Door Installation
Interior and exterior doors hung level, sealed, and swinging true.
A door that sticks, drags, or lets a draft through the gap is more than a nuisance. It signals a door that was never set plumb and square, or one that has shifted over time. Terracotta Construction installs interior, exterior, and storm doors for homes and businesses across Montgomery County and the Greater Houston area. We hang every door level, seal it against Texas weather, and set the hardware so it latches clean on the first try.
What Door Installation Covers and Who Needs It
Door installation is the work of fitting a door so it opens easily, closes flush, latches without a fight, and keeps weather and noise where they belong. That sounds simple, but a door is one of the few moving parts in a building, and it has to stay aligned through humidity swings, foundation movement, and daily use. When any of that is off, the door tells on itself with sticking corners, gaps along the jamb, or a deadbolt that will not throw all the way.
Homeowners call us for a range of reasons. Some are replacing a tired front entry that no longer seals. Others are finishing a remodel and need interior doors hung on new frames. Builders and property owners bring us in to swap out damaged units, upgrade to a sturdier exterior door, or add a storm door for extra protection and airflow. We handle slab doors that fit into an existing frame and prehung units that come with their own jamb and hinges already set.
Businesses, landlords, and property managers lean on us too. A commercial back door that no longer latches is a security problem. A rental unit with a warped interior door is a turnover item that has to be right before the next tenant moves in. Whatever the setting, the goal is the same: a door that works the way it should and looks like it belongs.
Door Types, Materials, and Options
Interior doors carry the lightest demands but still need to hang true. Hollow core doors are light and budget friendly for bedrooms, closets, and pantries. Solid core doors cost more but feel substantial and block far more sound, which makes them a favorite for offices, bathrooms, and shared walls. We also fit French doors, barn-style sliders, and bifold closet doors when a room calls for something beyond a standard swing.
Exterior doors do the heavy lifting. Steel doors resist dents and warping and offer strong security for the price. Fiberglass doors stand up to Texas sun and humidity without swelling or rotting, and they can be finished to mimic real wood grain. Solid wood doors bring a look nothing else matches, and they reward the extra care it takes to seal and maintain them. Every exterior door we hang gets weatherstripping, a proper threshold, and a sweep to keep out wind, rain, and pests.
Storm doors add a second layer in front of an entry door. They let you open the main door for light and air while a screen keeps insects out, and in cooler months they cut drafts and add insulation. We install full-view, ventilating, and retractable-screen storm doors, and we make sure the closer is adjusted so the door does not slam or hang open in a gust.
Hardware ties it all together. We set knobs, levers, deadbolts, and multipoint locks, and we can match finishes across a home so everything looks intentional. If security is the priority, we install reinforced strike plates and longer screws that anchor into the framing instead of just the trim.
What to Expect During the Job
Every install starts with measuring. Door openings are rarely perfectly square, especially in older homes that have settled, so we check the rough opening width, height, and how the wall sits before we order or hang anything. Getting these numbers right up front is what prevents the gaps and binding that show up when a door is forced into an opening it does not fit.
On a prehung exterior door, we remove the old unit, clean up the opening, and set the new frame on shims until it reads plumb and level in every direction. We anchor it through the jamb into the framing, then add insulation around the perimeter and seal the exterior with flashing and caulk so water cannot find its way behind the trim. A slab door swap is different work: we transfer or adjust the hinge mortises, trim the slab if needed, and rehang it on the existing frame.
Once the door is set, we install and test the hardware. The latch should catch on its own, the deadbolt should throw fully, and the door should hold wherever you leave it instead of swinging open or closing on its own. We finish by adjusting the weatherstripping and threshold, then we clean up the work area and haul away the old door and packaging.
Most single-door installs wrap up in a few hours. Multiple doors, custom finishes, or openings that need carpentry repair take longer, and we will tell you that during the estimate so there are no surprises on the schedule.
Why Setting a Door Right Matters
Most door problems trace back to one root cause: the door was not set plumb and square. When the frame leans or twists even slightly, the door rubs the jamb, the latch misses the strike, and gaps open along one edge. People live with it, planing the door or slamming it harder, but those are workarounds for a frame that needs to be reset. We fix the cause instead of fighting the symptom.
A door done right also protects your wallet. An exterior door that seals properly keeps conditioned air inside, which matters through long Houston-area summers when the air conditioner runs hard. A poorly sealed door leaks cool air, drives up the energy bill, and lets in humidity that can warp trim and grow mold. The weatherstripping and threshold we install are not afterthoughts; they are part of why the door earns its keep.
Security is the other half of the equation. A deadbolt is only as strong as what it anchors into. We reinforce strike plates and drive screws deep into the framing so the lock has real holding power, not just a grip on the soft pine trim. For a front door, a back door, or a commercial entry, that difference is what stands between a locked door and a forced one.
We use quality materials and experienced crews on every job, and we back our work with a satisfaction guarantee. If a door we installed is not opening, closing, sealing, and latching the way it should, we make it right.
Fixing Sticking and Failing Doors
Not every call is a brand new door. Plenty of the time, the door you have is fine and just needs to work again. A door that sticks at the top corner, scrapes the floor, or refuses to latch can often be brought back to life without replacement, and that is usually the cheaper, faster fix.
We diagnose before we cut. Sticking can come from swollen wood after a wet stretch, hinges that have loosened and let the door sag, paint built up too thick on the edges, or a frame that has shifted with the house. The right repair depends on the cause: tightening or shimming hinges, planing a high spot, adjusting the strike plate, or resetting the frame. Cutting into a door for a problem that is actually a loose screw just creates a new gap later.
When weather sealing has failed, we replace worn weatherstripping, swap a cracked threshold, or add a fresh door sweep so the draft and the daylight under the door disappear. These are small parts, but they make a noticeable difference in comfort and in the energy bill. If you are unsure whether a door needs repair or replacement, we will give you an honest read during the estimate.
Get a Free Estimate Across Montgomery County and Greater Houston
Terracotta Construction is locally owned and based in Montgomery, Texas, and we are licensed and insured. Door installation falls under our handyman services, and it is exactly the kind of job where doing it right the first time saves you the headache of doing it twice. Whether you need one interior door hung, a full exterior entry replaced, a storm door added, or a stubborn door finally made to behave, we are ready to help.
We serve homeowners, landlords, property managers, and businesses across Montgomery, Conroe, The Woodlands, Magnolia, Willis, Huntsville, Tomball, Spring, Cypress, and Katy. Free estimates come standard, and we will tell you straight whether a door needs replacing or just needs to be set right.
Call us at (936) 955-4083 to schedule your free estimate. We will look at your doors, talk through your options, and give you a clear plan to get every door in your home or building opening, closing, sealing, and latching the way it should.
Door Installation FAQs
Do you install both prehung doors and slab doors?+
Yes. We install prehung units that come with their own frame and hinges, and we hang slab doors into existing frames by setting the hinges and the latch to fit. We will recommend which approach makes sense based on the condition of your current frame and opening.
Can you fix a door that sticks instead of replacing it?+
Often, yes. Sticking usually comes from loose or sagging hinges, swollen wood, thick paint, or a frame that has shifted. We diagnose the real cause and fix it, whether that means adjusting hinges, planing a high spot, resetting the strike plate, or truing the frame. Replacement is only recommended when the door itself is too far gone.
What is the difference between a steel, fiberglass, and wood exterior door?+
Steel doors are strong, dent resistant, and budget friendly. Fiberglass doors handle Texas sun and humidity without swelling or rotting and can look like real wood. Solid wood doors offer a look nothing else matches but need more sealing and upkeep. We help you weigh security, appearance, and maintenance for your situation.
Will a new exterior door help with my energy bill?+
A properly sealed exterior door keeps conditioned air inside, which matters during long Houston-area summers. We install weatherstripping, a solid threshold, and a door sweep on every exterior door so cool air stays in and humidity stays out. Replacing a leaky old door or just resealing it can make a real difference in comfort.
Do you install storm doors?+
Yes. We install full-view, ventilating, and retractable-screen storm doors, and we adjust the closer so the door does not slam or stay open in the wind. A storm door lets you open the main door for light and air while keeping insects out, and it adds a layer of protection and insulation.
How long does a door installation take?+
Most single-door installs finish in a few hours. Jobs with several doors, custom finishes, or openings that need carpentry repair take longer. We give you a realistic timeline during the free estimate so the schedule is clear before we start.
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