A: Installing a front door can be complicated and is best left to an experienced professional with the expertise and tools necessary to do the job right the first time. (Not all contractors even do because finish carpentry usually requires a certain touch!) Elements to consider include threshholds, weather-stripping, and proper hanging so it swings and locks properly all year round in spite of seasonal changes that can cause expansion and contraction in the door and the frame.

You could likely buy a pre-hung door at a home improvement store with instructions but I wish I could tell you how many requests we get for finish carpenters to go fix a door that a homeowner has tried to install. Given the price of exterior doors, especially the fancy ones, it ends up costing more than if they had hired a pro in the first place! And professionals cannot warranty any product they do not supply.

Visit Home Advisor, enter a service request (it's free) and be matched with the ideal service professional in your area to install the door for you.

by Kathy Maynard, reprinted courtesy of HomeAdvisor.com