Know the people behind each stage
Ask who sells, measures, specifies, finishes and installs the entrance. A company can organise these roles in different ways, but you should know who is accountable when a question crosses stages. For example, a hardware decision can affect preparation, and a changed frame depth can affect the installation finish. A named point of contact makes those conversations easier to track.
Door Depot’s process is direct: Oscar runs the consultation and measure, confirms the price in writing and oversees every build and install. Doors are built in our own Chesswood Dr shop, painted and stained in our own studio and installed by our crew. Use that information as a comparison of process, not as a reason to skip the written specification or your own review of the proposal.
Choose with a short comparison record
After each consultation, write down what is included, what remains unresolved and who will respond. Keep design preferences separate from contractual questions so that an appealing glass pattern does not distract from a missing installation detail. If one proposal is much shorter than the others, ask for clarification rather than filling the gaps with what another contractor promised.
Make the final decision when the scope, people and documents align with your priorities. An in-home consultation should help resolve the entrance itself, not only select a colour. Door Depot offers a free 45-minute in-home consultation booked into a real time slot, with both homeowners or decision-makers attending as company policy. Bring your comparison notes so the meeting can address the specific uncertainties that matter to you.
Frequently asked questions
Should every contractor quote the same door?
For a useful comparison, give each contractor the same starting requirements. Alternatives are welcome, but ask for differences in construction, finish and installation scope to be identified rather than comparing totals alone.
Is the lowest quote necessarily a problem?
No. A lower quote may reflect a simpler configuration or narrower scope. Understand what it includes and excludes before deciding whether it offers the value you need.
Should I ask for proof of insurance?
Yes, ask what insurance applies to the proposed work and request current documentation. If you are unsure what a document establishes, obtain appropriate independent advice rather than making assumptions.
What if a design changes after the quote?
Request an updated written description and price before approving the change. Keep that revision with the original documents so the agreed configuration remains clear.
Are online estimates final quotes?
Not necessarily. Door Depot online prices are preliminary and before tax; Oscar confirms the final price in writing after measuring. Use estimates for early planning, not as a substitute for the measured proposal.
